White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1860-03-08
sp.cial Washington Correspondence.
WAsHIxGToS CRY, March l, 1860.


EDITOR CHIEF We have had excl
ting times here, since my last epistle.
You have doubtless heard Of the Ed
mundson ard Hickman fracas, but you
have not heard the truth about it. The
fact is. everything that transpires here is
perverted by the letter-writers, for polit-
ical effect. Now 1 have the facts from
Edmundson himself. and win briefly
state them. The story that the assault
was in consequences of Hickman's slur
upon Virginia, is all CANNON. The real
cause was this: During that days session.
Hickman occupied a seat Immediately
behind Edmundson. The latter gentle
man arose to bow to some ladies in the
gallery. when Hickman hastily bent pin,
so that. when placed on any level surface
the point would stick up, 1.-THE same as
You used to do, Mr.. Editor, when at
school) This he put on Edmundson's
seat. and when that gentlemen sat down,
he came square upon the pin. He was
no sooner down than he was up again
and those who saw it declare that he
bounded three feet clear of his chair. He
went out and watched for Hickman, and
when he saw him come ont, the letter
writers tell Us, he struck at him, but only
knocked off his hat. Now, Edmundson
assures me this was all he attempted to
do. The hat was bran new one, for
which five dollars had just been paid. and
he wanted to spoil it. "And," added
he, in conclusion, with hearty chuckle.
al did spoil it I"
Senator Clingman and Vice President
Breckenridge anticipated some fun, and
were on the watch to see it. They say
it was the most amusing thing they had
seen for a long time. Clingman declared
that he had not laughed so much since
his mother died
Mr.. Compton, the member of the Ma.
ryland Legislature. who introduced the
resolution censuring Henry Winter Da-
Wis for voting for Pennington, has chal-
lenged Davis, in consequence of the rs-
king down which the latter gave him in
Congress. This Compton is brother of
LIE. Compton, of your Territory. Davis,
in his speech. intimated that Compton
was coward, and the latter desires to be
set right on this subject. The friends of
the parties have arranged for an amicable
adjustment of the matter. A chip will
be placed upon Davis shoulder and, If
Compton knocks it of, it will prove that
he is no coward, and the affair Twill be
dropped.
The Congressional Investigating Com
mittees are about bringing to light q
startling development. 1t is nothing
more nor less than that the famous Ma
tional Hotel disease was q humbug, got
ten up for speculation. by james Buchan-
an. He was interested in certain Ho.
tel, which was running in opposition to
the National but the latter was drawing
the custom, and Buchanan determined up
on bold stroke. He invited large num-
Der of his confidential friends to Wash
ington, to dine at the National and each
one carried an emetic with him, which
he swallowed at the proper time, and it
had the desired effect. The National was
almost ruined, and Buchanan's hotel took
the lead. Col. Forney was a particular
friend Of Buchanan at that time, and was
posted in all the facts. He it was who
first pnt the Committee on the scent of
this affair. A rag peddler has testified
that shortly after that event. he purchased
lot Of discarded clothing at Wheatland,
among which was one of Buchanan's
vests. In side pocket he found a vial
of Croton oil, and several papers cor
taing tartar annette, put up in the style
that physicians do up doses of quinine.
This affair gives the President great
uneasiness, and nothing less than speedy
disruption of Congress will save him.
He has strong hopes of establishing the
fact that this session of Congress is lille
gal and I understand that he has sent
for Secretary Walsh, of your Territory,
to come and decide the matter.
Perhaps you are not aware that the
bred Scott decision is not as satisfactory
to the Southern Democracy as has been
generally supposed. In fact, it has failed
to meet their wants, and to insure that
protection to slave property which was
desired. To be sure, it decides that a
Negro is not a citizen, but it still leaves
him human being; and so long as be is
regarded as human, Just so long will he
not be considered as safe as horses, cat
tie. sorghum, and other property rseog-
nized ~ the Constitution. An effort IL
heino made In ohviate this difficnltv With