New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-20
Nem9lprk Dsaai!p Gaibaa,ae
FROM WASHING TON.

Correspondents OF The ". !. IEibLne.
WASHINGTON, u. C., March Is, 1861.
The policy Of the Administration IN reference 10 the
distribution Of Office in the Slave States s settled. No
questions viii be ssked save one-is he-the applicant
"A Union man, and fit for the position. Party ques-
tons win not be raised and 1t would be manesty I'M
lust to do 70. Take the State Of Tennessee for in
stance. Why should Democrat who occupies pre-
cisey the position Of Senator Andrew johnson, be re.
;ected TO give place 10 @ supporter az john heu
johnson is to-day the bit,erett aniSecessiosi In len
pessee and bis friends are doing great Work there
for toe Union. -
TIE question, however, essume: different ~pect
In few Of the cities along the slave line where he
publicsnirin has a standing L. RePqohctnism 10 re
ignored at Wheeling, ia Balimore, ana 10 the D'Iet
II Columbia Ii u conversation held with proni-
cent ctisep of Washington, few days since, mr..
lincoln minated that he was undecided IA 70 whm
vy be his courgc in these places, though be hna,ly
admitted lie inclination 70 be to appoint men 10 once
fsorn the two great paties Democratic and American,
proyided they are true TO the Union. lie instance1,
W. case in point, the fact that the few Republicans
OF Louisville Ky, had put forward worthy man OF
their number for The Post Office while the Bell men
bad nominated one of their number for the sane pot
The Office has been given 10 the Bell man. The case
seems TO be different in Washington and Baltimore,
however for ia these cities the Republicans are pow
erful in numbers talent, and Tospecabilty. In this
CITY particularly il would seem TO he very unjust to
reject worthy applicant for Office because Of his Re.
pubhcauisn. The Republicans number fully one,third
OF our population. Mr. Clephanea Jealous Republican,
and long connected with The National Era, ID candi-
date for The place Of this city and is backed
I'D by a large number OF our prominent merchants aud
business men. II If well known that Mr.. Blair Is his
friend and 1t is supposed that Messrs. Welies and
Chase also favor his appointment The question IL noI
q personal one in any sense Of the word AIR.
Clephans IL rejected it will be on priac'pe, and not
f.o5 any objection 70 the individual II he rejected,
Is Ra2utheanism ignored in Washington And If 80,
would not the selfsl, interests Of here prompt
them 70 turn Pro. Slavery Democrats and Americans
have iastanced this case merely TO exhibit In its
proper light lie principle Involved.
There is another matter TO Which may MS wei
alude while speaking Of the office question. There
is difference OF opinion existing regarding the proper
course TO pursue in the Senate Chamber toward the
Senate officials and subordinates Shall they be
retained or dismissed Here TOO, 1t is not the mere
question Of spoils" There are men In office under
the Senate who have been the most yilous partisans
in the cause of the Breckenridge Democracy, and who
secretly syInpathHe, if they do not act with the
Secessfonisis. Ought such men to remain IN Office
There IL the porty Arms, who ia President
Of breckenridge Club, and who stood by and raw
Sumner br.aly beaten without lifting finger IN his
defense-shall Republican Senate retain such man
In Office If 40, upon what principle are the Post
master and Collector Of the City Of New-Yok dis-
missed and Republicans put in their places No fair
minded man objects TO the retention of competent,
unoblectionable subordinates, who have not been
oensvely connected with party politics but it seems
clear that unscrupuous Democratic politicians should
be made TO quit the service Of the Government In due
time.
II il not vet decided whether or no there Is 10 be an
extra session Of Congress. the general opinion is de-
eided that one must be called, but the opponents Of
any further concessions Slavery fear that
session will sst the Weed men hard nj their old work
of so-caed Compromise. II better on this ac-
count TO avoid called session, for without il the
Slave States would have several months In which 10
get sick of revolution and secession. But If Fort
Sumter Is given up, as II will be, the Government is In
imuiLent danger OF ruin. Something must be done
in that event TO exhibit 10 the peope-of the United
States, aud the Governments OF the world, an su-
thority here at Washington which VIII make Itself
respected and cbeyed. Letters from the Free States
be.eechina the ne Administration 10 beware Of TAX
ING single false step, and demanding, In case Sumter
fails thai something snail be done In another direction
no show that we have Government, and an Admins.
traliop which IL an improvement upon the one which
went out with 10 much disgrace on the 4th OF March.
There Il pro, pect OF renewal Of the old quarrel
between Capt Meigs and Mr.. Walters In the Capitol
buildpea. Geies Is superintendent Of the work, and
Walters 10 architect. Tue quarrel an old one and
grows out Of q difference Of opinion respecting the
the duties Of the two men. Walters claims that ~
architect IL n his business to plan and that heigs 40
speintsndent. can ouly ezecsts Meigs insists upon
his right Of rejecting the plsns Of the architect ano
sabsAtutipR his own. He is brave, honest omcer,
bns be osrsinly lacks TASTE There u not an arc6ted
Of renovn living who will give bin recSnmsndaa9,ee
for the post az an architect or designer In tni nelo
Walter vastly his superior. Il IL 10 DO hoped s,as
Mr. lincoln viii pat an end to the qqsrrel y once py
roSpvving one OF Both Of the gentlemen.
The debAte b the Senate his aftsrrioon upon ~;
Eek43s6xt Hspluiiop deslahng csgtas2 SsuataQs'