New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-03-10
FROM WASHINGTON.
r.m-nssnse ofrns NJ. TriepA.


ssuads Of the press and was reproduced IN TIE
TRIBUNE, rejecting mali ,iousy upon Gov Seward
and in terms we'll calculated 10 provoke retaliation
After imputDg the most unworthy mo'"es -, nv
recent course, the letter goes Cd 70 say, TIC
"Southern society of ate and gises large di"i
.n.,.v This yreek 20 Southern men. Waa' LIZ h
.dr;y;nO at is yet a mystery" 1t thus appears
that the s,.ial saDc.i'iee Of Gov. Stewards mousse
hold are invaded for the purpose OF INNING SOME
ch.,re IN asss his political conduct; aud no con
o., nth that. his enemies have invoked the AID oi
s.,.s,ood 10 give plausiblity TO their mean maeye
lance Ills no concern Of mine or OF the pubic
what particular society Gov. Seward affects,
hat AZ his hospitality has been thus sbamefuUy out
need in its privacy may say, happened to be
guest az the dinner party reterredtO and there was
but one Southern gentleman, and he Senator,
present. The company was mainly composed OF
members Of the New-YOrk delegation and included
several Of the diplomatic corps and lew strangers,
the mixed company that is usually met at every
other eenteman's table, and which forms one OF
the attractions Of Washington society. But sup
pose he had invited Southern men exclusively;
have we arrived at condition of things when they
are TO be treated as social enemies aud hostile
people il the fidelity OF Senator to his prlncl-
pies to be tested by the geographical sections which
the guests at his dinner.tabe represent If it has
come TO that, then the Union is already morally dis
solved.
1t has never been my good fortune to be ranked
among the peculiar friends Of Gov. Seward and
probably never will be- unless the accepted defnl-
ZION Of that term is materially modified. But having
watched his career here with some attention. and
certainly with no excess of prediction, these
recent attacks have seemed to my mind wholly un-
warranted. 1t is true that he differed with the
body of his political friends on the Army bill; but
may not a statesman be permitted to differ on
measure of public policy like that, about which the
farest judgments are yet gravely perplexed, with
out being denounced for desertiOn and almost
accused Of treachery Who made a temporary
increase Of the Army test III the Republican
creed J. Just at this moment the Republican party,
with one voice and with one heart are resisting
and resentiDg the imposition Of odlOus tests, and
yet there are those in ITS ranks who have sought
reflected consequence for themselves by striving to
impose upon one of its foremost champions d test
by which his very integrity may be questioned. Mr.
John p. Hale Of New-HampShire led oh in this
crusade by running an uDjusttable parallel between
Gov. Seward, for voting three regiments to crush
ent the foul leprosy Of Mormonsin and Daniel
Webster, for recanting the opinions of his whole
life. The justice and fitness of that comparison
may yet be appreciated By the people to whom that
Senator is again appealing for reelection. Ii i'll be-
came him, Of all others, Oindlge in any reflections
respecting propositions To strengthen the hands
of the Executive with increased patronage. He
has been an open advocate in and out of the Senate
of every bill and scheme for restoring to the Navy
the two hundred and odd officers who were retired
b, the Reform BOsrd, and giving them active service
at an expense of nearly half million year 10 the
Treasury. And this, too, without any regard to the
notorious profligacy and dlssipated character OF
many Of the officers in that category. This has
been the speciality which he has pursued with the
1aa Df retained attorney. 1pt. although The
patronage thus directly conferred upon the Execu-
i've, BY Mr.. Hdles votes, is more III the aggregate
than that proposed by the Army bill, nobody has
assailed his motives, impesched his fidelity to free
dom, or held him up as initiating the example OF
Daniel Webster, when he turned his back upon
himself
Mr.. Rice, one of the Senators elect from Mime
sota, declined appearing before the Committee |
which IL investigating the safe of Fort Smelling, |
upon the plea Of his senatorial privilege. This re-
fusal involves implication which Is difficult to re-
sist, considering the known relations between Mr..
Rice and Mr. Steele, the apparent purchaser OF
that property, and the public conviction that ST.
tret combination was formed 10 I'LL the pockets OF
those who were allowed participation III thst bar
pain and sale" Under these circumstances the
Committee can do no less than summon Mr.. Rice
in FORM and ii he It'll declines present the ques-
ton Of attachment to the House 70 compel his tes-
ti,nony He is no Senator until Minnesota is regu-
sents in the face of the Committee are worth no
more than 30 much blank paper until the final forms
are completed. The Senate have virtually decided
that point already BY the adverse report OF the Jul
dietary Committee on the application Of Gen. Shields,
who supposed he had only 10 walk in aud hang up
bis hat. Therefore, Mr.. Rice is entitled to no im-
munty whatever, and should be compelled to face
the music like any other witness. The explorations
of this Committee hsye been extensive, and II IL
said will furnish some refreshing instruction when
printed The disclosures Of the Commissioner from
Virginia who was associated with Major Eastman
IN making the sale, viii he found specially worthy
Of notice. Ii is nOw expected tins St.gHton
may be closed in "a fortnight.
Itdelights ones heart 70 witness the cordial ahec
ton with which those whilome "apostates aud Abo-
htionists," John A. Dix. John an Buren, and John
Cochrane, are welcomed back into the Democratic
fraternity and given the highest seats in the syna.
gogue of Tammsny. Tue eternal fitness of things
~ most appropriately consulted, too, III their
sion being timed when Gen. Cas- happens TO BE-
at the head of the Cabinet, to extend MS paterna
forgiveness and benedctOn 70 these erring children.
TAe Union has had al ecstasy OF JOY over John Van
Buren's speech, which, thus commended, VIII 20 to
our - Southern brethren IA Mr.. tluality Fillmore
calls them, with all the marks OF orthodox appro-
val. John is DOW mInortaDzed for all time lie
is embalmed like the fJ in the amber IL, Union
has pronounced him All e electrical orator, and
The Lnios, being warmed BY Promethean fire, Of
course knows all about electricity. John has the
prospect, at least, Of becoming useful member ct
society in his new sphere. and may be- employed IN
electrify ing Administration audiences all over the
country, SINCE the depression of their vital en-rg!
sadly needs this sort Of artificial st.mulsnt. The
funniest part of that New York farce the cha
rscter which John played in reading Douglas,
Walker, Stanton aud the ike OFT Of the psrty-he
Ill Ill III. ~