Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-11
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

committees Of the House Of Representatives
are under obligations of secrecy as to what
transpired in their sessions, and We are assured
that the Democratic members thereof have re-
fused to violate this rule. 1t is extremely un-
fair that the Opposition members should not
likewise keep their pledge, which 1t is pretty
evident, from the following paragraphs from
the New York Times and Tribune, and others
of q similar character previously published,
they have not done:
GO The House select investigating committee on
printing discovered another fraud of between
twenty and thirty thousand dollars to-day In q
contract with philadelphia house for paper''
"SheIman's committee Of investig alton rela-
tive to the navy-yards expect to close the testi-
mony this week. Every DAYS developments
present new wonders Of corruption; and the COM
thnn sny IePort will create s greater explosion
says that he can prove that he paid for painting
his house"
This distribution of such portions of the NOM
inal evidence as suit the slanderous inclination
OF the Opposition press, by piecemeal, if the work
OF members of the committee, is tolerably good
evidence that they do not expect the final re-
port to be one out of which they can make po-
litical capital and hence their determination
to make it do all possible injury to parties ac-
cused, by distributing quoted portions of it, and
by piecemeal, in advance.
JUDGE McCANDLEss.-The recent appoint
ment of the Hon. Wilson McC andless, of Pitts
burg, to be the United States District Judge
Ter the western district of Pennsylvania, ap-
pears to meet the unanimous approval of the
press Of that State. This was to have been ex-
pected; for while he has for twenty years past
been a leading Democratic party man, active
and efficient as such on all proper occasions, no
other distinguished lawyer of the State has
enjoyed, as man, larger share Of the conf
dence OF all who know him. The Pcnnsyl-
cantaH says of his appointment:
IAN EXCELLENT APPoINTMsNr.-We learn
from Washington that the President has nomi-
mated to the Senate, Wilson McCandless, of
PittsbuTg, to be Judge Of the District Count OF
the United States for Western PepnsvlyanJa in
place of Judge Irwin. resigned A humber of
able gentlemen were named for this place and
several were urged upon the President with
nuch tarneStncss, by their respective friends
w bile 1t may be admitted that the public inter-
ests would not have been prejudiced by the selec
t ION OF either, af',ds us pleasure to say that
meet The general approval of men Of all parties
In that section. As gentleman, a scholar and
lnIist, he enjoys the respect of all who know
nently qualified for the Bench.
There Is great Propriety in this appointment in
another aspect. Col. McCandIess has ever been
me farnest reliable, personal and political friend
OF James Buchanan, and has always been faith
ful to the Democratic cause-alike in ADVERSELY
and IN prosperity: While the appointment Of
others may have been desired by their friends
that OF MI. McCandless cannot be regarded as
objectionable or offensive by any Democrat or
friend of the President.
Ton AND TABBY AGAIN.-We find the follow
ing in the dispatch of special correspondent
to the New York Tribune, dated Washington
February9
"ln the Executive session Of the Senate last
evening, an exciting debate arose on the appoint
missioner under the Reciprocity treaty. with
Great Britain, TO mark the line between the river
and sea fishery. 1t was charged that the appoint
ment was made to reward Wiggin for having
voted for Buchanan in the Cincinnati COuyen,
tion-tbat he is utterly unqualified and an I'M
safe man for so important post. The Senate
declined TO confirm Wiggin, and the case WIS
laid aside for future action -
This indicates that the late in vestigation AZ
to who betrayed the secrets of the Senate
Executive session has not resulted in stopping
the leakage. If poor Tommy and Tabby were
expelled from headquarters under the gallery.
and we suppose they were, this renewal of the
offence would imply that the verdict against
them was IN just, and that il was from other
sources that newspaper writers obtained their
information. But, testing aside, as the above
paragraph involves what is calculated to dam
age the private character Of party who has
no opportunity of defending himself, this ca
Is far different from the other, wherein it was
the reputation Of Senators only that was con-
cerned. They could clear themselves promptly
n xuL. al -,
do.
FACTS AND RUMORs.-The correspondent of
the New York Macs says:
The Opposition begin to fear that the AID.
ministration will not be foiled in its determine
ton to annex Cuba IL has leaked out that a
secret personal agent OF the Queen Of Spain has
been In this country for twelve month and
that there have been several meetings between
him ard the President. This person Is said TO
be lawyer Of great emnence in Spain and 10
have the charge of the Queens private estate
and knows her wishes and intentions better than
bined."
The Baltimore Exchange says that
"a letter from Paris by the last steamer from
prominent source, states, on information re-
ceived from Madrid, that IL is not probable Mr.
Preston will be received as United States Minis
ter, but IL he should be received the frst init
nation from him relative to the purcha of Cuba
would be deemed sufficient ground for giving
him his passports. Our Government, however
Is NOT In receipt OF any official information from
spain on that subjecth
Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, denies that there
Is truth in the report that he desires to succeed
Mr.. Iverson in the Senate. He intends to
withdraw entirely from public service
The Baltimore Republicans correspondent
pays the following compliment to Mr.. Barks-
dale:
has on several occasions lately acted as Speaker
OF the House; the able manner in which he has
conducted himself during the most tumultuous
proceedings, Is a common subject Of commpnda-
tion He has shown himself to be prornpt, firm
and finished parliamentarian.
TEE WsArHER.-The following report of tho
weather for this morning is made from the Morse
Telegraph line to the Smithsonian Institution.
The time of observation Is about Z o'clock: