New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-07
IRON WASHING TON.
r,poDdence Of The ". Y. Tribune.

C.rr,posdence Of The N. Y. TribaDe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1859.
Mr. Pugh has tried his hand at pacfcatlOn,
lust az others, perhaps equally distinguished, have
tried and failed before. Although some effort was
expended TO initiate this movement by preconcerted
publicity, il fell comparatively still-born on the
Senate ss.day, and made no impression outside OF
If. Tie bill has been referred to the Committee
on Territories, and Will be Overhaued by Judge
Douglas, before il leaves his scrutiny, in manner
that Will probably deter any future experiments in
the same direction.
And what is this compromise, Matched for the
purpose of reconciling conflict between opinion
in Ohio ana the White House, and designed TO re-
6eye the ineonyenent responsibility of serving two
masters at the same time It proposes to admit
Kansas under the AcomptOn Constitution, and
then to refer the question of Slavery to popular
vote in April next, after which the President by
proclamation may declare her member of the
Union. This is certainly a nice morsel for State
Rights men and Strict COnstructOnists to be asked
10 swallow and will be apt to exercise their powers
Of deglutition, in style never before attempted.
Congress is thus TO assume the power of submitting
part of State Constitution to tho people, and to
reserve the right of Withholding another part.
Surely it cannot be pretended that tins proposition
in any way betters the condition OF things, or re-
heves Che objection winch stands unreuted against
the LecOmpton contryaRce. IL is plain admis-
SION only, that the Slavery cause was not fairly
submitted 10 the people, and that CONCESSION Is
worth something, coming from such a source. MI.
purh maintains with Calhoun and his c0niederates,
tAst tie ,eholo Constitution should not be Refereed
and he untes with hem i'll taking the most efiectuai
means Of preventing any such expression oil the
popular will. And he forsets too, that fms Con-
stitution has been sent here as an entirety, To be
accented or rejected such, and on no other terms
His second condition proposes that the Leglsla-
fure NAV authorize Convention to amend or alter
the Constitution, when that Constitution excludes
any possibility of change bssore 1864, thus lnvoking
Congressional intervention IN form never before
employed, Tie whole thing is absurd and hzzle
Great questions are not settled by any such county
court practice, sharp though it be. The patriot
anxiety Of Mr.. Pugh TO turn pacihcatOr shows a
least that he for one il exercised at the ground
sWpIl {, ,ertnent which is now dsturbnE I'm
uhole Free states. His oil has not soothed III
troubled waters and before many weeks more
will hear roar like that of the mighty northern
cataract startling the ears of every DOughface an
admonnhng those holding the reins of power that
their doom is sealed. As yet the South has glvel
no ,cn of accepting this BILL and since IT has noth'
ING 10 gain, its support is more than doubtful lhey
have Mr.. Puch committed, like the Administration, to
LecomptOn as it stands, and they mean to hoh both
70 the strict penalty Of the bond
Mr.. Brown Of Miss. had seizure of vertigo,
Just az he was advancing IN his speech, and WAS
compelled to desist and get postponement OF the
debate.
As vet there has been no official meeting Of the
Special .CoEmittee of the Senate OH the Pacific
Railroad and therefore of course, no specihc plan
has been divised. The bill which was referred,
proposed three routes northern, central and south
ern but SO far as opinion may be shaped from
informal conferences, the inclination 10 TO narrow
sse project down to one, and TO recommend a
eyect apprOpriatiOn of the public credit TO the
extent OF forty or fifty millions by the issue of
bonds for its construction through the Territories,
leaving the States interested TO provide for them
selves. Considering the present condition VI tue
Treasury and the fact Of declining revenue, this
issmodest propositions but it may gain more favor
at the South than might by supposed, since such
~ appropriation as out of the Federal exchequer
SSuld be very convenient before the formation Of a
Southern Republic.
The inquiry concerning the arcst of Walker was
carried this morning with an enlarged scope, 70 as
10 embrace call for the recent Yrlssarrl treaty
which not being ratified will not be communicated
and ader.and TO know whether complaint had been
made by Nicaragua against Capt. Pauldlng or his
c0fduC. The occasion was selZed 10 nlllOuster
little On the foor; but such demonstrations count
for nothing. Mr.. CGngman made the requislton at
the instance of the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
and without concert with the Administration. 1t
viii be answered, as already indicated in former
%tter, by the President deprecating the particular
act as violation of his instructions and an infringe
ment OF the sovereignty of Nicaragua, but be Will
not be euperseded.
MT. hornn ofVermOnt brought in a bill to punish
PNygany' winch seemed to stir up the good humOr
of the House considerably, and led to discharges of
INTENDED facetlousness. twas however seriously
referred, and may BE- the ring wedge Of import
ant legislation. In looking round the hall the bald
head OF Mr.. Bcrnhisel could not be detected. no
tLst this movement against the peculiar institution
Of Utah went unrebuked by the absence of its only
tmcial representative
Ii is stated here, upon sufficient authority, that
Mr.. Bright. after the Philadelphia meeting, in com
menting upon the cheers given for Mr.. Douglas,
said the sentiment appeared TO be rather with him
than the Administration, and lie intended 10 report
that fact TO the President. Unless there De some
nisappTehensOn, this commentary from 80 hish
source puts something of an extipgmsher upon tna'
boastcd demonstration. linden
fTon o. Own Con, spohGcI:.
w ,r,uxreroy truae1aU Ian INIS