New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-04

| accompanying the War report show that the cost
Of volunteers for the Mexican war down to the
| present time would have maintained an increased
force of regulars equal 10 II, 600 infantry or 1000
cavalry. Mr. Gwin of California Gen. Lane of
Oregon and others believe Ill volunteers, because
il ia their interest to do so; but there are cOncu
siye reasons against such enterprises in the present
| condition of the Treasury Why, Washington and
| Oregon Territories have now claims for their pr-
yate Indian h0stllties, which are little more than
frontier pastimes amounting to several millions not
| included in the annual budget. war of Mormon
determination would soon sum up the nice little in
ducement which Mr.. Buchanan offered to Spain
years ago for the purchase of Cuba, say hundred
millions or thereabOuts, with claims and contingent
cies added. INDEX.
From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Thursday, Dec 81, 1857.
Two years ago Congress passed an Act author
zing the President to appoint certain persons TO
wise and codify the laws of the District of Column
bia, said laws being confused medley of English
Maryland and United States statutes, perpexing
and harassing to the people, and profitable only to
the lawyers The work has been done, the Revised
Code printed, and the President has issued his pro-
clamation summoning the voters of the District to
assemble at their polls on the 18th of February
next and raity or reject the work, they shall see
fit.
A decided difference of opinion exists among the
people of the District upon several articles of the
Code, such as, for instance, the articles upon
usury, upon divorce, upon imprisonment for debt,
and upon the testimony of atheists. There also
seems to be considerable degree of opposition to
the Code as whole. The principal subject of dis
cussion, however, appears to be the subject of
usury, the Code allowing higher rate than the
present legal rate of interest to be established by
special agreement.
Mr.. Buchanan, in his proclamation exhibits
strange and shocking disregard of the LecomptOn
mode of submitting Constitutions and Codes, OF
which he affects such admiration in his annual Mes
sage Instead of submitting to the people OF the
District "the Code with usury," or 1.-The Code
without usury," he says: Those IN favor OF
1.-the adoption of the Revised Code will vote
ballot with the words For the ReriSod Cote
written or printed upon the same; and those OPP
opposed to the adoption of the said Code will vote
"a ticket with the words against Me Revised Cote
written or printed upon the same"
You will readily perceive how inconsistent this Il
with the LecOmptOn precedent Every argument
relied upon to Justify the LecOmptOn transaction
applies here with still greater force. code OF
laws is of even more Importance to people than
Constitution, as more Immediately affecting their
individual rights and interests The only question
really at issue in the District is the question of
rSury, and having an opportunity to vote upon
that the people surely ought to be satisfied. There
are few, if any, precedents in our history OF the
submission of an entire code to the popular vote
while on the other hand there are many prece-
dents of the establishment of codes without popular
ratification. 1t is highly desirable that the ques-
ton should be settled and end put to the dsscn-
sions which now agitate the District. If there is
ANYTHING Objectionable in the code it can be amend
ed hereafter, Just as the LecOmptOn Constitution
can be amended if it be not satisfactory Two
wears of time the labor of several able lawyers and
large amount of money for salaries, have been eX-
pended in the preparation of the code, all of which
| will b. wasted if the work is submitted as whole
| to be voted down by factious majority.
hope Congress will look into this matter. The
| country is entitled to know what the President
means bv blowing hot and cold at the same time
bv applying one rule to Kansas and another to the
| District of Columbia.
The case of Capt Pauding and Gen. Walker is
| not the first instance in which a Government has
been embarrassed by the unwelcOme fidelity OF its
agents. The Administration here felt bound by
treaties and by certain of decency, to order
| its naval commanders to intercept the flbusters,
without any very vivid desire to have them do so.
| The anxious and indecent haste with which the act
has been disavowed and the responsibility thrown
upon Capt. Paulding is strong evidence oil me dis
| graceful influence which the extreme South eXer-
| cises over the Government. If there was sincere
opposition to the designs of Walker the conduct Of
| Capt. Pauldng could not but copeland unquaneC
| appreciation. But there is no such opposition, either
| on the part of Mr.. Buchanan or his Cabinet tn,
public opinion of the civilized world compelled The
| President TO express in his Message hypocritca
dsapproval of flibusterng, while the public opinion
| of the extreme South, whose potency at the WHITE
House can hardly be 0verestimated has terrified
| Mr. Buchanan into prompt condemnation OF III,
only practical check which any officer OF the Gov
eminent has ever given to the attacks on Nicaragua
| The unanimous opinion of the Free States com
prisng two thirds of the population OF the country
is utterly disregarded, while the most AFFECT defer
ence is shown TO the wishes of the ultra shareholders
| Walker holds perpetual levee in his apartments
at Browns Hotel, where did myself the honor t
call upon him this morning. Notwithstanding tn
frequent descriptions of his person in the news
papers must confess to have been not little sur
prised al the contrast between his appearance ant
his history. He is short and slender with an orll
nary looking head, large nose, light brown ila'
worn Short, high narrow forehead and closely
shaven cheeks and chin. The famous light gra,
eyes are his most noticeable feature. lie Is CIV
and unassuming in manner: talks in very que
and subdued way, with mild and patient compo
sure much more BETTING the role of religion
martyr than that of buccaneer There is nothing
military in his air; aud had / casually met him
without knowing his name, should have taken hin
probably for an unusually modest newspaper re
porter or fora compositor in newspaper office.
sun, though Walker looks ust now as II butte
wouldn't melt in his mouth, there is lurking dew
III his eye which gave me the impression of insanity
though it may be only the insane lust of power or
notorlety lie affects an air of sincerity and pro
fessed to be quite hurt at the suggestion that h
had violated the laws of this or any other country