Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-03-14
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.


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 far 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 a slate for the
Convention, does not tend to aay this state Of feel
ing. There 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 are principally those who have been elect
ed delegates, without being instructed for whom to
vote, and they 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 asprans the Convention will be likely to open
stormiy; but my conversations with many of these
gentlemen render it certain that they will Zeaously
support whoever may be the nominee Of the Con-
vention. Of course we shall have a breezy time at
the start and delegates will warmly press the claims
Of their several fayortes 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 favorite 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
the BateStes that their man is more available and
likely to triumph in the contest. This is quite
candid confession from Republican lips; they admit
that with candidate who really represents the
principles of that party f,ure would be inevitable
that its incendary doctrines announced by Sc
ward, would be spurned by the honest masSes-that
they dare not ask the sufrages 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 appan-
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 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 old
dodge for a rogue to cry out stop thief" in
der to effect his own escape, and this pure party
are excellent imtators in this respect. Covode of
pennsylvania is ore OF the most active in pursuit OF
supposed corruptons under this administration, and
resolution offered by him for the appointment ola
select committee Ito investigate" embraces in its
generality everything under the sun. 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-
man, His resolution was pred;cated upon the fol-
lowing remarks: LIST, Mr. Hickman, said IN the
House, las 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 lick
man. lie actually refused to sell himself although
offered more than he was worth. John Hickman
has been bought and sold SO often that his market
value is seriously deprecated, and he would be
! dear bargain as a gift Mr.. Adrain said during
| the Lecompton controversy, ! was approached in
such manner as shows corruption the part of
| this administration Why did not this gentleman
! whose conscience and sense of outraged dignity
! seems pricking him on to virtuous deeds, disclose
this alleged tampering with his honesty at the time
! it was attempted? John B. IIaskin declared, " he
! (Mr. Buchanan) cndeavored by threats and by
auctions Of his patronage, without effect, to draw
| true men away from the path of duty" Honest
John Thou art a veritable Dogberry, both in learn
ing and honesty! These some of the flimsy pre-
/ texts used to institute Investigations with view
dt0ne to making party capital these are the men
who preach economy and deliver long, sanctimon-
Gus homileS upon public virtue and then enter into
bargains for parceng the profits from the print
rupt and shameless Forney clerk, who if dsappOint-
cd oilceScekers of his party to be believed
traded off some of the most desirable of the Offices
| III his gift.
The cost Of these unnecessary Investigations will
be enormous; but then there will be hundreds
witnesses to summon, and that will swell the purse
! of the Scrgcant-at-Arm there will be vOuminous
testimony printed, and that will largely increase the
profits of Tom Ford, the public printer; there will
be garbled extracts from the evidence scattered all
the country, and that will subservc electiOnecr
ing purposes If these committees are sincere and
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 dIscontentS demanded. Men
are rarely approached as these aver they were unless
something in their manner or conversation invite it.
The Democratic members court the closest scrutiny
into the administration of the affairs of government
but they protest against the appointment of these
repeated and useless investigating committees, when
the fact is VIGOROUSLY plain to those here, that is
done alone for clectoneering purposes and the trea
sury has to foot the bill. In view of the corrupt
of the party who hold the rens of power in the
House, not at all surprised that the religious
convention recently held in Philadelphia should de-
sgnate Washington as "a cery wicked city," and
call upon the churches to pray for it.
But while this committee are ransacking the coun-
try in quest of corruptions, let them overhaul the
modest Mattcson and give him slight ventilation.
ihere 700 u the bargain Haue aoouI lhe pruning
let them inquire how many members of Congress
directly and indirectly concerned in it, and
how many have direct or indirect interest in the
profits to from it. Then let these fanatics,
whose morals are pure, take in hand Parson
Lovejoy and the brand of theft from his cleri
cal brow; then inquire how much money was con-
trbutcd by Peck the defaulter to secure the cleo
ton of French, Soames and Foster of Maine, to a
seat in Congress; then examine the present Speak
err and Joy Morris and others of his stripe, as to
the bargain entered into Penningons cleo
tion and then take Forney, and inquire into the his
tory of some of his appointments; whether or not
he received, is to receive either for himself orJor
purity purposes any portion of the salaries of aP-
pontees given in consideration of being provided