From Washington.
[Special Correspondence of the Dispatch.] Dec. 10, 1860.
Union saving is now the order of the day. Every man I meet, barring only the disunionists per se, has a plan of his own. Not ten minutes ago, a gentleman of more than ordinary intelligence said: "We must look upon this matter in the light of business.
We must wind up the old concern.
Meantime, let the sign stay up — the Government go on collecting and paying debts.
If any of the partner States want to go out, permit them.
Don't fight, for the sake of the reputation of the firm.
Let the members that remain in see if they can't come to an understanding.
So many of them as can agree, must take the Government and administer on the effects.
Those who can't agree, must go scot free and set up for themselves."
As my individual views have no place here, my duty is done in stating matters as they are, not as I would have them.
Whatever plans arise shall be given to your readers impartially.
Burnett and Ex-Gov. Smith are discussing whether Hawkins shall be excused.
It is just a waste of time.
Burnett has well said that the time for saving the Government is not by eulogies on the Constitution, but by prompt action.
The Crisis Committee, as it is called, with or without Hawkins and Boyce, will not reach a conclusion satisfactory to any body but a few people who desire the Union under any circumstances.
It would tickle you to hear Republicans talking about the South.
They speak as if the South belonged to another sphere. "Are these Southerners generally intelligent?" inquired one of them, in my hearing, the other day.--"Why," replied an Ohio man, "they can tell more about your own district than you can tell yourself."
"Ah!
indeed. But the lower class there — they are grossly ignorant, are'nt they?"
Then the two agreed that in the South there was both a higher and a lower class than in the North, evidently thinking all the slaveholders aristocrats, and the poor whites on the level with European peasants.
A member from Virginia has just told me that if there be any change at all, (which he doubts,) it is favorable for the Union.
The tone of the Northern press is softening.
I was informed this morning that the Rev. Mr. Stockton's sermon last Sunday, which I heard so highly lauded, was covertly abolition in its tendencies.
You see the Republicans may control not only the House, but the whole government.
A Yankee has declared in this city that if the South goes out of the Union, he and others in Boston will fit out little vessels to run up all our bays and rivers and steal negroes.--And what do you suppose he intends doing with them?
Liberate them?
Not at all; but sell them in Cuba.
A Baptist gentleman of influential position here, expresses the opinion that a political division of the country will have as happy an effect as the religious divisions which have already occurred.
Formerly, when Baptists of the South met Baptists of the North, they quarreled.
Now that they have nothing to do with the question of slavery, they meet kindly and in a true Christian spirit.
Secretary Cobb's resignation is not yet officially announced, owing to the fact that his address is not yet ready for the press.
This is the latest version. Zed.
