Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-08
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASUlSGToN, April lettering 10 Tie
postscript to my letter of Saturday, have
now to inform you that the gentleman from
one of the border States who had an inter
view with two members OF the Cabinet, and
who expected to have an audience with the
President the next morning, had an inter-
view with that high funotionary, which |
learn was Of mutually pleasant and graft
ing character will here assume the re-
sponsibility of announcing that the gentle
man alluded to is the lion. John Minor
Bolts, of Virginia, and that The two Cabinet
officers whom llc first met were Secretaries
Seward and Bates.
MIR. Bolts, it is understood, offered the
same suggestions, and untoded the same
piaas to TIE President that he had to Messrs
Seward and Bates, which We're listened To
with marked respect aud evident inte! est
The President assured Mr. B. that he ipii
the most anxious solicitude about the state OF
the country, and that himself and Cabinet
were sincerely ANXIOUS that there should be
no conflict III arms. but that peace should
be preserved and ultimately, harmony re-
stored lie was pleased, further, to say that
the propositions submitted by Mr.. g., were
of q grave and mumentous character, and
that he would give to them his must serious
consideration and earnest deiberatlon.
Notwithstanding the imposing military
demonstrations at New York, the shipment
of men, horses and guns, ali still unshaken
in the belief that it Is not contemplated by
the Government TO embark in hostile meas
ures against the Confederate States Ga the
contrary, the steps taken By the War De-
partment are supposed t. lie oi prudential!
character, and there is not the remotest idea
of initiating 8 conflict with our Southern
friends. The troops and ordnance shipped
will probably be landed at Key West and
Tortugas, or portion of them at, it may be,
Bishops Island, where the carpenters viii
be EMPLOYED in the erection Of sheds for Bar
racks, Stables, &c. There they will remain
ready for any contingency, and await further
orders.
Upon one point the President ana Cabinet
express themselves without any reserve, and
that is, that the troops Of the United States,
now in the Forts. must at any risk be pro
yisioned-the officers and men, in the SER
vice of the country, they say, shall not DE
left to perish for food. Ii President Davis
permits the Washington Government to sup
ply the Forts with beet, pork, biscuits, beans,
coffee, sugar, salt, vinegar, &C., not gun
will be fired, and "noboGy will be hurt. -
May we not confidently hope, notwithstand-
ing, the efforts of the sensationiSts, that peace
will be maintained throughout our borders,
and the borders of the Confederate States
Although there was Il panic in the stock
and money market in New York, on Satur-
day morning, produced by announcements
that the crisis was at haud-that war vas
inevitable, &C., before the business hours
closed stocks advanced, and the tendency
was still upwards. There are some smart
| men in Wall street-smart enough to get up
a panic and profit by it.
Allow me to say, MeSsrs. editors, that
am fond of "reminiscences. The present con
dition of our country reminds me Of Il sent
ment giving at Il dinner party in the city OF
Richmond about the year 1870.
4 number Of gentlemen were dining with
| Doctor McClurg, among whom were Chlei
Justice Marshall, John Randolph Of Roam
oke; and Benjamin Watkins Leigh. After
the cloth was removed and the Madeira in
troduced, there was a long discussion about
the Constitution of the United Sta,cs, in
which Judge Marshall and Mr.. Randolph
participated At the close of the agreeable
enterrainment--the feast of reason and the
flow of souP'--Dr, McClurg proposed clos
ing sentiment. 1t was III these words:
tGentlemer, The Con=titutiun ol the United
States-lt WAS made to be administered 10y
George Washington"
The idea is that with 4 wise and good man
!! at the head OF the Government, the constitu-
ton is perfect, whilst in the hands OF weak
men and demagognes IL might prove lad
ure.
Instructions from our Government to the
Ministers recently appointed, Ii is more than
probable, are Of vital interest 10 the South.
| hazard but little on surprising that the
most important part Of these instructions II
to use all their diplomatic powers and lntiu-
ence to negotiate Il Quintupie Trcaty-~the
parties being the United States, Eng land,
France, Spain aad Mexico, guaranteeing the
independence Of Mexico, and the security to
Spain of Cuba and Porto Rico. This is II
moment su5ject--a fruitful theme, but |
have not time 10 dwell upon 1t.
HOMO.