Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-01-10
WASHINGTONNEWS AND GOSSIP.

continued omission of the Senate, to act on tno
of Charles l.. Weller, bsq>
at San Francisco, has excited no
little curiosity as to what will be the upsnot
of the matter. It is generally known tnat tne
appointment was sent to the Senate last winter,
and that about the same time Senator Broder-
lex. in connection with resolutions of inquiry,
made some illusions to Mr.. Weller's official
conduct calculated to defeat his confirmation
These animadversions we're, it seems, based on
charges brought BY Henry L. Goodw n and R.
K Porter, to which Mr.. Broderick appears to
have been snxious to call attention, under cir
cumstsnces precluding any defence of the
Through the efforts of Senator
Yulee, according to the public understand
ing9 this object was frustrated, and the whole
matter was referred to the Committee on Post
OAi;es and Postroads, with whom it has since
rested, because the committee were unwilling
to make report until they had thoroughly
Investigated the charges. .rr
Meanwhile, Mr.. Weller became aware of the
opposition made to his reconfrmation, and,
although the charges brought against him had
previously been canvassed by the Post Office
Department, and his conduct in their connec-
ton endorsed, he prepared and forwarded to
each Senator an elaborate review of all the
circumstances of the case. In this defence, be
insists that he incurred the displeasure of those
making the charges by doing his duty, and
thereby, in Goodwin's case, depriving his ac-
cuser of the advantages of highly remunera-
tive but illegal business private penny
post enterprise. The facts set forth by Mr..
Weller are sustained generally by the records
of several courts Of law in California, in which
Goodwin brought suits against him to recover
damages, and by correspondence on file in the
Post Office Department in this city. In other
words, the charges are thus shown to be conse-
quent upon Mr.. Weller's obedience to, and
enforcement of, the Pest Office laws and regu-
lations; and in every instance where Goodwin
brought suit against Weller for damages the
judgment Of the court and the verdict of the
jury were given in favor of the defendant.
There is but little doubt that the machina
tons of Mr.. Weller's enemies will fail to harm
him, if Senators take the trouble to examine
either his pamphlet or the correspondence on
file in the Post Office Department, which letter.
in pursuance with a resolution, has recently
been placed on the Vice Presidents table, and
is readily accessible to them all. The danger
is, however, that they will neglect to do this;
while the assiduity with which his traducers
have followed him so far, leaves no room to be-
lieve that they will remit their efforts now,
and allow any to remain ignorant OF the argu
ments which can be adduced on their side of
the question. To illustrate the extent to which
they are prepared to 60, it is only necessary
for US to remind our readers that the resoIu.
ton offered by Mr.. Broderick last spring, which
purported to be an interrogatory to the Post
Office Department as to the circumstances,
started out with q declaration of the guilt of
the party about whom inquiry was to be made
The voluminous correspondence which Good
Win has inflicted on the Post Office Depart.
ment, and the patience-exhausting harapgues
he has maintained with the Senate Post Office
show his perseverance; while his
treatment Of the Postmaster General in pro-
curing that gentleman's arrest during his trip
to New Pork last summer, on a charge of libel
Tin an official communication to the Senate)
illustrates his readiness to worry those who
oppose him, into acquiescence.
Probably no one man ever gave a depart
ment Of this Government so much trouble as
this man Goodwin, and none, certainly. ever
carried subject to as great lengths on such
shallow pretexs. Yet lit is on his charges alone
that Senator Broderck is said to rest his opposi-
ton to public officer of whom the Depart
ment speaks in the highest terms, and through
whose efforts the citizens of California have
come to enjoy regular postal facilities, instea |
of being subjected to the extortions and irree-
ularities Of the private express enterprises for.
merly In operation In that State. We say, on
his charges alone; for that made by Porter
Of public money-is refuted be-
yond cavil by the fact that the books of the
auditor of the Department show Mr.. Weller to
have been credited with the very money he is
accused Of embezziing. Senator BIS opposi.
ton to Mr.. W. is 30 palpably persecution on
account of personal hostility, that even he
should be ashamed to engage in it in the Sen.
ate Chamber; and the display of such vindic-
tiveness there should be a sufficient cause for
universal condemnation.
The ADMRALsHIP CONFERENCE.-The of
fH Star Dear Sir: Having noticed two letters,
gently published In the Star, over the SIG nature
comments
ing little on them
Without wishing to adopt any Of Mr.. skoven.
dyke's miserable attempts at satire, would beg
to remind him that Manifestations of national
gratitude, like that proposed and about to be
Is a most powerful ince ntive to our
youth, and an extraordinary stimulant to emf
hence and heroism. What is It that has rendered
England at present invulnerable, but the reward
OF titles and distinctions, which she bestows on
her champions, whether In the Senate, In diplo-
macy, or the field Again: look at France. the
when first Withdrawn from pastoral
life, In his native valleys doubtless reluctantly
embraces bis new career but, 10 a little time
the antipathy wears of-ambition created, and
ne becomes not only reconciled, but eager, ar
dent, especially when his sanguine French tenn.
permanent is dazzled by the vision of a MarshaI;s
baton glittering In the future
IL Is palpable fact in history that the nations
That have most prospered were those which have
best rewarded their most eminent men ana III
gallant old seaman, whose hair has silyered in
The service OF bis country, and who Is about 10
be honorsd by bearing the title Of, and being the