Alexandria Gazette

LETTER FROM WASHINGTON—Correspondence of the Baltimore Patriot.

The course of the official organ, has been very peculiar in regard to General Gaines. At first the editor, in huzzaing for the concentrating of troops on the disputed territory between Texas and Mexico, announced that General Gaines had made requisitions for militia, &c. but offered no word of reproof or censure of the General's conduct. He did not even deny that it was done by order of the Executive! Next, as complaints, censures and denunciations came up from the opposition press, the official editor said Gen. Gaines had no orders from the War Department for the procedure. Next he proclaimed that Gen. Gaines had acted without authority, and would probably receive the censure of the President! and at the same time announced that the President had delegated an officer in General Gaines' command. General Taylor, to make the requisitions which General Gaines has made, and for which the veteran Commander is to receive the censure of the President who stepped out of his way (if not over the bounds of his prescribed powers) to pay him a slight.

I hear of no removals that took place on the 1st, except one clerk in the General Land Office and one in the Second Comptroller's Bureau.

I have heard of a new system of compounding in the way of removal from office, which, if true, deserves the severest censure. It is said that Mr. Cambloss, a Locofoco Clerk with a salary of $1400 in the General Land Office, was found to be a little too aristocratic for a democrat, he having been a manager of the Tyler Polk Ball on the 4th of March last, at $10 a ticket, in opposition to the Polk and Dallas Ball on the same evening, at $5 a ticket, and so was notified that he must resign his clerkship, or submit to a dismissal. This was hard, of course, towards a true blue Locofoco!— But what was to be done? His place was wanted for, and by—another man—and so as the story goes the matter was compounded by allowing Mr. Cambloss to leave for New Jersey and to receive the salary of his office for two months thereafter.

The quarrel among the various factions of the "harmonious democracy" goes bravely on. In Mississippi, the Mississippian at Jackson, the Sentinel at Vicksburg, and one or two other Locofoco journals find all sorts of fault with Mr. Secretary Walker, and quarrel with the papers that defend him in withholding Thompson's commission as Senator, and his connection with the Choctaw speculations.

In Alabama, the Calhoun wing are accused by the "Old Hunkers" of uniting with the Whigs in electing Judge Martin, Governor, over Nut. Terrey, the regular nominee—and their muttering thunder is delightful!

In Indiana, the Whitcombs and Chapmans of the Van Buren wing are raising a terrible storm, because the Cass leaders are about organizing and establishing a newspaper at the seat of government, Indianapolis!

In Ohio, the "Old Hunkers," led on by the Cincinnati Enquirer, are down upon the Conservatives, at the head of which, they charge, is the Columbus Statesman, under its new editor, Hazenwell, in terrible terms of billingsgate.

In New York, the quarrel is deeper and broader than in any other State, and will most essentially Killkenney-catise all the factions of the party in that great Empire.

In New Hampshire, the Isaac Hill faction and the Woodbury and Greenleaf faction are each dissatisfied with and striving to undermine the Hubbard, Atherton, Pierce and Burke faction which at present is the strongest!

Now then is the time for the Whigs to unite and be energetic in the maintenance of their just and upright principles! More about the Locofoco jars and quarrels in a future letter.