The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1857-02-20
FROM WASHINGTON.
The following letter, though nOtvery late
is rather interesting:

The following letter, though notvery late
is rather interesting;
WASHINGTON, Feb. 3.
Mr.. Buchanan quietly departed this MORN
inc. leaving several heavy delegations, all
laden with the best advice, without the ad-
vantage of an interview. These may be called
inaudited accounts. The President elect car
ries back to Wheatland valuable cargo Of
disintefested counsel, which he will dispose
of rs his own Judgment shall direct.
Mr.. Hunter has again declined to 90 Into
the State Department The offer was made
him, il will be remembered, by Gen. Pierce
four years since. On the present occasion. it
IL not probable that distinct invitation was
extended 10 the Virginia Senator, bnt the
indications that way were so decided that they
brought to Washington Gov. Wise and a
legion-the 10th legion-of disinteres,ed
Virginia democrats, with all sorts of ftilmi-
nations against their aspiring and successful
Senator. The explanation of all which COM
motion is, that GOV. Wise Is himself re-
served candidate for Presidential honors, and
well knows that Hunters success would be
fatal to his ambition. Terrified, apparently,
BY opposition SO fearfu, the Senator con-
cludes to proceed no further in this business
Mr.. Bright's nomination for Senator,
though he can have no hope Of a valid cleo
ton, indicates his withdrawal for competition
for Cabinet places. In truth Mr.. Bright's
conservatism has been made TO tell against
h m in this race, and in that fact we have the
deep significance Of his taking of.
Yesterday was given up to plotting ard
counter plotting over the case OF Elk Cover
nor Aaron Vail Brown, of Tennessee, who
had been up for Secretary of the Navy. The
end of the fray was that the Governor was
fioored. Gov. Johnson was here as his next
friend. He represents the Cave Johnson and
George w. Jones school Of politicians, the
men who "look arter the fardcns," and who
affect the reputation of old Joe Hume.
Mr.. Benjamin, who has been set down as
the Southwestern member of several comb.
nations, is also said TO have been carried away
in the white squalI which wrecked the hopes
of Brown. Mr.. Benjamin's conservatism is
said to have been too much for him, though
Ishould have supposed that, without a very
powerful set Of magniiers indeed, it must
have remained invisible.
TO conclude my hasty summary of infor.
nation on cabinet making, believe | have
sufficient authority for stating the President
will have finished collecting his materials by
the middle Of next week, that the completion
Of the work will be announced say on next
Monday week.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8, 1857.
The Corruption Investigating Committee
have not yet completed the testimony, as it
was expected they would by this time; and
another week will probably elapse ere they
shall report the result of the inquest. The
proceedings are, as in all such cases, conduct
ed in secret, and hence minute Information
cannot be obtained. But think you may
certainly conclude that Mt least four Northern
members of Congress have been accused,
specifically, Of corrupt practices of legislative
engineering" to pass certain measures for a
pecuniary consideration; and, from certain
intmations, they either have appeared with a
view to refute the charges against them, or
will appear for that purpose. A large number
of witnesses have been examined as to their
knowledge of corrupt combinations Of men,
bers 10 pass or prevent the passage of meas
ures before Congress-" but, from what some
of them have themselves declared outside Of
the committee room, their fund of informa-
ton in this respect was not ample, and they
had more suspicious than facts; in other Ian
guage, "mora convictions"
"To establish the truth Of "corruption"
against any man is difficult; for, as it has been
truly said, persons who are thus moved, are
generally guarded and do not directly commit
themselves to the plumber, and this remark
has general application. The mass of t"sti-
monv doubtless will be interesting, and show
how "lhngs are done" by "outside" specu!a.
tOra