Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-01
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

~--N
nuncs and others, yesterday, rarely exceeded
in Washington. The cause was the anticipated
removals and designations Of various heads OF
bureaus, and the appointment OF others IN tnelr
stead including a new Commissioner OF rat
ents, for which position the contest Is believed
to have waxed fercer and fercer hour by hour
throughout the past week The outsiders credit
the friends of Col G. W. Hughes, Of Maryland,
and Judge Sherman, of Michigan, and those
of the Connecticut gentleman who is being
pressed with the most earnest labors in this
connection, though there is no end to the candi-
dates named and being urged. We are satisfied
that great embarrassment is experienced by the
President in selecting proper incumbent for
this office.
Not long since, we took occasion to explain
that, independent of political attributes, who
ever may be appointed Commissioner of Patents
must possess rare qualifications for the post in
these times. We are sincerely gratifed to know
that the President is determined to make entire
fitness for the discharge of the duties of the Office
the main and essential point on which his deci-
sion is to turn. This is evident in the earnest
ness with which he is believed to be canvassing
the qualifications of the applicants, and the
sternness with which he is said to refuse to
listen to the suggestion that political claims
alone shall be considered in making the selec-
ton, which can be safely done in filling various
offices of nominally equal grade.
The truth is, there is no position under the
Government of equal grade, of equal RESPONSE
bility with this, and equal Importance to its in
huence for good or evil on the future of the
public interests. An unqualified or unprin-
cipled Commissioner Of Patents in these times
might subject (by improper decisions) the pub
lie to millions of unjust taxation yearly, or
honest inventors and assignees to losses of very
heavy amounts, to which they are justly en-
titled by existing law. The supposed claimant
before any other branch of the Government has
his remedy in Congress, if not at law. He who
loses by wrongful action of the Patent Office is
without any recourse whatever. Hence, we
take it for granted, the so great earnestness
manifested by the Executive to make such an
appointment only, to the position, as will render
it sure that all-inventors, assignees, and the
public-may rely on fair and legal decisions
from that bureau.
Thus the delay in making the appointment
over which the host of aspirants and their
friends are so impatiently kicking their shins
just now, involves a guarantee over which the
public should rejoice.
We apprehend that a new contest for the
post of Sixth Auditor Of the Treasury has re-
suited from the various publications in the
newspapers protesting to be by authority as it
were, and declaring the purpose Of the Execu-
tive to be to remove the present incumbent, not
one of which is on better authority than Avenue
bar-rOOm gossip, after all. There are now be-
lieved to be earnest applicants for it from half
dozen States, each urged on the President by
active and influential friends, who refuse to
take "nay' for an answer. 1t is a position of
great Importance, no other Authorship having
charge of the adjustment of so many and so
heavy accounts with the Government. As be-
fore remarked, the persistent rumor that it is
the determination of the Government to dis
place the present incumbent coupled with the
disagreements among the Washington CORES
pondents as to the person likely to be selected
to Gil the Office, have generated the SO general
demand for it among prominent gentlemen
anxious for place here.
We have heard various gentlemen named as
the probable successor of the present incum
bent in the Solicitorship Of the Treasury, who,
according to the same authority, is to 20 out
with the Sixth Auditor and the Commissioner
of the Revenue, and, it may be, one or two
other heads of bureaus. Among them all,
manned for that position,) we imagine that the
Hon. Mr.. Hillyer, Of Georgia, mot long since in
Congress- has the best prospect for carrying
off that prize
But " we shall see what we will see ere long. -
If the President fails to make these changes
shortly, some of the political quid nuncs Of the
Federal Metropolis may be expected to hang
themselves from pure ennui.
The LIVERPOOL CONSULATE.-Itw was said
last evening that Beverly Tucker Esq had
positively declined the Presidents kind tender
to him of the appointment of U. S. Consul to
Liverpool, decidedly one of the best Offices
| within the gift Of the Executive of the United
States, and one in which Mr.. T., of all men.
can, if he accepts it, do most for the substantial
interest Of our country. In social life, he is
the very prince Of good fellows, and is endowed
with tact that will enable him to make the word
American" exceedingly popular wherever
he may be stationed abroad. His proverbial
tastes will surely induce him to do that thing,
If he goes abroad in the public service. We
are therefore an earnest advocate for his ac-
ceptance of the Presidents offer, which was
dictated evidently by the strong personal re-
gard which Mr. Buchanan is known to entertain
for Mr.. L. We have seen much of public Off
GERS in our time, and know almost as much of
American public men as any other person who
has ever spent as much of his lifetime in this
city as we have. Our judgment is, that if Mr.
Tucker refuses the consulate at Liverpool, he
will do grievous injustice to himself, as well as
to the public interest; for we really know no
one else so competent to make America, Ameri.
CANS, and Americansms so popular in tho great
commercial capital of the western coast of Eng.
land as our ancient friend-Beverly Tucker,
Esq, of Virginia.
+. 5. Just as we 90 to press we have satisfied
ourself that Mr.. Tucker this morning formally
accented the Liyerpool Consulata