Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-20
Washington News.

Hon. James c. Dobbin, gthe functions of the
Secretary of War, in the absence of General
Jefferson Davis. If the cool weather contin-
ues, tits probable that General Davis will soon
be compelled to leave the mountain regions Of
New Hampshire, whittier he has gone for his
health, intended to remain some weeks.
HIGH-HANDED JUDICIAL OUTRAGE TO
SCREEN A PUBLIC DEFAULTER FROM THE DUE
OPERATION OF THE LAw.-We hear, by tele-
graph, that Judge Jouett, Of the State Bench
of Ohio, has admitted James Collier, late
Collector of San Francisco, to bail. ile-
gally taking him out of the custody of the
United States Marshal of Ohio, who had ar
rested ucder warrant from Judge Leavitt, of
the United States District Court of Ohio, to
answer under the Indictment found against
him by the grand jury of San Francisco, Cali
fornia, for embezzling public funds. Collier
and his friends first essayed, in various ways,
to prevent Judge Leavitt from doing his duty
under the application for the arrest of c.
Failing in this, they obtained the aid of
Jouett, whoTIgranted writ of habeas corpus,
which, in such case, we believe to be thing
before unheard of in the United States
Getting him practically out Of the custody of
the officer of the United States in this way,
Jouett admitted him to bail, fixing the 9th of
next September as the time when he would
try his own writ; though under no law has he
a right to make such a postponement, in such
case, or to admit a prisoner. under
such circumstances, SO charged and so held
to bail. The purpose is clearly to defeat
the end of justice, as must be apparent
to all This action shows clearly that Mr..
John A. Golfers late newspaper declarations
that James Collier and his bondsmen are
ready to face their responsibility for c. mis-
use OF the public monies has no foundation in
truth. When are frauds upon the National
Treasury to be punished by the Courts? No
more glaring case than this has ever occurred
under the Government of tho United States,
yet u sworn Judge of State Court has stepped
forward to strike down the safe guards placed
by the National Legislature around the public
funds. and to insure the integrity of the Off
Gals of the Government.
IMPORTANT DISPATCHES. To-day dispatches
were received from Commodore Perry, dated
at Shanghai on the 10Th of May. All was
we'll with the East India squadron. The Com
modore was about to sail for the coast of ia
pan, leaving one of the vessels of his command
at Shanghai The political portions of these
advices with reference to matters in China
and the immediate subject of Perry's mission
Ito Japan, are believed to be of great i'm
portance. We were, however, unable to learn
their tenor.
Dispatches were also received from Com
mander Ringgold, who, with all his Behring's
Straights surveying squadron, was at the
Island of Medaira, ION July 18th last) mo-
mentarily expecting to weigh anchor for the
Cape of Good Hope. All was we'll also in and
with that sqadron
The REPAIRS or THE SHIP-oF- WAR FRANK
LIS.-The question-what is to be done with
the Franklin we are inclined to believe has
been solved at last That is, if those around
" Washington, who take most interest in naval
affairs. are not much mistaken. Their i'm
preston, is that the Secretary of the Navy has
pretty much made up his mind to apply the
appropriation for rebuilding or repairing this
vessel, to the production of first class war
propeller, to be constructed as far as possible
out of such of her materials as may be per-
fectly sound and otherwise available She
has been long at the Portsmouth (N H. Navy
Yard, where extraordinary care has been
taken to preserve her. The consequence is
that most of her timber, iron-work, copper.
&C.. can be worked into her successor on the
new plan, with great economy and to much
advantage. If the Secretary has determined
upon turning her thus into a first class pro-
reller, he has indeed acted wisely: or the
policy now being pursued in building up
every European navy (where they are increas-
ing the number and effectiveness OF such ships
for the most parD is grave mistake. We
trust that, taking the responsibility devolved
on him by the law, he has determined to select
this plan, and to instruct Chief Naval Con
structor Hart to design man Of war model
for her, approximating much nearer that of
the Clipper ships, than has ever before been
adopted in the United States naval service !;
and, further, that he will cause the Engineer
department of the Navy in arranging her
steam works, to consult freely with Mr.. Charles
Strickland, or some other Marine Engineer
thoroughly experienced in planning and
building the machinery of our first class COM
mercial sea steamers. In this way, land We
fancy that such must already be his determi-
tion,) he can signalize his connection with the
Navy Department, by the introduction into
the service las model for future extension)
of the swiftest and most serviceable war ship
ahoat in any sea, to be propelled either by
sails or steam. as circumstances NAV renuir e