Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-03-14
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON CrrY, March 9, 1860.

From the disposition at present manifested by |
members of all parties in Congress- it is evident that
but little legislation of general interest can be had
until after the presidential nominations by the three
conventions shortly to assemble. Even then, the |
session will be so tar advanced that many important
measures will fail to receive the attention they
should command, and will almost necessarily be
turned over to the next session Politicians are in
state Of feversh excitement and the daily arrival
Of gentlemen from various parts Of the Union, who
come to compare notes and arrange slate for the
Convention does not tend to allay this state of feel
ing. There are at this time numbers OF the most
prominent public men of the country, in this City,
comforting together and sounding their party friends
with view to learn who is the strongest candidate
and most likely to secure the nomination These
gentlemen principally those who have been elect
ed delegates, without being instructed for whom to
vote, and they are exceedingly anxious to be on the
winning side. Douglas seems to be losing ground,
while the prospects of Hunter of Va, and Dickinson
of New York, are becoming more and more cheering
to their respective advocates and supporters. Judg
ing from the present temper of the friends of GER
tain aspants the Convention will be likely to open
stormlly but my conversations with many of these
gentlemen render it certain, that they will zealously
support whoever may be the nominee of the Con-
vention. Of course we shall have breezy time at
the start and delegates will warmly press the claims
of their several favorites but the selected
! the whole column Of Democracy will close up and
present an unbroken and united front to the enemy.
! The Republicans appear somewhat at fault and
their political house divided. Seward is evidently
the favOrlte with majority of this motley host of
fanatics; but even his late speech, toned down and
trimmed and pared to suit the delicate stomachs of
the more conservative portion of his party fails to
secure their cordial appreciation They desire Bates,
of Missouri and it is probable that fierce fight will
ensue in the Chicago Convention between these two
wings Of the Republican party. 1t is insisted by
thu Rofa that nar, .ycl
likely to triumph in the contest. This is quite a
candid confession from Republican lips; they admit
that with candidate who really represents the
principles of that party filure would be inevitable
that its incendary doctrines as announced by Sc.
ward, would be spurned by the honest nasses-that
they dare not ask the suffrages of the people upon
the platform enunciated by their leaders in and out
of Congress. Their first and paramount object is to
get into power by any means, however deceptive
and fraudulent and then backed by all the applian
ces Of federal power, with the Army and Navy at
its beck and call, the South would be subjected to
the wrong and humillations foreshadowed by the
infamous Helper.
Investigating committees are rapidly multiply
ing, the Republicans exhibiting an amazing eager
ness to ferret out something for political capital
and at the same time divert public attention from
too close scrutiny into their own acts 1t is an old
dodge for rogue to cry out "stop thief" in or
der to effect his own escape, and this pure party
are excellent imitators in this respect Covode Of
Pennsylvania is of the most active in pursuit of
supposed corruptions under this administration and
resolution offered by him for the appointment of a
select committee ITO investigate" embraces in its
generality everything under the sum- Chas. Hoard
of n. Y, improved somewhat on Covode by asking
committee to investigate certain implied charges
made by members of the House against Mr.. Bucha-
His resolution predicated upon the fol-
lowing remarks: LIST, Mr.. Hickman said IN the
House, "as Mr.. Buchanan could not purchase me,
SO cannot be purchased by Others | have already
been offered more than | am worth and refused to
sell myself at that" Immaculate, prosecuted Hlck
man! He actually refused to sell himself although
, offered more than he worth. John Hickman
has been bought and sold so often that his market
value is seriously deprecated and he would be a
dear bargain as gift Mr.. Adrain said "during
the Lccompton controversy, was approached ir
n such a manner as shows corruption on the part o.
this administration" Why did not this gentleman
whose conscience and sense of outraged dignity
seems pricking him on to virtuous Deeds disclose
C this alleged tamperng with his honesty at the time
y it was attempted. John B. Haskn declared, he
t (Mr. Buchanan) endeavored by threats and by Sc
auctions Of his patronage, without effect, to draw
true men away from the path Of duty" Honest
John! Thou art veritabe Dogberry, both in learn
c ing and honesty! These some of the fmsy pre-
texts used to institute investigations with view
alone to making party capital; these are the mer
|
Gus homles upon public virtue. and then enter int
bargains for parceng out the profits from the print
ing plunder; these the who elected the
rupt and shameless Forney clerk who if disappoint
ed ofice-scekers of his party to be believed
# traded off some of the most desirable of the office
!, in his gift
l. The cost Of these unnecessary investigations viii
j.. be enormous; but then there will be hundreds Q
witnesses to summon, and that will swell the purs
+ of the Scrgeantat-Arms; there will be volulninou
is testimony printed and that will largely increase tn
e profits of Tom Ford, the public printer there vii
be garbed extracts from the evidence scattered al
the country, and that will subserve eectoncer
VI ing purposes. 1fthese committees are sincere an
really desire to get at the TRUTH and disposed to al
ford fair and thorough investigation it will be like
ly to appear that the President unwilling to
:. cord what these bitter dscontents demanded. Mel
rarely approached as these aver they were uncs
"a something in their or conversation invite il
re The Democratic members court the closest scrln,
into the administration of the affairs of government
70 but they protest against the appointment of hcs
repeated and useless investigating committees, whe
the fact is VIGOROUSLY plain to those here, that it
e. done alone for electioneerng purposes and the trea
r sury os to foot the bill. In view of the corrupt
of the party who hold the reins of power in tn
House, am not at all surprised that the religion
u convention reccntly held in Philadelphia should de
III sgnate Washington as "a Gerry wicked city," an
in call upon the churches to pray for it.
ps But while this committee ransackng the cour
try in quest of corruptions, let them overhaul tn
= modest Matteson and give him slight ventilation
is There too is the bargain made about the printing
p let them inquire how many members of Congress
N were directly and indirectly concerned in it. an
how many have direct or indirect interest in tn
profits to accrue from it. Then let these fanatics
whose morals are so pure, take in hand Parse
Lovejoy and erase the brand of theft from his cler
,e cal brow; then inquire how much money was cor
h. trbuted by Peck the defauer, to secure the elet
= ton of French, Soames and Foster of Maine, to
seat in Congress; then examine the present SPEAK
lg err and E. Joy Morris and others Of his stripe
the bargain entered into to secure Pennngtons elet
tion and then take Forney and inquire into the his
y. tory of some Of his appointments; whether or nc
he received OF is to receive either for himself
m party purposes any portion Of the salaries of al