Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-07-14

WASHM0f0N NEWS AND dOssIH.
a 1ools Cap and Bells philadelphi
North Assriean, in commenting upon a re
cent article q ours, stating the probability tia
the esofetary Of the Navy would have occs
don to report to Congress concerning the COS
Of the Japan expedition, jumps most childish
~ to the conclusion that what We write o,
the subject is evidence of the hostility of tn
Administration to that enterprise, and of thei
desire 70 make its cost tell against the reputa
ton of the Administration under whose au
spices 1t was originated. The editor says tina
if any such report be made by the Secretary
| it will richly eAtitle him to fools cap anG
bells for his trouble. -z--.~z.azz~-
As the writer of this article draws his sill
conclusion Of the purposes of the Administer
ton from what we have published, it is du,
from US to say that We know nothing of thu
views Of those in power on this or any othe,
subject, except what we are able to pick NJ
BY assiduous application to the ordinary
sources Of information, of which gentlemen
in this city connected with the distant press
usually avail themselves. We have furthe,
to say to the NORTH american that, according
to the general understanding here, there ha:
been no subject in connection with which the
present Administration have felt more solici
tude than in the success of the Japan oxpedi.
ton; having done everything in their power
to bring it to the happy conclusion which ha:
crowned it, and which would not have crown.
ed 1t, had they failed to lend all their apprs-
PIRATE resources to insure its success.
Now, as to the "report" to which the edi
tor objects, We have to inform him that it is
the duty of the Executive branch of the Gov.
eminent to account strictly and honestly fol
the expenditure Of every penny of the public
money passing through its hands. And we
presume that the report which rumor among
the members says the Secretary of the Navy i.
about to make, (as We explained some time
ance,) will be simply in the discharge of this
duty, SO far as the expedition is concerned
We may further add that, while it must show
the expenditure of much public money in prog
ecutlng the expedition, it will by no means
exhibit any material increase of naval ex-
penses on that account, except in the item of
transporting the coal necessary for the steam
ers employed. The number of men and Off
GERS in the service was not and could not L..
gally have been increased for the expedition.
and the cost of their subsistence would have
been very nearly as much at any of our
navy-yards, as in benefiting thefuture of their
country SO greatly as they have done through
this successful expedition.
Nest OF the presents sent out were actual
presents from American merchants, anxious
to aid the Government in securing the advan.
tages ito them) of commerce with Japan. The
rest of the presents were furnished at the
charge of the Department of State.
We took occasion to say in the article to
which the North american takes execution.
that whatever the cost Of the expedition may
prove to have been, its results will greatly
overpay the country for the expenditure. We
see no reason to change this opinion, or to be.
lIeve that it is not shared by the Administra.
ton in common with all our other vell.in.
formed and public-spirited fellow citizens
Nevertheless, We find nothing in tho North
Amer'eam's reasoning to justify the propriety
Of failing to report to Congress, in obedience
to existing law, precisely how much Of the
public expenditures are justly chargeable to
this noble and interesting enterprise, or to
Justify our cotemporary in making the silly
allegation that the discharge of this plain
duty is evidence either Of hostility to the enter
prise, or Of q desire to criminate Mr. Fillmore's
administration for performing an act which it
the Pierce administration has followed up
prosecuted to q successful issue-with energy
and enthusiasm, which has won for it the
praise Of all friends Of progress here, withou,
distinction of political party. By the by, yes
erday the President sent in the Japan treaty
% the Senate.
The Homestead Question.-We cannot re-
sist the conclusion that the period for the NAL
solution Of the question-what shall be done
with the public domain (which has so great
~ agitated Congress for ten years past, is
rapidly approaching The Senators and Rep
resentaiives from the old States, who, up to
this time, have contented themselves for the
most part with struggling (often with poor sue
cess indeed) against propositions to dispose Of
them without keeping in view the fact that
they are trust for the common use and bene-
bit Of all the States of the Confederacy have
at length been aroused to the necessity of tie
adoption of some carefully and sensibly ma
tured plan for their future management, which
shall not leave them liable to the vagaries of
casual and illy-matured legislation, the result
Of which has already affected the public in
terest more sensibly in connection with the
public domain, than with any other of our
great national interests. We regard the bill
of Senator Hunter-which the present contes.
over the Homestead scheme has probably in
duced that gentleman to bring forward--as
the result of the existing very general desire
of those representing old States to bring the
public land question to a speedy solution. 1t
embraces features which have been discussed
more than once in the National councils, and.
for years past, have been gradually growing
in public favor.
1t seems to be understood, further, that it
meets the approval of those charged with the
conduct of the Government at this time We
can give no good reason for the very common
existence of this belief among the public men