New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-03-23
FROM WASHINGTON.
Proca osr Own Cor-spopdep,
WASHINGTON, March 81. 1853.

WASHINGTON, March IL loD'.
While Count Ssrtiges has several times disa.
vowed spy connection OF the French Government
Vi the ebteIpri'e Of 81. Belly to Nic,r'gus there
have been some Indications heretofore which IN
duced the belief tina. 1t had at less. semi-ofieial
inspirations, And although the icea il rdlcaled 10
wssbp gton among the diplomatic corps, there are
those who stil hold to the conviction that II df-
ferent condition Of things now existed IN Europe,
such a. DID exist IN fact when this PROJECT was
started. il would receive more unqualified sanction
from high quarters il France. So far as the ID 2
canal is concerned ths, may or may not be bind
to the more practicable object Of securing the tran
sit Ii is known here that difficulties have occur
red In tbe internal organization OF the original
scheme. For example, VI. MarcOletta who was ap-
pointed Minister from Nicaragua ~ France, at the
instance of NJ. Belly when there, has seTered his
relations with the latter. And others who origin
ally entered into il, have quarreled or retreatrd,
thus fun shlDg some basis for the impression thai
the undertaking was discouraged at this time.
Various speculations have been made as to the
cause of the delay and .mbassmeut 10 ratfying the
Cas- Yrissarri treaty which IL now promised by the
next steamer with slight notifications, but with
out any satisfactory solution. On all sides there
has been an agreement Of opinion that England
WAS at the bottom Of the difficulties, aud this con
yctOn h.s been strengthened By the results which
Immediately followed the presence Of Sir Gore
Ouseley there. when he negotiated treaty in few
weeks and advanced il to completion, while ours
had been hanging by the eyelits for year and 4
half More than that, We have recently seen tue
bitter frud between the Presidents OF Nicaragua
and Costa Rica entirely reconced under tnat po-
ten .is manipulation; and there Is strong suspicion
here that while this reconciliation has been gong
on there Gen. Jerez, the Minister OF the FORMER
- r.pl. INN fact q
Informed Of the purposes OF the new alliance IN
Central America.
Dir. Holt The new Postmaster General, sets
about his work like man who ia IN earnest. lie
may be seen at the Department before the usual
hour for the gathering Of the clerks and seems
already to have inspired them with at least
the policy Of reforming their habits OF Incidence
and carelrssness. Taciturn, observing and IN
dustrious, he il not likely to b. bamboozled as
some Of his predecessors have been by the todylsm
Of subordinates, whose chief aim is to get posses
sion Of the Postmaster General, and then use him
for selfish or doubtful purposes. He is difficult OF
approach and not at all given TO familiarity, 50 that
every man will be expected 10 keep his place, and
10 perform bis duty. In starting the retrenchment
which has already been introduced. he has ex.
hIbited perfect indifference as to the clamOr oi
politicians, which may be considered good sign.
There is DO authority for saying that Mr.. Holt
has encouraged the suggested e1pedlent OF issuing
Certificates Of Indebtedness to Contractors as a
means OF carry ing on the Department until Con
press shall make the appropriations. There 10 no
warrant Of law for any such proceeding. Tue
practice has been for contractors at the expiration
of each quarter, to draw for their compensation.
These drafts were never recognized by the Depart
ment, but registered in their order, and when the
accounts were audited and the money was on hand
they were paid. No evidence OF recognition, not
L. Id, tnf fk.l atf ~ tar
ipr the drafts vas ever furnished in order to pre-
vent the possibility of the practice of creating
semi official shin-plastcr currency, such as IS no"
suggested If there is to be no extra session, let
the contractors place the responsibility where 1t
belongs. Most of them can afford to wait without
much suffering or inconvenience, judging from the
prices they have received during the last few years