Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-17
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

The EFFECTS OF PARrIZAN MISREPRESENT-
ATIoS-If ever reckless and INSCRIPTIONS
falsehoods were uttered for political effect, it
was in the system of warfare against the re-
cent settlement of the Kansas inbroglio re.
sorted to in the hall of the House, to our coun-
try shame be it said, as well as by w ashlppton
and other writers for the distant press wherein
1t was alleged that the President sought to
use his patronage, including army contracts,
&c, to carry his policy to a triumphant issue
we know we'll that among the Democrats of
both Houses, the universal complaint was that
PRESIDENT buchanan resolutely declined to in
terfere with the legislation on the subject, to
the extent of exerting his personal influence
even among the members, as his predecessors,
from Washington down, always took occasion
to do in close Congressional contests upon mea-
sures Of much Importance. In standing aloof
| from such interference however, much greater
labor he might have thrown on his active
friends in Congress, in our judgment he GER
tainly evinced more becoming sense of the
dignity and propriety of his exalted Office in
this connection, than was ever shown by a
former Chief Magistrate Of the United States
So, instead of joining in the then smouldering
ciamor in the party ranks, We honored him for
high sense of right and wrong and the firmness
he thus displayed
knowing well the unwritten history of the
enactment Of the measure Of settlement ex.
planned above, we were indignant, indie ID
against the mendacity Of the aspersiOns in.
volved in the Congressional and newspape,
charges" of undue efforts on Lis part to inf L.
ence the action Of the House.
| We are just now learning of their effect on
the other side of the Atlantic, where too many
journalists lose no opportunity to malign on,
institutions. There, they have been improv cd
upon-sWollen, if possible, into more mons trou:
and revolving proportions, by way of friShten.
ing people into disinclnatisn towards the prin.
ciples and practice of our Government and ir.
situations. By way of illustrating how they
60 about it, We quote especially for the edif
cation OF our Democratic Congressional friends
who lately thought it so hard on them that the
President declined interfering to compass the
enactment Of the bill-the following from late
number of the London Herald:
"Our readers are not ignorant Of the fact thai
| the Administration of Mr.. President Buchanan
has staked its very existence on carving the bill
| admitting Kansas to the Union under constitu
| lion SAID to be formally legal but admitted ever
by It's supporters not to embody the wishes of the
| Kansas people. For ANYTHING we know, Con.
| gresS may have by this time passed the bill I'm,
| we are not ignorant of the means employed nv In,
| President to effect that object. whether il be- ac
| complished or not The bill passed the Senate
| where there is probably not much corruption
nut 1t has been rejected by the House of ReDre
sentatives and differ ent bill substituted Tn.
Senate declines to accept that bill and the matte
remains between the two branches of Compress,
In this position Mr.. Buchanan seems to have
plucked advantage out of his Mormon difficulty
| Congress, which refused to augment the rppuIa
army to suppress the rebel liOn of these indomita
bic fanatics, nevertheless granted powers TO ra
three regiments of volunteers, with all the r.oui
site comInissariat and transport services invoIy.
ing an outlay OF a few millions of dollars The
moment it became certain that many lucrative
contracts were at the disposal of the Admnistra
| ton, the Lobbying on Government account be-
| came quite brisk, with view to see whether TN.
wavereTs on the Kansas bill, who could directl,
or indirectly profit by share Of fat lob fol
cIothlng, ratlons. transport or forage, could b.
made 10 perceive superior advantages in the Gov
eminent recommendation. IL is doubtful whetb
er the House Of Representatives will be induce
70 Ieceoe ffom its position, in spite Of all tn,
.lobbying;" and if il stands firm il deserve,
| high credit. We hope we do no wrong to tn,
| politicians at Washington: We merely feppat ir
summary way the statements which are mad,
| day by day, and in multtudinous forms nv TN,
| American newspapers representing all parties
Thus much for the way in which democrati,
| government proceeds