Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1858-05-01

Our Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April l6.

Our Warrington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, April l6.
A Screw Loose-Rice distrusted and treated coldly-
Minnesota renegades desposed by both parties.
| DEAR SIR: When Rice made his sudden
gyrstion from anti-Lecompton to full devcl
oped Lecomptonite, it was supposed that gov
ernment patronage, as reward for such
prostitution, would flow in upon him abun'
dantly. He was an Indian trader, and ii
was universally supposed that he knew how
to fix his price, and demand securities, before
the contract was sealed, but it appears there
is yet something wanting.
lam told that the Secretaries treat him
coldly!
He has long list to show the Departments,
of Minnesota proselytes whom he has brought
over with him, and who each expect some
little Office to secure their fidelity, but the
Departments appear to think such fidelity is
not worth purchasing. And even Rice him
self, like the slavery stock he advocates, is
too uncertain for large investments at this
time.
By-the-by, the best thing I have seen for
some time past was comment in Southern
paper upon Rice's State paper, alias Lecomp-
ton letter. After citing Rice's Ship of State,
with the Captain (Buchanan) on the deck
the Steersman (Cass) at the helm; the crew
(the people) all below the storm RACES, on
goes the ship, but the captain cares not for
the passengers. "No," says the ST. uthern
editor, "mot d-n do thoy care for the crew.
and for the old ship, they say, let 'er rip"
This is the only notice, comment, or honor
done Mr.. Rice's profound Lecompton State
paper, and it is all it deserves. When the
letter was first shown about the Departments
in uscript by Rice, as an evidence OF his
conversion to tho slavery oligarchy, it was
supposed by those of us who were not per-
mitted to see it, that it was production from
the pen of Senator Toombs or Breckenridge,
but when, after weeks, it made its appearance
in Dubuque paper, Rice at once received
the credit of the whole affair." I will not say
the contemplate thing is, as first Senatorial
effort, disgraceful and humiliating to our State
and people, for if they do not at once so dis
cover it to be it is not discreditable to them.
If he is fair measure of the mental capacity
of our people, then he is their proper repre-
sentative, and the position we are to occupy
before this great nation, is low one indeed.
The Senate of the q. S. is terrible machine
for bringing men to their level.
Now, must make one more severe refec-
ton upon the consistency of MINES )ta poll
ticians, and 1 know it will touch the tender
places of goodly number of time-serving,
trucking creatures. About the time our
Senators were elected, and created, they left
for Washington. Our prominent men were
all anti-Lecompton, all bitterly opposed to the
extension of slavery. They were clamorous
TO have Senators declare themselves openly,
and at once. General Shields, remember,
strove to moderate this feeling Of bitterness,
and, for season, to stand upon guard and
observe the course of events. The Presi-
dents friends in Congress might take such a
course as to render the admission of Kansas
into the Union, not only unobjectional but
desirable. He took this course himself, until
he saw that he must either abandon the
President, or declare for the extension of
slavery to be forced upon a free people,
Where now are those identical persons who
but short time ago were such rabid free
State men? They have brought or sent
their principles here for sale to the Admins
tration, and are willing to dispose of them
very low for office, contracts, or any other
favor, present or prospective.
There are, however, thousands of Others
filling the market with the same material, so
that it is overstocked, no longer merchanta-
BILE, and consequently commands very little
attention, and our renegades will not be
likely to reap anything but disgrace for their
duplicity.
If the Minnesota Bill does not exc te much
discussion in the House it may pass next
week, but not till the Kansas Conference
Committee have reported and action had
upon their report Neither party will trust
our representatives in the House. In the
Senate it would of course make no differ
ence. Shields would vote against, and Rice
for, Lecompton-slavery.
Yours truly, MINNEsorus.