, 1857-02-20
Washington Correspondence.

verSary OF the landing OF the Pilgrims, is a
very good time for one of the pilgrims Of
Shoalw9ter Bay to send few lines to the
great north west
Congress is now engaged in the very
Improbable business of discussing the
slavery question; a matter, however, which
enables certain bunkum speakers to get of
inordnate quantities of bad gas, and the
prospect is that the whole of this present
session will be devoted to that subject.
This city at present is full of people from
all parts Of the Union and the world as
pirants for Office, seekers Of claims, quid
nunes and lobby members, to say nothing
of host of thieves whose light fingers
have lightened manya pnrse.
Since the election but little is heard of
" bleeding Kansas" The efficient and
excellent Governor has done what all his
friends knew he would do-restore order
and quiet John W, Geary is the man for
any emergency and every one who re-
members the efficient and cffectual manner
in which he administered justice while
Alcalde, and afterwards Mayor Of San
Francisco, will agree with me that he
is one of the best men in America to hold
an executive Office in any new and turbu-
lent region.
In relation to our Territory, our most
excellent delegate, J. Parton ANDERSON,
is doing we'll He has already had bills
passed for military roads in several sections
Of the Territory, of which you are of course
informed and now the Secretary Of War
is about to recommend a military road
from Olympia to Shoalwater Bay. l called
with Col. ANDERSON on the Hon. Jefferson
Davis, and was shown the various maps
aud diagrams relating to the proposed
roads. Ny friend Gen. Gibbs has gained
for himself good reputation at the War
Department for the fine style Of execution
and correctness of outline displayed in the
maps of his surveys which have been for
warded to this city. , '.'f .D '"
The Secretary of War has taken deep
interest in the welfare of Washington Ter
ritory, and is better informed of its whole
history, whether geographical, geological,
or botanical than any one of either Of the
other heads Of the departments.
The Secretary of the Treasury has at
last consented to listen to words of wisdom,
aud begins to give an attentive ear to the
many claims that are pressed on his atten-
ton by Col ANDERSON. You and every
one in the Territory have butt a faint idea
of the great trouble and vexation of trans
acting any business with the departments,
and those who are disposed to lay blame
on our delegate for not attending to their
claims should do as have dons--come
here and see for themselves. A faint idea
of the time taken to get the money from
the cashier after my claim had been allowed
by the Secretary, may be had when state
that at 10 o'clock in the morning, Colonel
Washington, the Assistant Secretary, is
sued an order that the various clerks should
expedite my business with dispatch and
although went myself with the papers
to every room required, and every facility
and politeness was shown me, yet it was
half past two o'clock before l received my
money and probably had / not paid per-
sonal attention to the matter, / would
have had to wait three or four days.
A good deal of interest seemsto be OK
cited iu relation to our Territory, and mem
bers Of Congress who heretofore have cared
but little for Territories are now willing
and anxious to be informed what we are,
and who we are, on the western side Of the
Rocky mountains. One of the ablest and
most ready advocates we have here is
Capt. ]. II. SCRANTON, who is now engaged
in getting through his project of mail
steamer for Puget Sound, and he is bound
10 gel the contract.
The action of Gov. STEVENS throughout
the whole of the Indian difficulties is be-
ginning to be understood in the right quar-
ter, and everywhere be is spoken of in
terms of great praise Gov. STEVENS is
the man for Washington Territory, and be
nerer 1cH be remOred during a democratic
administration, unless at his OlOH request.
OF our delegate, Col. ANDERSON, l can
assure his friends and the whole people Of
the Territory, that they have reason to be
proud of the man of their choice. His
manly, frank, and honorable bearing, TO-
gethcr with sound sense and keen judg-
ment, have won him hosts Of friends ; and
his iudomitsble perseverance in carrying