Year: 1864

From an Occasional Correspondent Of the Standard


WASHINGTON CRY, Feb. 10th, 1863.


EmroR STANDARD: 1 am keeping track
Of the wiudings Of the astute Victor Smith.
He is now engaged in getting out series Of
pamphlets on the Port Angeles affair, the
first Of which / sent you some days ago, and
a. he has desk in the Treasury Department,
has a point Of influence which he would
not have If hs were not under Chase's wing
From his desk he sent to the Chronicle sever
al articles putting Port Angeles, which were
stopped by Forney's learning from the White
House that lie had been victim of misplaced
confidence. think I sent you a slip from
the Chronicle in which Smith says that the
President was so we'll pleased with his at
tempt to increase the revenue that hi had
made him Survey or General of Washington
Territory" That was his last appearance
in the Chronicle, and the next day that paper
denounced him as an impostor.


Smith is now trying to have Chief Justice
Hewitt. Of your Territory removed. He has
several other schemes on hand, which are
not yet fully developed. believe that Me-
Gilvry is working with him for the removal
of Hewitt. Smith has the Treasury Depart
mcnt with him in all Of his plans, and nothing
can be done by this Congress against him.
Cole is trying hard to get the Port Of Entry
removed back to Townsend, but the Com
merce committee of the House will not bear
him out in it, and he will not succeed.


The sale Of the Port Angeles town-lots
should come off as advertised, but l do not
believe it will. as there is no prospect that it
would amount to anything at all. more especi-
ally as there is no prospect that the town
will ever amount to much. The sale will be
delayed as long as Chase is in the Treasury,
and when that Department changes hands,
there will be nm explosion Of that and other
of his humbugs. In the meantime, it seems
to me the best policy is to let things tumble
along as best they may. confident that all will
come out right by -and-by.


Secretary Chase is moving heaven and
earth to secure the nomination. and as he
has the whole machinery of the Treasury
Department to work with, he has an immense
influence. Tom Brown, the friend Of Victor
Smith. Is doing all in his power for Chase. as
Special Agent on the Pacific coast, but Brown
has lately done very foolish thing in recon-
mending Beale. the Surveyo General for Cali
fornia. to be General Commanding the De-
partmsnt of the Pacific, in place Of Wright.
Brown forwarded with an endorsement, all
the recommendations for Beale. Unfortunate
ly Beale is about to bs removed for notorious
incompetency, and Browns endorsement of
him as successor to Wright is now on file at
the White House. But was speaking of
Chase. had occasion to transact some
business with the Treasury the other day,
and being mistaken for friend Of Mr.. Chase,
I was treated with marked attention. the
Register inviting me into his private room to
talk over matters connected with the success
sion how things were going for Mr.. Chase,
and Aow they could be made more so. (Of
course l have right to 60 into the enemies
camp and get what information can.) And
50 throughout tho Department. All are on
the alert to secure influence for Chase, and
II they think man is for him, he can get
almost any thing hs wants. No one that
knows me doubts my being warmly for Lin
coins denomination, but somehow was re-
garded on this occasion as one of Chase's
friends, and it was very fortunate for me that
it was 80.


While Chase's people are doing every
thing, Lincoln himself is really doing nothing.
He is 90 conscientious that he will allow
nothing to be done by any one connected
with him, looking towards q reromination
The worst Of it is he won't do what the pub
lie good really demands that he should do
aud that which would rebound to his benefit
and the country's also, is left undone. For
instance, there is now an irrrpressible conflict
going on between Blair and Chase, and I
think that the former while appearing to de-
fsnd Mr.. Lincoln is in reality trying to ruin
him. Of course Chase likes that, and 90 the
quarrel goes on. and the Treasury Depart
mont being the object of Blair's prosecutions
and conspiracies. Chase makes more friends
thereby, and Blair more enemies for himself
and Lin :oln than he could in any other way.
The President could stop all this. but he will
not. and SO tho disgracef.l quarrel goes on.
to the great scandal Of the friends of the
Administration. repeat that Mr.. Lincoln
is too regardless Of his own interests.


The President has just nominated Caleb
Lyon Of Lyonsdalc. as Governor Of Idaho.
Conness and Harding are opposing his con-
frmation by the Senate. Conness had recon.
mended Imam now in Idaho to tho President,
and Harding Mr.. Baker from Massachu-
setts. Harding took him up because he saw
that somebody would be nominated to the
Senate before the arrival of Wallace, who
wants Payne to be his successor. The popu-
lar will is al with Mr.. Lincoln. The politi-
clans are, Of course generally against him. as
they all want band in renovating the Gov
ernment, and in filling vacancies in Office.
Greeley and his crowd, are determined to kill
him Of. just 40 they did Seward in 60. On
the whole. it is very fair fight between the
people and the politicians. If the former