Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-05-13
Letter from Washington.


many subjects of national Importance will
necessarily have to be postponed until fu-
ture session, as will, also, numerous bills on
private account, land there is a very large
number all Of which might have been con-
sidered at the present session, had not the
important time been consumed on that IN
profitable topic, Kansas. Its, however, just
cause for congratulstion. that that subject is
probably banished from the Halls of Con-
gress forever. The rejection Of the Consttu.
ton by the people of Kansas can hardly be
reasonably expected.
looked forward, confidently. to the pas.
sage of a bill at the present session, authori-
Z ng the establishment of National Foundry,
being fully persuaded, that when that mea-
sure is passed, Alexandria will be the loca-
ton selected, The advantages. all consider
ed, which Alexandria presents for the location
of this establishment, cannot DO surpassed !;
and this know TO be the opinion Of some in
high position. 1t is certain, that the Secre-
tary of War, himself an honored son Of the
Old Dominion, would, all things else being
equal, prefer its location on Virginia soil.
His influence, if the measure be passed dur
ing bis administration, will be used in that
direction.
The necessary appropriation bills will pro-
baby all be passed 10 time to enable the Ex-
ecutive to deliberately examine them, before
fnro fhue in fha
Of his disapproval of any of the items, he can
return the bills to Congress in season for
further action before the adjournment.
The House of Representatives has Topped
off some of its excrescences, in the shape of
siuecure Offices. On aud after the 30th of
June ntxt it will not be lawful for the Clerk
Of the House of Representatives to employ
more than two craftsmen and three clerk on
the work now being prosecuted, and known
as Land Maps" This whole work is the
veriest hunbug in existence, and. if of any
utility, could be as well executed by one man
as BY twenty. The saving effected by the
reduction of this force amounts to several
thousand dollars per annum, tor which re-
trenchment Of useless expenditure, the coun.
try, as the debates show, are mainly indebt-
ed to the Efforts Of Hon. John Mcqueen,
member from South Carolina. 1t is always
an uDgracious and thankess task to attack
abuses which have giown up in the public
service, and Representatives who have the
independence to DO it should be properly
appreciated. However, the Congressional
record Of this gentleman proves him mau
Of talent, nerve, and frmness to sustain en-
ergeticsll3 whatever he believes right and t.
unsparingly condemn whatever be may reg ard
as wrong. am glad to know that this gen
teman is so highly appreciated By his con-
stituents, for his eminent abilities and intiex-
IDLE integrity, that, 10 service of several
Congresses. he has had no competitor.
l learn. this morning, that the Comptroller
of the Treasury Department has put his own
construction on the Sd section Of the Def
cheney bill, lin relation to the extra com
pensation allowed to the employees OF the
last Congress- which passed several days
ago, and is now a law, contrary to the con-
struction which the House put upon it when
the bill was passed The House voted to
pay all allowances, passed by resolution OF
the House, or by the Committee on Accounts;
but this gentleman will not pay any Of the
allowances made by the Committee on Ac-
counts, except they were authorized by reso-
luton of the House. | certainly suppose
that the House of Representatives, taking
them as body, are as competent to construe
law as the honorable gentleman who pre-
sides over the Comptroller's office. The De-
fciency bill passed after long struggle and
the country is indebted to the Hon John
Letcher, Of Va, as the man who carried the
bill through, and am fully satisfied, land
speak by authority,l that the sd section OF
that bill never would have passed the uouse,
had it not been for the laborlous exer'
tons of that gentleman. He, like the gen.
tlemau from South Carolina, has the talents,
nerve, and frmness to sustain whatever he
believes right, and to condemn what he
thinks wrong.
South Carroll has been peculiarly unfor-
tunate in the loss, within 30 brief period,
of go many Of her ablest and most cherished
sons. The death Of the accomplished and
chiv slric Butler, whose like we shall seldom
see again, had scarcely ceased to be the CON-
mon topic Of conversation and regret, before
we are called upon t. lament the sudden de-
mise of his former friend and colleague. He
who, but few brief mouths before, pro.
nounced, with such evident anguish, an euo.
GUM 10 his departed friend, has now himself,
full of years and of honors, descended to the
tomb. The remarks that were made on the
death of Senator Evans, by his colleagues,
Gen. Hammond, in the Senate, and Gen. Nc
Queen, in the House, were eloquent and well
merited.
The admission Of Minnesota into the Union,
as one Of the sovereign States, was decided
10 the House by the passage of the Senate
bill, by yeas ISL, nays 3S-ll9 majority
IL was DOT party vote. The Senators and
Representatives will probably take their
seats tomorrow.
The new Hotel that has been talked of 80
long will be erected on Lafayette Square,
and will cost. including furniture, S40O, 900.
Stetson, of New York, is to be the proprle
tor. He proposes that if $4,000 shall be
subscribed here, he will raise the balance 10
New York, and guarantee dividend OF III
per cent per annum to the stockholders
Speaking of Hotels, / think it will be conce
ded, that Newton's Mansion House, 10 Alex
andra, is better managed, bias better accom-
modations, better eating, &c, &C., than any
of the Hotels in this city.
OBSERVER.
NJ IN