Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-04

under the shield and by the aid of system of
Jurisprudence which has made the idea Of real
justice between man and man here, in the
matter OF the collection Of debt by law, a
very by-word of derision among our indus
trious, economical and thrifty Northumberland
| tradesmen. AS the law in this respect now
stands, it is but heavy premium for tie pFac-
| tlce of-frst, extravagancs, aud than falso
pretences on the part of persons with oily
tongues and little moral principle. Itis really
the greatest demoralzing agent at work il
our midst, assuring almost perfect immunity
for tho crime OF robbing the industrious
exon est poor" under the pretence of running
| up ''bills' moi intended to be paid
ldleress and extravaganza are the verita Bile
parents of all the crimes in the calendar, as
we'll as of al the misery which others suffer
| through connecti N wish, or confidence in, the
usduly extravaganza We would protect the
people of this District against their conse
| quenoes and therefore advocate change in
| our lava which will admonish all thai. here
| hoy cannot long DO extrsyagant or idle at the
| expense OF others. Fer orr part, we do not COM
prehend the proprety of debt-making In the
District of Columbia, and moro especially to
| the extent to which it is practiced We of the
District live on the General Government al
| most entirely Thousands know to penny
just what their income is to DO throughout the
year, and on what days in the year they are
| to receive its regular nstaliments. What
right, in common honesty, nave persons SO
situated, to owe any man dollar? Would it
not be far better for them if they could not
get cred to The amount of sixpeuce? If they
all practicsd the golden rule-PAY AZ rot
Go-hoW many OF our mechanics and trades
men would require to make debts in H.
duct Of their business? N ''h
r.oossi., -,ur one wtera srrb
-. rests an 1871
9 SUI - t'rAsds o:tt;py too much space in
. day ,tay with this subject and 50 will
conclude with an earnest appeal to Congress
| other TO abolish the talse pretence Of the OK
| is ensc Of law hers for the colIection of debts
honestly due from persons indi posed to pay
who have property-or, On the other hand to
| abolish all pretenpe Of law FOR thb enforce
| msnt Of Pccuniary obligations in the District
ot Columbia, leaving the payment of all debts
hereafter made therein to depend wholly on
he integrity Of TIE debtor
The Repealed Grant Of Lands in Did of
! the Construction of the Proposed Minnesota
Railroad We are constantly being asked
whether the company who were legislated into
the virtual prOprietorship of the lands once
donated in aid of the construction OF the Min
| nesota railroad, by the alte alton of he bill
are to hold the lands over the guhssquent PC
ton Of Congress OF not Our answer is. en-
phatically, that they are not so 10 hold ;henl
The sui ject Of the recent effrr.s Of that corr
Pany to set the law of tho land ct dehance
| has, by no means, gone unattended TO Oh the
part OF those whose business il Is to execute
| the laws, and to secure their due enforcement
| every where in the United States. according tc
| the known intention Of the lsw making povs-
though, according to the Minnesota news
papers, what We conceive to be but al oDgq.
f"ni|y strong net work Of very recent fraud
| and chicanery has been perpetrated out there,
| IN aid OF the schemes of tho specuatCr5 in
volved we have not the slightest idea that
tnolr cause hrs thus been strengthened. L.
the course Of week or Two, however, The
whole matter will be cleared up to the salts.
faotiQn Of tho country, or We are greatly mis-.
taken
Swamp and Overlooked Lands "A day or
two since We had occasion to call publ!c at
tentlon To the fragrant and numerous ctses o.
fraud prac,lGed under tbs law os the last seq
sion fer The graduation Of The price of the
public lands which have subsequently been
pciitcd out with great force BY Mr, Cobb, of
Alabama. Ill a. veIiog5 speeches III behalf Of
his bill Tor tEoi: future prevention
We have now to say IN addition + wS.t We
said OF thai occasion, tn there can hardly
fail to Re among the archives of tee Gonefal
Land Office vast amoun. Of testimony show
Ing that by false swearing under he lretsDca
o. taking up swamp and ovoi acwed lands,
hundreds e tiOus .nds, / no mIl;vn. o. acres
OF the very best lands belonging to the Gen.
erai Government have been fiched from j IS
possession. u atroci0us and swes ping
frauds were nevsr perpetI aed, unless we are
greatly deceived, than these to which we here
refer. Within the last year or two informa-
ton concerning the character of all the lands
so taken up, has been gradually aooumuIating
at the General Land Office; from which sccu,
| mutation it seems to be understood, the impress.
sion to which We refer arises. Tho ques,ion
ISIS it too late to remedy the evil? To re-
gain what has thus been fraudulently abStrac
ted from the Government
Politics in Pennsylvania and illinois i.
appears rom the news from Penn ylvunia and
illinois, that in orgarizing the new legisic-
lures of those States there vas a complete fu-
sion between tho Wings and Know Nothings,
resulting IN loh. II tho choice OF an ultra
fusion abolition fpsaker, over Nebraska hill