The New York herald., 1869-04-19
ASsSsMG ON.
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THE POLICY TOWARDS CUBA.
An lrOn-Clad Fleet to Enforce Secre-
tary FiSh's Demand.
Why General Sickles Lost the
Mission to Madrid.
The Senate Dissatisfied with the
Foreign Appointments.

Foreign Appointments.
WASHINGTON, April 18, 1860.
The Cusan QuestiOn-The Probabilities Of n
War with Spain.
There continues to be great discussion here re-
garding the rumore,t hostile intentions OF the ad
ministration towards Spain. growing out Of the
Cuban revolt 1t is the general impression. backed
up by semtonicfa statements, that war is almost
certain to be the end Of the late outrages by the
Spaniards. The reported dema;,d for the release
OF the Mary Lowell and Of the passengers taken
from the Lizzie Majors furnishes material
enough for all the gossfps and Of course there Is no
end of the stories that are floating aboNt. cir
cumstance OF some significance is that noet OF
iron-clads is being fitted out In wariike fashion by
order OF Secretary Borie, and as Cuba seems to be
the natural destination 1t Is not to be wondered at
that some considerable excitement should be occa-
stoned. The two things placed side by side-Fish's
demand and Bories warlike preparattousLeave
no doubt that the latter are intended to back
up the former In way that will tell
quickly and efectually should Spain refuse to
comply with the requirements Of our government
A Growling Sennte--The Millennium of Modest
Patriots,
The Senators will adjourn probably on Wednes-
day. and will leave for their homes in anything but
good humor. There is the greatest dissatisfaction
among them about the general distribution OF the
patronage; but more especially about the 1oreign
appointments. judging from the remarks OF indi
vidual Senators. II the public could only put its
ear to the keyhole OF the Senate's doors while in
executive session. 1t would hear growl boding no
good to more than one head Of department. ALI the
secretaries come in for abuse from the Senator'S
not excepting even the polite Boutwell,, or the diplo
matte Fish. The former Is blamed probably
because he has seen fit to turn out Of
office o number OF female employees, particular
friends of Senators and members and the latter Is
denounced because out OF the limited number OF
appointments at his disposal he could not accommo-
date everybody who sought diplomatic consular
ofce Nearly the entire batch OF consular appoint
ments has been sent in and the committee has
ported favorably upon q comparatively small num-
ber because they have not been able to ascertain
where they come from or who tney are, much less
to arrive at any correct conclusion to their fitness
or unfltness for their positions. In order to expe-
dite matters the committee has parcelled the work
out after the following fashion:-Mr Chandler the
chairman Of the committee looks after all the nomi-
nations. from the Western States; Mr.. Corb.tt, Of
Oregon does the thing for the candidates from
the Pacific coast Messrs Kellogg, Of louisiana and
Spencer OF Alabama have charge OF the appoint
ments from the Southern States; Mr.. Conkling
OF Connecticut, hunts up the records Of the New
Englanders Every man is, Of course, supposed to
know all about his own section or II his informa-
ton does not extend beyond the limits Of his own
State he can and almost invariably does, inquire of
the Senators from whose State the nominee halls.
Think Of the amazement Of some members OF the
committee, who, after turning over In their
minds for hours the name of some candi-
date, and wondering who ne might be, goes to
the Senator who represents the State, and asks.
swho is John Smith or Tom JonesS" as the case may
be, to meet with the curt reply, "Don't know, sir;
never heard Of him." II thought he was your ap-
pointment Senator" modestly persists the commit
tee man. MY appointment haven't got foreign
appointment under this administration, though I
have asked for several.r swell then, what shall
we do with this mans" asks the committee man.
"Reject him. reject him, OF course; don't want him
charged to my account" This Is a specimen of the
daily experience OF the members OF the Committee
on Commerce in their search for knowledge under
difficulties. Under these circumstances but one
thing can happen, to Wit, that large number Of
the nominations now before the senate for consular
appointments VIII be rejected. The fact that the
Senators themselves have not been consulted about
these nominations does not contribute anything to-
wards putting them in good humor about their con-
nrmation. 1t may be noticed that large number of
the parties nominated have been credited to the
several Territories. Heretofore 1t has not been GUS
tomary to select from the Territories for foreign ap
pontments until the States had their quotas. Sew.
eral OF the States have not even been recognized
with single appointment in the selection made by
Mr.. Fish. 1t hes beon discovered, however, that in
the case OF some OF the states which have received
more than their SHARE Illinois, for instance resort has
been had to carpet bagging IN the Territories. 50
that the surplus 6f the friends OF washbufne aia
other powerful men with the administration might
be taken care of. This perhaps account for the
fact that some States have not received their full
share, while others have none at all.
Madrid Missiou-How siclSles Lost It--The
Acquisition OF Territory by Purchase Sill n
State Departments Hobby.
Apropos OF this Cuban question: some interesting
facts calculated to throw light upon Secretary Fish's
policy have leaked out. 1t seems Fish, though at
first opposed to war with Spain, for the reasons in
dicated in q former despatch, has all along
been In favor or the purchase OF Cuba.
ms idea has been that Cuba could be
bought for good round sum, and thai after all, IL
would be the cheapest way OF solving the dnculty
To 20 to war, he believed, would be q more expen-
svo way OF obtaining possession of Cuba than to ac
complish its purchase by peaceful negotiation.
with this purpose before him Fish induced Presi-
dent Grant to throw Sickles overheard and
to pick up Sanford as the man for
the Spanish mission. Grant had promised
Madrid to S,ckes, Of that fact there is not the
slightest doubt. but Fish talked the matter over
with Grant and finally got his endorsement OF
Sanford. In his argument with the President Fish
talked pretty much In this style:-"Mr President
feel satisfied we can accomplish the peaceful pur-
chase OF Cuba; but the negotiations must be con-
Quoted with the utmost skill and the coolest judg
ment sIckes Is sble but he Is quick tempered and
impetuous. Under strong provocation he might
spoil oil our negotiations by an untimely display Of
anger and disgust at the conduct Of some OF the
Spanish agents Sanford, on the other hand,
is remarkably cool, shrewd and wary.
1 know him thoroughly. lie has great
business tact aud extraordinary control OF his tenn