Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-01-13
WASHINGTON NEWS And. aoss1p.

WASHINGTON NEWS And, GOssIP. :.
National Defences. From false views Of
economy, - well as Of military policy, our
Notifications, which are for ths most part un-
finished, have been for some years past sadly
neglected We have heard gentlemen il veigh
by the hour upon the wrong of appropriating
for this object, which, as was asserted, could
be of no military advantages, and only con-
templated expenditures for the benefit Of the
Atlantic border. We can hardly realize that
sensible people can fail to appreciate the fact
that what protects the grsas sntyepots of COM
merce, protects the interests of the interior.
If we have suffer ed from following rash coun.
soils heretofore, let rs make haste to repair the
injury. The syren song of peace has been
sung. In time Of peace We have not prepared
for war. The loud, shrilI clarion of battle
reverbsrates throughout the world, startling
the nations, and bringing home to the minds
of the most thoughtless in such matters, that
SO far frsn having reached that period where
there shall be ono moro war upon the earth
spectators of great wars" and Of conbina-
tons Of military powers unsurpassed in the
worlds history. The war which now lights
half Europe is technically termed one Of ''opin-
ion," though yelled on all sides by dark and
deep designs Of ambition and conquest. The
peaceful, progressive policy of this Republic
may be sought to be thwarted by monarchs
jealous Of our prosperity, and fearful of the
Influence of an example upon their subjects
With our system Of military policy, the OBJ
vious necessity Of compl citing a well-devissd
system of Notifications must be apparent
they constitute the cheapest and surest de-
fence both against fleets and armies The
fruitIess expedition Of Napier against the Rus
sian fortreeses upon the Baltic, the repulse of
Feet before an Insignificant fort in Hams
ehatka, and the efficient strength of proud
Sebastopol in the face of combined armies, at
test now, to-day, the value Of well-devised
systsm Of Notifications. Let US profit by these
examples.
Tho Judiciary Reform Bill We have now
every reason to believe that the District Judi
ciary Reform Bill is to become law this win
ter. Its active opponents have proved to be
so exclusively those who are fighting the bat
ties of their own pockets, as to open the eyes
of the whole community to the fact that the
opposition to it is wholly personal on the part
Of its enemies. Until to -day we have been
unable to make room for the following short
and telling commentary upon the controversy
from the pen of the editor of the Alexandria
Gazette Our district readers all know him
TO be an impartial witness, as we'll as one who
may be relied on to give honest advice, and to
give it too, with excellent judgment He says
of the bill, and the wants Of the District:
The bill introduced into the House Of Rsp-
resentativss by Hon. Henry May, of Baltimore
foc reforming the judiciary system of the Dis
trict OF Columbia, strikes US as containing
many excellent provisions, and as being, upon
the whole, decided improvement upon the
old laws tits not our wish OF intention to in
terfere with the local matters Of our eli ghbors;
but as the laws which affecttha District are, in
some measure, matter Of interest to tho whole
country, We do not he sitate to express the hope
THAI ne citizens of W sshington and Gsorg stown
Wall do we'll to adopt tho provisions Of Mr.
blay's bill. We see it objected to the bill that
II portion OF 1t in relation to the recovery of
debts, &c, is copied from tho Code of Virsinia
Those acq painted with the working of the laws
IN Virgi ina will consider this great recon-
mendation, instead Of an objection One of
the strong reasons which operated on tho minds
Of tbs people Of Alexandria in tia great meas.
ure Of retroc ession, which they carried through,
vas the apparently hopeless task of bringing
about achange in the laws and reform Of the ju-
dicary system Since this reunion to Virginia.
they have been more than satisfied az the
change. SO, We doubt not, will be the experi.
ence Of the citizens of tho District OF Colum bl
should Mr. Mays bill become law. Let the
bill be fully and fairly examined, without pre-
judice, and with reference only to its psra ton
upon the business interests and security Of the
people, and We think the general conclusion
must be that at which we have arri we'd, after
contrast it with the system which at present
prevails.
Good 'un.-Bennett, after black guarding
Mr.. Henry A. Wise without stint for the last
month, despatched from this point an individ-
ual of his own corps, who happens really to
be gentleman, to attend and report at the
various meetings to come off under the en-
gsgensnts Of Mr.. W. to stump Virginia. He
carried letter of introduction to Wise, and
was accordingly accommodated with a capital
seat In Phenix Hall, Petersburg, whore that
gentleman delivered his first speech Of the
campaign. In the course Of his address, Mr..
Wise, commenting with great bitterness and
sarcasm upon the warfare Of misrepresenta
ton which had been waged upon him outside
Of the Old Dominion, suddenly opened upon
James Gordon Bennett with a torrent of ridi-
Guile and exposure of that individuals want
Of personal character, such as instantly turned
the stcmachs, as it were, Of all present, against
the alien Ogre Of tho American press; and
branching OFT upon his impudence in sending, as
he characterized the poor reporter, one of his
" carrion BIRDS consigned to bis courtesy
The effect was terrific. All eyes inssinctively
rested upon the forlorn gentleman, Who had
been placed in very conspicuous position, as
l,.k