Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-21
WARRINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
A Permanent Bridge oxar tha Potomac


temper of Congress, that until our fellow citi-
Gems of the District Of Columbia harmonic
upon the question we may struggle on in vain
for n permanent structure over the Potomac
opposite or above Washington. Congress will
not vote dollar for more than the necessary
repairs of the present rickety old concern
known as "the Long Bridge" and Of the
Falls Bridge, until they are satisfied that
there is little difference of opinion as to the
location among those on this side of the river
Immediately interested; and also until plan
endorsed by the Engineers of the Government
is presented to them which shall not contem-
plate very heavy expenditure, and will yet
be permanent in its character. As for obtain
ing an appropriation of millions to that end
from the National Treasury, the day has
gone by when that might have been accom-
plished, however desirable it may be to this
community and that of the surrounding coun-
try. Our fellow-citizens should look these
facts in the face, and take their measures in
this connection in view of them. 1t matters
very little, indeed, to the general interest of
this city, where the bridge shall stand, so that
permanent connection by bridge with the
Virginia shore be secured. Nor will its even
tual location have any injurious effect on the
value of the property in any quarter Of Wash
ington. as many seem to believe. The reader
may rely on it, that Congress will never be
persuaded to appropriate dollar for per
manent Potomac bridge, until the great mass
of the people of the District Of Columbia har-
monte their difficulties over the question.
Defect in the Law.-The Court of Claims,
yesterday, found itself in quandary Judge
Gilchrist was too unwell to appear in his seat,
and on examination into the details of the law
under which it exists, it was found that no
provision had been made by which two of the
judges could sit and transact business i'm the
absence Of the third. So the two present did
not even take their seats, but caused the Maj
shall to adjourn the court until to-day, by pro-
clamation. To-day, if Judge Gilchrist is suf-
fciently recovered to be present, the court
will adjourn over until October; by which
time, it is to be presumed, that some hall, in
the way of a permanent court room, within
the Capitol, as the law provides, will be ar
ranged for the accommodation of this tribunal:
as after October the Supreme courtroom, in
which its sessions are now held, will be re-
quired for the Supreme Court. The law is
equally defective, bythe-by, in designating
the Capitol building as the place in which the
Claims Court must meet, as it is so inconve.
- Al r. "a
reference to matters wherein much of the tes-
timony consists of papers of record in the va
rious Executive Departments. Congress will,
doubtless, change these two features of the law
as soon as they come together; the latter more
especially, because they cannot conveniently
give up any portion of the Capitol to this court,
at least until the extension of the building
may be completed.
The Press.-The friends OF Lord Raglan at.
tribute his death, for the most part, to the
comments Of the press upon bis conduct of Eng
lands share Of the Crimean campaign, gen.
Grating condition of nervous excitability in
his system, which deprived him of life when
dysentery came to its aid. They are essayins
to get up popular sympathy against the license
with which the English newspapers and Pc
riOdicals are discussing the Governments re-
sponsibilty for the disasters of the campaign,
and with reference to each prominent officers
share of the cenSure, which is deserved some.
where. We apprehend that their labor will
be IN vain, as the people of England, whose
organ the press is, are destined to increase
rather than to lose any portion of the liberty
rights, and co-equality of privileges they
now enjoy 1t happens that the privileged
classes, who arc altogether chargeable with
the unfortunate turn the affairs of Britain
have taken in the Crimea, know at least by
this time that it is impossible to hide from the
masses the fact that they-in the Cabinet and
on the 6eld-are the sole authors of England,s
shame. This knowledge, on their part can.
not fail to paralyze any efforts that they might
possibly otherwise be able to make. to con-
tinue for their own benefit the civil and mill
tary systems Of the realm, which have, togeth-
er, in this case, proved SO inefficient for the
protection Of the interests and honor Of the
nation.
Inc prospects OF the South. Some erudite
and weE-informed Northern man is doing his
best through the columns of the Journal of
Commerce to enlighten his brethren as to the
true condition and prospects of the South.
He writes with powerful pen and possesses
evidently thoroughly informed and practical
mind. We nevertheless doubt the ability of
aught human in these times Of the general
prevalence of optimist notions throughout
the North to beat common sense views into the
noodles Of its self-sufdcient and fashy-edu-
Gated masses, who possess just information from
books sufficient t. make it a curse to them and
the whole country, under the teaching of DEM
agogueism in the pulpit and in politics We
quote the writer In question as follows:
In two, or at most in three years, from
present indications, the capitols of the most