Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-03-08
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON CITY.
( Correspondence Of The Ritho.ond E"q"irer
W,,ut,a:roS N,RCu > 1859.

LETTER FR0m WhShlNGlOn WILL
( Correspondence or The Richo,pnd E"q"irerl
WA,ur,r;rox. MARCH ). 1899.
McsSr>. Editors The bodily existence oi
the thirty fifth Congress is among the thing,
that were Ii will live hereafter only in the
reputation which attaches 10 notable folly and
ineiliciency. presents the truly anomalous
condition Of deserving more credit for what it
did not do than for what il did. And even
tina, poor need Of negative praise is diminished
hy il. failure to provide Tor the postal expenses.
,hrs sulicc,in. the President 10 the necessity
nc nurs,i;n, one Of three courses, either of
which i to be- >,rrnly deprecated. Tih: To let
the Post Office Department 20 by the board;
Ia use for it, ,u>tcnanrc moneys mol appropri-
atcl for the object. or 10 call an extra session
of Congress lor the performance Of duties ie-
Ultimately belonging 10 this. lPon the mrs,
woali en>u.. an overwhelming EMBARRASSMENT
10 every interest of the country; the second
would involve an unconstitutional exercise %!
power To the third God defend u.s. We 'h'>'
then come.
Amid,, the confusion ever attendant upo"
the close Of session. il Is impossible to aScer-
tain to what precise limit the appropriations
have reached. Sufficient is known. however
10 lead t. 10 suppose tina, there will be enough
in the Treasury 10 meet all the expenditures
which have been authorised, with margin Tor
the wants OF the PoSt.Oilic Department. should
our prospective friends of the new ton.rcS,
conclude TO allow the Goycrnmcn; 10 do The
three c,nt business any longer
In thi, connection. il may De proper 10 state,
in order u correct any mi>apprchensi"n 'F,s
inc ,romccrtan reports. cmanating from w ash
ington. that the Treasury note h!ll has become
4 law. The friend, OF rrt:enchnr!t ana Inc
opponen, of the Tariff, having set 10 woEH
anic,ly u accomplish their purposes by rcduc'
il., the estimates of the Departments 10 the
,yt.nt OF sem. six or seven millions Of dollars
thu, bringing the expenditures within The con-
coded meats Of the government. have al last
laid low he only remnant oil deinnri federal
lsm.
About two millions q! the iiTs; issue oi
Treasury notes having been redeemed. the oil!
provides for the ve-isslie o! SIS ,Ovo."V9 .! Inc
notes. bearing interest i, i per cent ana re-
dccinab!c AZ the pleasure OF the government OF
upon the l,t July. 1860.
The estimates for the various nav! !ard>. rs
reported from the appropriate committee, ~
either House. have been >erera!ly reduced III
the actual appropriations made. II |, under
stood. As we'll a, can be a>ccrtaincd. that only
$4,000 have been appropriated Tor tl!c WASH
in.,on Navy Yard. $4,000 Cor that Of Norfolk.
sums contemplated 10 be- though barely >nitI-
cicnt. to keep in d,e preservation the pubic
property at those Two points. similar friuc'
tons have been made III the cases 81 the re-
maininy wards and ike provision made 10:
keeping the public works in repair.
II is much 10 be- regretted that this acton
will nccc,Sitatc the dismissal OF large NUN
Der of honest and industrious mechanics. VII"
at the present crisis in our shipping interests
and OWN. To the general depression III ship
building, will look in vain 10 employment by
private capital for the support Of their numcr-
Gus and DIES rvins families God help and pre-
serve these unfortunates'
The bill providing for the completion "i the
Washington aGueduct. and for securing the
blessings of tina, great WORK TO the people Of
our two rites. was lost. All that VA, rece>-
>ary to those ends wa, the laying .! the iron
mains and the finishing Of the Great receiving
reservoirs. The work must. however. be- >ii'-
pended. am! money u,rle,>ly expended i"r
preserving it in It's present exposed state
The compliment; Of a public dinner was yes.
tcr,iav rendered 10 Hon. \. H. Stephens. by 3"
members of the Senate and House OF Reprr,'i-
ta,iycs of e:cry shalc Of politics He. how
eyer. declined testimonial. 81 i;attcrlngiy en-
prcs,ive of the regret of his friends at MS tie
parturc from public life. owing 10 the pressure
Of hi, private engagement, al home. No less
than these. hi, Congressional! admirers VIII
the public generally have occasion t" mourn
the loss. in their legislative halls. OF SO SOUND
and practical a statesman 81 logical thinker,
so acute and influential = dcbater. 50 upright
and CONSCIENTIOUS Il gentleman. rs stephens. oil
Georgia. His memoir will survive him. and
the Golden opinions which he has won from
all sorts OF men, will throw halo Of bright
ness and comfort around his future.
Smith O'Bricn. the Irish patriot, in company
with John Mitchell. ESQ. Thos. +. Me'Gher
Hon a. H. stephens. and q select circle OF
friends. WAS yesterday rccciTcd al The hise
House and introduced Ia tic President. ne
interview lasted but u short time" but WAS the
occasion Of much enjoyment 20 al present. lie,
fore leaving Mr. O'Bricn GRACEFUL! expressed
his gratitude to Mr. buchanan for the efforts
which, while ambassador al the Court OF ~
james. he had made 10 secure his recall from
his Australian exile: 10 which the President
responded in equally iciclous terms.
The health Of Postmaster General Brown,
lately attacked by Il vcry violent pneumonia,
continues in = very crtica! condition. and his
life is almost d"spaired of His physicians. Drs.
Miller and TYLER. remained with him during
the whole Of Ia, night, and express strong
doubts Of his recovery.
The funeral Of the lamcntcd Marron, Third
Assistant Postmaster General. took place at his
residence this morning. and his remains were
followed to their place OF intermcnt by n good
X ronconrsc Of the friends and relatives of his
family. The deceased was native of Ireland,
but resided for some time after his arrival IN
this country in the good old city Of Nor.
folk. where he won III. esteem and regard
of his associates. lie did not fail 10 SO.
. cure. upon coming here. the respect oi
all those with whom he came in contact.
and of none more than Of the clerks Of the
financial branch of the Post Office Department.
/ over whom he so ably presided. These gentle
/ men called n meeting. passed resolutions feel!
! ingly expressive Of their deep sorrow for tho
loss of their departed friend. and we have
since been informed have made up handsome
subscription for the bcneii; Of his widow. who
! is left in reduced circumstances. We like &c
record such touching evidences Of sympathy
in the official intercourse Of the heads o! bureaus
ard their clerks.
It is said that Genera. Jones. the retiring
senator from Iowa. will be appointed to Tho
vacancy.
The efforts being made ;or the arrest of But
terworth the confidential adviser of SicklcS II
the late tragedy have thus far failed. Public
sentiment here is strongly excited against thi
man for the part he took in the late difficulty
and their indignation is by no means diminish
ed By the rumor that 10 was driven from Mis-
sissipp for like offence 70 that for which he.
was yictimzcd.
The trial Of Sickle> cannot come oil, II !
supposed. for fifteen days. Meanwhile thi
NJ. C. must remain among the rats an
verinin. who make desperate stand against a
invaders for the undisturbed possession of tha