THE STANDARD.

R.ALEXGH ~: q.

wednesday,. March II, Is47.

Correspondence of the standard.

Il - WAsHINeroN ClrY, March 12, ls47
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fF4@t WASHINGTON CITY, AdTCn lo46.
have at times written you Of the manner IN
which Executive nominations are decided IN the
star chamber inquisilions of the Senate-in their
secret sessions The case of the Hon. Andrew
Beaumont. whose nomination to be commissioner
of the public buildings in this city was rejected on
the last night of the session. affords so strong an
illustration of the crying injustice perperated on


individual rights, and the complete prostratIon OF
their Senatorial immuntics to work out personal
purposes, as to induce me to detail to you the CIR
cumstances connected with it, in order TO prove
that have not condemned secret Senatorial prac-
tces of the day IN too strong language. MIR. Beau
mont represented a district in Pennsylvania in
Congress for many years, and in SO doing earned
high reputation for personal and political lntcgrI-
ty and public utility. In fact, no man while in
Congress welded more influence in the House


He was invited by the present Executives twho
had served with him) 10 accept the Office, without
solicitation on the part Of himself or of his friends


This was probably done to get rid of the embar-
rassment growing out OF the great number of con-
ficting applications for that Office. No sooner had
he accepted the post than Senators themselves be-
gan TO besiege him for petty places of policemen
about the Capitol for their favorItes Many of
them signed the applications of two or more per-
sons for the same berth, and two democratic Sena-


tors went so far as to write him, threatening 10 Ia
bour to defeat his nomination, unless he would
pledge himselfto to retain an individual for whose
place they had previously recommended another
Others. again threatened him to bring about his
defeat unless he would pledge himself to appoint
a third person to this same post From the be-
ginning, MIR. Beaumont answered all such ap-
proaches as he should have answered them; main
tanning that the appointment of his subordiuates
belonged by law to himself-not to the Senate,
and if they chose TO make the question Of his
prostitution of his appointing powers to their pnr-
poses The point upon which his confirmation or
rejection should turn, rather than his character
and qualifications he would cheerfully meet the
issue He maintained his position +; and to obtain
the desired pledges action on his nomination was
delayed from day to day. until The last night Of the
session. when seeing that he would surrender the
Office than his independence, if not integri-
ty, they rejected him.


If a Senatorial election comes on in Pcnnsylva-
mia before the Congress after the next elected,
Mr.. Beaumont will certainly be chosen to take his
place among those who have thus labourcd 10 in
jure him, for he is the most popular man in the
State. That is, unless, before the federalists
aided By half dozen -' funky fish" manage to
send some one TO work out their purposes. There
is no custom existing under the government pro-
ductve OF as many stabs at the rights of individu
ais and common honesty as grow out Of the secret
sessions on nominations


Their proceedings in such cases aciU leak cut in
spite Of all they can do to prevent it and write



criplion of the corruption and selshness attending
the giving of offices here is little or exaggera
ton of what transpires when certain Senators be-
lieve that their official conduct IS shrouded from
the public gaze. This evil ia increasing with
every day added TO the life time of the Senate, un-
til it has come to such pass that there is reason
to hope that public opinion through the press may
soon be brought to bear them 10 purify this
mandatory of political and personal scamps for
such the Executive session now surely is.


As you have seen by the papers, Col. or Gen'l |
Benton is at last relieved from his troubles con-
nected with the prosecution of that poor unfoItu-
nate deranged man, Gov. Thomas Of Maryland, |
by the entering of nolLe prosegwi on the part of
his counsel, virtually admitting his insanity on the
subject of his domestic affairs The Lord only
knows what this "lawing "-huntng witnesses
"way over yonder" in Missouri, &c. is to cost
the Treasury of the United States Uncle Sam,
the generous old SOUL had the bill to foot however
that's settled. The guild nuncs, since the adjourn
ment of Congress, have been gloating in anticipa-
tion over the expected nauseating Developments
of this now settled case. Having no taste in that
linc 1 have studiousIy avoided the court room,
where thousands of all ages, colour, and both
sexes have congrcgated in hopes of enjoying such
intellectual entertainment


During the past week. learn, the Postmaster
General has established Post Office at Astoria
in Oregon. Think Of that ]. M. SniveIy has
tue uOHOT OI OelHS the lTSl American f>OStmaSt6r
west of the Rocky Mountains One of the last
acts Of the last session was the establishment of
post route from Independence in Missouri to the
Mouth of the Columbia river, and this post office
is brought into existence to carry out that law /
really consider this an event in the history of
American progress.


1 presume you have noticed the late "posting'
of Florida Senator in the Union, by Mr.. James
S. Barbour, (lhe of John S,) of Virginia,
which has created some little noise in Washing
ton since the adjournment of Congress. Barbour,
it seems, is the writer Of an article (copied from
the Richmond Enquirer into the columns of the
Union,) examining into the history of Legislation
of Congress on the subject ofthe far famed French
spoliations The writer suggests that where so
much wealth and so many influential persons
were interested in a combination of claims against
the Government, that it would be hard indeed to
secure justice TO the United States Treasury. and
this suggestion seized on as the ground for de.
nouncing him libeller," which he (B ltook
as personal and demanded explanation or salts
faction in vain, however as the /" istngushedn
Senator was certainly "not comcatable" for some
days. Tom Moore of Kenuc kv-Col "Free.
Tom Moore" was Barbour's friend in the Senator
hunt However, the affair has blown over since
B. uncorked his wrath in the newspaner and The