Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-03-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP


Army, to continue the establishment of maj
itary road in Oregon. 1t will be remembered
that that this road was commenced last sum
mer. but operations upon it were necessarily
suspended on account of the Indian disturb
ances in the Northwest. The road will extend
from Fort Walla-Walla, on the Columbia, to
Fort Benton, on the Missouri river, passing
through a wild and hitherto UNEMPLOYED region
of country, traversed only by mensciug and
rowing tribes of the " red men of the forest"
When completed, it must prove of incalculable
advantage to the tide of immigration pouring
into the State Of Oregon and the Territory of
Washington.
Lieut.. Mullan, with his corps Of assistants,
&C., will leave Washington city about the 10th
instant for St Louis, where will be procured
supplies and all essential appurtenances for the
From this point he will start for
New Orleans, there meeting the steamer, and
thence sailing for California, via the Tehuan-
tepec route. Arriving in Oregon, Lieut.. Null
Ian will proceed to organize and equip an eff
cient party, ready to take the field at as early
n day as practicable. Lieut. NJ is known to
the Department as one of the most reliable and
competent officers in the service His charac-
teristic energy and intelligence, as displayed
in past duties, furnish an ample guarantee that
his future labOrs will be performed in man.
ner highly creditable to himself and eminently
satisfactory to the Government
The COMMIsSIONERSHIP OF PATENTS.-Great
curiosity was manifested on the avenue this
morning by the - few more Of the same sort
left among us-the chronic politicians of all
parties-tO ascertain whom the President is
about to appoint as the successor of Judge Holt
in the COmmissionership Of Patents. We have
done our best to be able to cnlighten them upon
the point but up to IL m. our efforts to get an
inkling of the purposes of the President (prob-
ably before he has definitely made up his mind
on the subjec) have been unavailing; none of
his immediate friends seeming to know any
thing concerning his purpose in the premises.
Yet ere going to press we hope to be able to
throw light on the subject.
Z. Sit is understood that Commissioner
Holt will not relinquish his present position
and be sworn in Postmaster General until
Monday next This fact valves the otherwise
| legal necessity for the nomination Of a new
Commissioner of Patents until after the termi-
nation of the present called session of the
Senate. Our opinion now is, that under these
circumstances, the President will take time in
which to make his selection of a new Commits
siOner of Patents, sending in the nomination
only after the meeting of the new Congress.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE POSTMASTER GEN-
ERALS DEATH To THE SExArE.-After the Ex
ecutive session of the Senate yesterday. the
Vice pro.iIani taJ III G,
from the President:
To The Senate Of the United States:
III has become my sad duty to announce to the
Senate the death OF Hon Aaron " Brown late
Postmaster General at his residence in this city
on Yesterday morning at twenty minutes past nine
The death of this distinguished public officer.
especially at the present moment, when his emf
nent services are so much needed is great loss
MS country. lie was able. honest. and indefati-
gable in the discharge Of his high and responsible
duties, whilst his benevolent heart and his kind
department endeared him to all who approached
him.
Submitting, as do with humble RESIGNATION 10
the will of Divine Providence in this calamitous
ddsPensation, shall ever cherish his memory with
afectiOnate regard. JAMES BUCHAYAN
WAsHINGroN, March Q, 1859
Mr.. Nicholson then addressed the Senate in
feeling manner ON the melancholy event lust
announced and closed by Offering the custom
airy resolutions of respect and coincidence. The
Senate then adjourned until two o clock to-day.
The members will attend the funeral.
The CASE OF Mr.. WIGGINs.-From what we
have learned concerning the influences that
brought about the defeat Of the recent nomipa
ton Of Mr.. BENZ. Virgins, of Me-, to be the
commissioner on the fishing boundaries under
the reciprocity treaty, We feel satisfied that the
personal charges brought against him in secret
session by Senator Hamlin had no weight what
ever in bringing about the result. That grew
out OF his strong opposition to the late Domo-
cratic Administration of President Pierce which
numbers many ardent and powerful friends
among the democrats of the United States Sem
ate That point is said to have been directly
made upon him with great vigor 1t seems to
be understood that Mr.. Virgins will be an
pointed to tho post of inspector of the custom
houses in the northern New EnglandD district
of the United States, made vacant by the an
Polntment of ex-Gov. Hubbard of Maine to the
hShihgDoundaries' commissionership 1t is a
position of much political importance.
NOT THE WHOLE TRUTB.-The washington
correspondent of the New York Tri5,ue saws
the Senate has confirmed the appointment os
Charles l.. Weller, as Postmaster at San Fran
cisco, and adds:
The charges against Weller were of a very
serious character, enough To criminate most men
before Court of Justice. but apparently of littlr
consequence To his fellow Democrat of the n =
Senate " - -
This writer might have added with truth
that Mr. Weller has been proven wholly inno-
cent Of the charges; and that the Senate Com.
mlttee, which has had his nomination under
consideration for year past reported favor
ably upon it. If it had been possible 70
sustain the allegations made against Mr. Vel
ier' surely sufficient time and opportunities
were allowed; that they were not sustained in
such an investigation took place. is prettv
good evidence, we take it, Of their falsity.
hEsIGNED-We hear that the connection of
!. Buchanan Henry, Esq, the nephew of Presi-
dent Buchanan, and up to this time his Private
Secretary with public affairs here, is to termi-
nate next week; when he removes to the CITY
OF New York whore he