Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-05-10
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


II Is judged that under some strange delusiep,
he Is asing hi. judicial functions to aid and
aoet fllibustering. His ruling is, that tho
United States must 60 to trial on the testi-
mony on which the indictment against K. and
F. was found; though 1t is well known to all
conversant with the law, that a prosecu
ting attorney rarely sends before a grand
jury moro Of the testimony in case than
is sufficient to secure presentment. In
this case the judge not only announced
this strange reading of the law, but also
ignored the affidavit of the law officer of the
United States, that his request for short de.
lay was occasioned by the absence of material
witnesses. The reader will, from these facts,
perceive why ii is that the action of Judge ].
has been received with So grave surprise here
We have again to say that notwithstanding
this judicial faaz pas, it il hardly possible
that the government will permit the expedi.
ton to sail.
-"The Neutral ster."-Our talented, amiabls
and unassuming Evening Cotsmporary seems
disposed to make neutral of US, terming US
one in his issue of yesterday afternoon. The
idea Is his, not ours Not long since he styled
US an standardization organ" The Star is
indspendent-not neutrsl-expressing The
views of its conductor with emphasis on ell
public questions, without thought of su observing
the interests or pleasing the taste of any par
icular party or clique. Neutrality implies
being undecided No one who has read the
Star regularly, can really fancy that it is in
our nature to fail to have an emphatic opinion
upon every subject worth forming an opinion
about.
The Retiring List Hoax or the Baltimore
sun-A correspondent writes US concerning
this Infamous outrage perpetrated on the
several respectable navy officers and the con-
ductors Of the Baltimore San, as follows:
The bogus list of officers purporting to have
been appointed as the Retiring Board, which
was published in the Baltimore Smn of yestec-
day morning, has excited much indignation in
naval circles, from the fact that officers are
included in il who acknowledge themselves
physically incompetent to the performance of
= all their duties ashore and afoat," but who
have, nevertheless, by their gallant services
in action, contributed largely to build our
navy up, and establish it IN public estimation.
The gallant gentlemen who heads the lit
of Captains in this 50 bogus list" comma nded
the riconderoga, one of the principal vessels
Of McDonough's squadron on Lake Cham.
plain, and there are many officers among
them the distinguished one who now com.
mands our Navy Yard, Who bear testimony
. his heroic galantry in that severe action
For this service he received the thanks of
Congress and gold medal For years his
eyesight has been failing and he is now an
derstood to be nearly blind.
Again, the last Of this list Of captains par.
ticipated as c midshipman of the Constitution
IN the capture Of the Cyaue and Levant His
hearing was affected by the csnnonade of tn at
action. and from that day to his has gradually
become worse, until, az he is understood to ad
nit himself, he is physically incompetent 10
perform s3a service
Both the officers above referred to are
among the most unexceptionable men in our
navy, and yet they are made the subjects of
this hsartless " Joke" Other officers in this
list could be referred to, whose constitutions
have been broken down in the course of their
professional career, but whose characters are
without spot or blemish.
Gr. Fabens There seems to be strange
Misrepresentation existing in New York con
corning the relations of Mr. Fabens to the
Government, as he continues TO be STYLED
United States Commercial Agent at San
Juan" Some time since, We remarked on
what appeared to US to be satisfactory proof
that he had boen formally asked to resign,
owing to his compiled ~ in the second Kinney
expedition We were in error in supposine
that he had promptly complied with that re-
quest. We are not, however, in error in say
ing, as We do now, that he has subsequently,
been removed from that position by the Secyc-
'ary Of State. The fact is we'll known in
foreign diplomatic circles here. So Mr. F.
has DO longer any official connection what
ever with the Government Of the United
States.
Know Nothing Nomination in hlexan-
andria. Tho Know Nothings of AIexandria
have nominated Mr. James Il Reid as their
candidate for the Lower House Of the Lsgis-
lature, throwing overheard Lewis Mckenzie,
who represented the county n the les. House
Of Delegates. Mr Mckenzie is a gentleman of
high character and great experience, and most
was pro7erhially one of the best informed and
useful members of the last legislature. OF
the nominee, the editor of the Star knows
nothing. Though property holder and resi-.
dent and voter in Alexandria county, where
he was born, the editor Of the Star never
| saw or even heard OF MI. j as II. Reid before.
Mr.. McKenzie's friends will support him, we
| understand.
The Codifcation Of the District Lsws.-We
| have not been able to learn what progress is
being made by he Board Of Codifers of the
laws Of the Distrie. of Columbia, appointed by
| the President under the law CT the last session
| to that end. Great anxiety certainly exists
among our fellow citizens to know What they
| are doing. That is, to ascertain the general
points by which this board propose to govern
their action. We have to say to the public of
Washington and Georgetown that it will afford
| rs pleasure to spread in our columns any sug.
gestons with reference to the modification of
anv District law sent 10 our off;ca bv cor-,,