Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP


WASHINGT TON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
PERSONAL ExPLANArIoN.-Mr Hatch, of
New York, said in the House yesterday that Mr..
Zollicofer, las he found from the report i'm the
Glo6e) when he was absent, had made q per-
sonsl allusion to him. He desired to say that il
was his right as a member of the House to dis
cuss any question of public intere't No power
on earth could deter him in the faithful and
fearless discharge of that duty. The other day
ne spoke OF large party, and of their alleged
oatns, meaning, Of course the oaths which had
oeen published, and which, of course. could
only be known with certainty by the members
OF the secret society who composed that party.
be did not, and does not, intend to 60 into any
question Of veracity with any member of the
House as to their existence, or make his opin
ions as to their treasonableness or unconstitu-
uonallty, questions Of veracity, but had stated
to the House the authority upon which he had
made the statement The gentleman had pro-
nounced those allegations false. If he was
right, then he took issue with his authority.
which he had given him. When he made a
personal issue with any gentleman, in or ont
OF the House, he was responsible. 1t might he
true that such oaths were not known in Ten.
nessee' he made no such assertion. He did
not ailege that the gentleman or any other gen.
ueman had taken such oaths His purpose was
simply to express the belief that party or 20.
clety exist in 1T who have taken oaths and oh.
legations, in his judgment, directly in conflict
with the Constitution of the United States and
the rights of citizens, and to cite the authority
upon which this opinion is founded. He felt il
MS duty to say this much in order that the
mouse and the country might understand that
ne made no personal issue with the gentleman
from Tennessee, or with any other member o,
the House
MI Zollicoffer answered that 1t might be
possible that he inexperienced the spirit
which animated the gentleman from New York
He would say to him that he felt it due to him.
SELF to state to the House that the obligations
~nicn ne mad read were not in the letter and
spiris OF that order in Tennessee He had
been In the habit of treating political oppo-
nents with courtesy and respect All he asked
was TO be treated likewise. 1t had never been
his purpose to make a personal issue with anv
gentleman if he could well avoid it. He felt
that ne owed it to himself to make the personal
issue, but If be had Inexperienced the gen.
ueman from New York he had nothing further
to say upon the subject
Their PHEBLINKs IS INDBsCRIBABLes,-
Northern journals holding that one NAV fight
the Democratic party to the death, upon oues
TONS wherein defeat is death to it. and still
pass Tor the very best and most praiseworthy Of
All Democratic-party men. have had their
Pneeilnks shockingly outraged by the recent
removal OF the Postmasters of Columbus. Ohio.
ana Chicago, Illinois. The Philadephia Press,
ior instance, groans over it, as though suddenly
taken with terrible fit of the collie. The edi.
tor Is, evidently, not an advocate for General
Jackson's system Of dealing with ofice-hold
who assumed the responsibility of Iaboring to
oeieat reading measures Of his Administration.
no" that 1t cuts those patent Democrats who
ngnt shoulder to shoulder and shield to shield
with the entire Republican party against the
Administration and the Democratic armv in
Congress The Old HERDS system, however
not only worked well in his own day. but ba.
been approved by the faithful of the party ever
since Its prompt adoption by James Buchanan
simpiy proves that he is determined 10 follow
inJackson footsteps in the details of his policv
as well as In the principles on which his policy
founded He president Buchanan will
make ne mistake whatever-the public know
Well-while thus keeping old ackson' 3 ideas of
the fitness Of things always before him, as his
guide.
eENAroR JOHNSON AND THE PUBLIC BINDER.
In the New York Herald of Thursday we find
the following letter from Senator johnson.
which explains itself:
WASHINGTON, Feb Is, 1858.
James Gordon BeRnett, ESQ
Editor of the Nec York B,,oyd.
SIR-On my return, yesterday from New Or
leahsr after an absence of several weeks your ~,
per OF x.s, OF January last was handed TO me,
anu III u ma an article upon public printing
over the signature of Peter J. Smith which
SndIges corruption upon the part of a Southern
oepatoI IN the appointment Of Mr. BoteIer as
PpS.nn sne'a VI tne senate, but gives names
This appointment or election ia made nv the
SENATE committee on Public Printing, and the
one from the North and two from the S"n,b n,
the two from the South I was the ouiv ons NJ
supported the firm Of Pettibone and Botelsr ~ho
We GUY Elected ana appointed public binders;
against whom these charges are leveIled
The charges are defamatory to the last deor..
request you 10 read them in your paper Of the
The charges are without founda alton and are
utterly untrue. | never had a business transac
ZION with Mr.. Boteler, and certainly never wa,
his debtor for fifty dollars in my life have
known him for some years rs a merchant Of this
city, and always as an honorable man and gen
uenlan In supporting him for this ppointment
was governed by no interest, direct, contingent
.emo.e, and had no motive other than that of
oeilendlng him Ia a manner entirely legitimate
H. N not inconsistent with the public service.
90 much Tor that charge
In IN chaIge that sought to confer upon Major
OF pnhl
& SonuI'ioh tnat ne would share the profits with
me, !. -q uaiiy wholly untrue The truth is thai
,, .e NJ s9aght nor ever had a conversation
lie binding or any subject from the bopr of
my arrival 10 this city up to the instsn, ~
t tns afPo'nsmer' Of P.'tiboae Boteler, nor did
once, when, L, .iig asked If I would 6avs s D
objection to voting for Major Heiss, as he M
Botsler, desired to form CO partnership. re-.
piled that hs had my respect and eonldsnce. and