Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-07-30
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

the President transmitted to Hon. John L.
Dawson, of Pa, letter, rendering to him the
position of Governor of Kansas, made vacant
by the very recent removal of Governor Rec
der. The intelligence of the appointment of
Gen. Dawson was unexpected in political cir
cles here, though all careful observers around
US were satisfied that the Executive would find
himself constrained, by sense of duty, to re-
move Governor Reeder. We are unable to-
day to discuss at any length an event Of so
great political Importance, but shall take oc-
casion to do so at another time
We regret the exigency that has seemed t.
President Pierce to demand the removal o
Gov Reeder, although we are free to say that
we do not perceive what other course coull
have been taken. For reasons not to be con.
sidered in hasty paragraph, because they
are connected with every item of the history
of the organization and growth of the territory
of Kansas a deadlock has occurred between
the representatives of the people of that terri
tory and the Governor. The whole legislative
business Of the territory had been brought t,
stand still. 1t must be apparent from this
fact alone that the day Of Governor Reeder's
usefulness to the territory of Kansas, passed
away with the occurrence of that event.
Wise policy, to say nothing of duty to tina,
young and growing community, would thus
seem to demand that trial be made of o new
man in the Office of Governor, of one known to
tha nv tot
devoted to the constitutional right of all and
every section of the Union, Missouri as we'll as
Massachusetts,. That has been done by the
appointment of General Dawson
Imperial Library Of Franco.-In the las
number of the London Athenauna we find AZ.
account of the catalogue of the Imperial Ii
brary of France, which contains much inter-
esting and valuable information on this sub
ject. Immense libraries are doubtless acquisi-
tions to any country, but it would be we'll to
consider wb at an enormous expense is involved
in the mere preparation and printing of cat
alogue. In 1888, the French Government ap-
propriated l 1854, 900 francs, or $685., 900. to b
expended in the preparation of a catalogue
the printed books in the Imperial Library
After the lapse of twelve years-that is,
1850 commission was nominated for the pur
pose of inquiring into the progress made in tn,
work, and the time and amount of money thai
would be required to complete it. The chic
officer of the catalogue department made re-
port upon the subject in June, 1850, whereil
he stated that the number of titles prepared
for the catalogue of printed books was III 100
that ten years would je required to complet,
it; and that it would not be possible to CON-
menee the printing until 1852. He further
undertook to prepare titles at the rate OF
l40 900 a year In this he failed, however.
and resigned his post, confessing his inability
to advance more rapidly. In June, 1852, l.
was found that 250, $50 titles were prepared
The commission in 1850 named twelve years
as the period within which the catalogue Of
printed books would be completed, and eigh-
teen years for printing it, and estimated the
number Of volumes in quarto at from sixty
Eve to seventy-two. NJ. Taschereau adopts
the number of volumes, promises the COM
pletion of the work within the twelve years
and anticipates that the time for printing cal
be curtaiIed. The Athenaum remarks thai
''energy and determination will work marves,
but there are limits which even these noble
qualities cannot exceed The Empcrors Ma
poleon the First and Third have accom- plished
great things by determined will; but they
never made a catalogue, and we strongly sus-
pect that NJ. Tasehereau, as his experience en-
larges, will be induced to moderate his prom
ises''
In addition to the catalogue Of printed
books, there are in course of preparation those
of the manuscripts, Ofthe medals and antiques,
of the geographical collection, and of tn,
prints. Altogether, this series of volumes, il
properly executed, will form one of the mos
important and extraordinary works that ever
issued from any press in the world. Only one
volume has yet appeared-which contains
| l6, O36 entries, and relates to French history
Small Arms.-"It is stated that at the
United States arsenals the manufacture OF
| small arms (s10, 900, 900 worth of which we are
said to have ON hand, is suspended, until it il
aScertained what are the last French anu
PrussiSn observation-disclosures with
which is going on by Colonel Huger of the
ordnance n-Baltina0rs Sun, July %.
The above paragraph is only one of the
many silly stories with which the newspapers
| are teeming, and which it takes much of our
| space to correct.
The idea that our government has suspended
| the manufacture of arms until it can ascertain
the i..st French spd Prussian improvements,
is too preposte.-O w TO be believed by any one
at all copversant with "ar public affairs.
The fact is 1--WE have been at som. aaV' =" %
certain i) that the Secretary of War, So
considerable time since, took under considera-
! ton the subject of our small arms, and became
satisfied that the day for the late models had
passed by, and he gave instructions to have
the system thoroughly examined and new mod
els prepared. Experiments were thereupon