Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-04-17
WASHINGTON NEWS and GOSSIP.

Helping our Neighbor ont of his Quandary.
Ii has distressed rs exceedingly to witness the
agony Of the Intstfigsneer for the last three
or four days, causing it to moan and worry -
though 1t already smells blood, If We may be
permitted to use an apt, If vulgar comparison.
Colonel Benton too, has come to the editors
rescue, writing them q long fee-fo-fum letter,
wherein he tells them that he "told EN- so"
long since-lsst winter in Congress-in de
claring that the four new regiments were OBJ
tanned from the National Legislature to be
used against Cuba, not to make a war on the
Northwestern Indians; which purpose, in def.
ancs of the 80 recent record, he charges that
the War Department alleged whom it recon-
mended the authorization of the additional
troops. The venerable and gentle Colonel
"goss on " in this letter like one possessed,
modesly, making but twenty six illusions to
himself in its first three paragrsphs-ten in
tho hrst, eleven in the second, and five in the
third! He rears and pitches over his notion
that the administration are bent on war for
Cuba, like staid OK on nearing butchers
yard. The smell Of blood afar off evidently
ofends his olfactories. We welcome the gal
liant Colonel back in print, and wonder that
the great Lam has managed to keep himself
out Of the newspapers for perhaps a fortnight
or three weeks; in all which time. until the
appearance of his epistle in question, We had
seen published nothing new signed with his
name.
But, in the face of palpable truth, his as.
severation of that which is untrue, ONLY helms to
render more difficult tho peculiar situation of
our esteemed neighbors of the Intelligeneer,
who, in this matter, play the part of the dis.
consulate widow. They are lugubriously call.
ing on all to comfort them, yet reject every
thing that does not serve to make their mo-
msntary anguish more keen. They hunt their
exchanges systematically to find proof that the
Administration are bent on doing that, which,
If done, they intimate, will fill them with in.
expressible grief. In plain English, they are
barking up the wrong tree in following the
gentle Coloners nose.
W Q have taken occasion to ascertain to our
satisfaction that nobody id the Government
dreams OF making war to obtain Cuba. The
idea has never entered the head of the Presi.
dent, or that of either of his constitutional ad.
visers-never. Their purpose is very clearly
to preserve peace. They have common sense
enough to know that if Concha is permitted to
multiply causes of ill.will to Spain on the
part Of our people (because to check him in
his insane career will brighten good people in
the United States somewhat the upshot will
be that We will soon have war in earnest. So
they have sent Commodore MeCauley down
civilly to notify him that his present course
with reference to Americans and American
vessels if persevered in must insure war, and
to urge on him that if he values peace With
the United States, he must cea,e such prac-
tees as must be resisted by force of arms by
this Government, at all hazards And further
to assure him, that he msy dismiss all fears of
the successful departure of fllibustering ex-
peditiens go long as Fl anklin Pierce remains
in the Presidency. We take it for granted.
further, that Commodore McCauley has orders
after having delivered the message, tho sub
stance Of which We mention above, to permit
no more firing of shot over and around Amer.
lean vessels pursuing lawful commerce on the
high seas-in the Gulf.
We beg our neighbor not to interpret rs as
speaking officially in this case, insomuch as
this information fn the truth of which zoe
have entire confdsnce) comes to us from no
Official source, having been gathered little by
little in the last three or four days
not yet Appoint..aa.-Mr Julius e. Metre
had not oeen appointed (as announced in the
Union) second lieutenant In the marine
corps up to l p. m. to-day. If there is no
" slip twixt the cup and the lip" we presume
he will be SO appointed.
Inc Enlistment Of Boys in the Navy.-The
Secretary Of the Navy has just completed bis
regulations and instractions for the enlistmen,
of boys, in large numbers, into the service
under the old law Of March 2, 1887. Their
substance il as follows: The parents or guar.
dams consent to be requisite and certified M
boy taken under fourteen or over eighteen
to serve until he is twenty one A surgeon,
certificate Of physical fitness required, and No
convict taken. On enlistment the boys are N h.
sent to the most convenient receiving shin and
there clothed and instructed in seaman, IN.
aesi they are not to be permitted to attend
as servants or walters on officers, DO Strict
speci>i Instructions are given as to their pro.