Alexandria Gazette

Letters from Washington,
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1849

The thirst for gold which pervades the country in all its parts, is felt here in various forms and especially are members of Congress importuned for maps and documents which may throw light upon California and the most eligible and speedy routes by which that golden region can be approached where each man can pick up Fortunatus's purse from the ground. There have been various, and conflicting propositions before the Senate for opening communications between the two oceans, so as to avoid the tedious voyage around Cape Horn or the perilous passage of the straits of Magellan, but Congress will do nothing, probably, in reference to this matter, or any thing else affecting the Mexican territorial acquisitions at the present session.

The proceedings of the Southern caucus in regard to slavery have been published in pamphlet form and it is said that many of those present complain of the gross incorrectness of the record as presented by the Secretary: but the aggrieved parties must speak for themselves. for the meeting was secret and surrounded with the awful mystery of such councils as were formerly held by the Venetian oligarchies

A bill has been reported by Dr. Edwards from the Committee on the District of Columbia which prohibits the slave trade in the District The bill is represented to be, with slight alterations, a transcript of the Mississippi law upon the same subject. Southern men will, many of them, vote for the bill in its present form but without essential amendment it will not find favor with the ultra anti-slavery men.

In my last communication I stated that a special report was to be made this session of a survey of the Potomac above the Long Bridge. of the expense of constructing a bridge at the Georgetown Aqueduct, &c., &c: but General Chapman, under whose auspices the resolution for the above purposes was passed, informs me that no report will be made, as no appropriation was provided, and the Secretary of War had no funds out of which to defray the necessary expenses.

As the time draws near for a change of men to administer the government, the politicians are becoming more and more tantalized at the impossibility of getting at General Taylor's intentions with regard to his Cabinet. The shrewdest conjectures are at fault, or are too vague work upon, beyond the names of Messrs Clayton and Crittenden for the departments of State and Law. The city is beginning to feel. in the hotels and boarding houses, the effect of the approaching Inauguration, and there is every indication that there will be gathered here upon that occasion "a countless host, such as the thousand north poured never from her loins to cross Rhine or the Danube."

Quite an amusing passage of words occurred in the Senate to-day between Messrs Niles and Allen, in which the latter came off second best, after having lost his temper, and made use of some unsenatorial language.

VERNON

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 1849

There is no news of Gen. Taylor's cabinet but what you will see in the Washington Correspondence of some of the Loco Foco papers There is a strong under current at work to bring about certain results for the advantage of some of the officials holding fat offices. You have seen some of the puffs in the Washington Correspondence of certain papers. These will no doubt, be paid for presently or prospectively. They are quite transparent.

It is thought that Mr. Crittenden will be offered and accept a place in the new Cabinet- I hope so. The name of Thomas Butler King, the accomplished and indefatigable chairman of the Committee of Naval Affairs, has been mentioned, for the place of Secretary of the Navy Mr. King, from his position for some years past as chairman of the Naval Committee in the House, would bring a great amount of experience to the office in question, and it is difficult to imagine how the office could be better filled from Georgia or any other State. But the cabinet is as yet "in nubibus."

Yours,