Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-02-17
Letter from Washington,
IFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. Ia, 1871.

the session, is the current gossip about the
German mission. Judge 0rth, of Indiana, ha;
been for long time past training himself for a
diplomatic position. The school he chose is per
haps queer one-being nowhere else than the
house committee of foreign affairs, and that too,
under the Craftsmanship of Gen. Banks. The
judge is man of ability of the ford stump or
atory temperament. 1t would be unfair, how
ever, not to concede more than that. He is
really man of good abilities, even though he
has misdirected it by vigorous advocacy of the
San Domingo policy, and by an elaborate
white-washing of C. c. Washbune of Para
guayan notoriety. By the way, what queer
affair is that book of the eX-miusters? Lee &
Shepard were so kind as TO send the volumes
to me. They are in many respects literary
curiosity, in the sense that all that is valuable
in them is merely compilation or matter
furnished to order, while all that relates to
Lopez is only of value as showing what malice
can do. The author overstrains himself and
proves too much, as for instance when endeav-
oring to establish the charge that Lopez was an
arrant coward. However, this is aside, only
mention the volumes, the publication Of which
is creditable to Lee & Shepard, if the prepare
ton of them is not to the author, as an incl
dental matter.
Our friend 0rth is likely to attain the object
of his ambition. The president is his friend, if
the state department is not. Thereby it is whis-
pered hangs tale of not-over courteous rem
contre between Orth and Fish. The secretary of
State has sometimes crossed the path of eXecu-
tive promises. l know one instance where the
president told an applicant he should have a
certain consulate in Belgium, and the secretary
said in plain words, shed be hanged If he
should" and he didn't. In this case, however,
the stake being larger, the result is likely to be
otherwise.
The creation Of German empire necessitates
the making Of an American mission thereto.
This would in due course abolish the mission
now filed by Mr.. Bancroft, as. though there is a
kingdom of Prussia, there is no longer North
German bund,- government to which he is
accredited. Assistant Secretary Davis is Mr..
Bancroft's nephew. That fact gives him a vigil
liant friend. Besides, Mr.. Fish is also the long
time personal friend of the minister. The presi-
dent is understood to be more than luke-warm in
the other direction, and if he had acted on his
own impulses, Mr. Bancroft would have been re-
called in the early days Of the administration.
Count Bismarck, however, through Gerolt, ask
ed his retention until the treaties then pending
were completed and ratified. We yielded the
courtesy to the Prussian premier. Some are
malicious enough to ask whom Mr., Bancroft
tho TTnitad Ctatov or DrpSsi nt
or Bismarck.
When the recent message was sent in recon-
mendng the increase of the salary of che Berlin
mission, the design was evident. The state de.
partment, to make assurance doubly sure, how
ever, sent TO the committee on foreign affairs a
joint resolution it desired TO have passed. BY
its terms Mr.. Bancroft would be legisated into
the new office. The committee could not see the
propriety of doing this, and have agreed to one
which it passed, creates a mission to the Ger
man empire, and abolishes the one at Berlin,
thus leaving the president to reappoint Mr..
Bancroft or not, as he may determine. 1t is
quite well understood that the historian will
not secure the prize, in such a contingency.
THE TENNESSEE PANIC.
Perhaps it's Just as well that the navy depart
m mt and all other official personages, should
berate the reporters soundly, if thereby they re-
assure the public, but nevertheless there are
those among us who hold they had grounds for
justifable anxiety. For some days before the
first cautiously worded paragraph appeared in
the Tribune, there has been a good deal of talk
at the navy department, though it now declares
that it does not even yet expect to hear from "The
Tennessee" They were in the habit there of say
ing, "come tomorrow, we shall have news by
that time" This had been said for four or five
days before any notice was taken.
The alarm raised by that notice would have
been comic, but for the feeling that gave it voice.
The Tribune correspondent here said, Surprise
was felt at not having heard from the Tennes-
see," &c. The editorial paragraph, based on
this innocent dispatch, was calculated to excite
some alarm. Mr. Hart, of the New York Stand
ard, whose son is with the commission, read Tor
thought he did, this paragraph, and immedi-
ately telegraphed to friend here that dispatch
had been received from Havana by The Tribune,
that the Tennessee was lost, and asking fol
official information. 0fcourse the friend rushed
off to the navy department and white house and
alarmed them. The news spread, as ill-omened
intelligence always does, and the capital was in
a feverish excitement. Mr.. White, of the Tri-
bune, quietly punctured it by telegraphing to
New York, and learned that no such dispatch
had been received.
But the matter could and did not rest here.
Butler sa an opportunity of assailing Porter,
so he declares among members that the Tennes-
see was unseaworthy, was filed with untried
machinery, carried only five days coal, was too
long and narrow for safety, and had been made
top heavy by the addition of the spar deck and
heavy rigging, as well as the removal of part of
her machinery. He further intimated that he
had aided to relieve engineers from going in her,
who wanted to avoid that duty because they
deemed her unsafe. This excited good deal of
found expression in the fierce debate over the
Hanscom bill, when Banks so wildly, and even
cruelty, used the fears that were entertained as
piece of oratorical buncombe.
We all hope to hear, at an early day, from the
ship There are many anxious hearts herea-
bouts. scarcely remember so general a mani.
festation of sympathy and sorrowful anxiety,
as has been witnessed for days past, and still is
felt with regard to the Tennessee.
RUMoRs ON THE COMMISSION.
These are many. One is that the commission
itself will not negotiate any treaty, only define
the principles and basis on which we will settle.
One of the ideas prevailing with regard to it, is
that tn negotiations will not terminate without
putting into operation events which will result
in the transfer of the northwest territory, be-
longing to British America, to the United
States. The Northern Pacific and other inter.
ests are all anxious to bring this about. The
suggestion is made that the government itself
issue bonds in payment Of the Alabama claims,
and take from Great Britain as payment, the
Manitoba province, as well as the balance Of
the Hudson Bay territory, 1t is hardly worth
the fifteen millions or SO, which is to be paid
some time or another for the Alabama claims
yet we could afford to make the exchange. A
concession of such a character, would do great
deal towards the establishment OF those annie,
able relations which are so much more essential
to her than to us. OBSERVER.