Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-02-08


scribe above are made
Public opinion is emphatically against con-
pliance with the demands of parties asking
special legislation in their favor in such cases !;
and with great justice, indeed. There can be
no question as to the propriety Of zealously
guarding the public interest against the suc-
cess of such schemes of legislation, by the
construction Of the committee Of the House who
are to guide the action of the body in great
measure, in patent cases, so as that thelpublic
opinion to which we refer, shall be fairly and
emphatically reflected in the sentiments of its
members. If majority of that committee
fail to be gentlemen rigidly fixed in the pur
pose of guarding the public interest in all they
may recommend the House to do, with the
industry and adroitness of those who will take
in charge private interests in such cases at
work upon them, the country will be saddled
with a tax Of many millions annually, that it
should not in justice be called on to pay.
The Great Question Very little real bust.
ness can possibly be consummated by the
House before June next, owing to the condi-
ton of the minds of the members on the
slavery question. Every gentleman who fights
under the anti. Nebraska banner seems to be
full, to the throat, with a set speech. With
few exceptions they are new members, and, of
course, have not yet learned the wisdom of
saying as little as possible in the Hall; the
members who effect much, being, as general
thing, those who eschew bunkum speeches,
and devote themselves sedulously to the task
of disposing of actual business, as it arises in
the due course of their sittings.
The set speeches of these gentlemen must, Of
course, be answered, if but to correct the evil
effect of having their views 60 out to the
country undisputed. Thus, We look forward
10 seeing the House hall devoted for the next
three or four months to the purposes of a de-
batting society, wherein all subjects but the
one interminable, are to be tabooed. The Me-
braska-bill party have great advantages in
parliamentary experience and familiarity with
the public history OF the country, which will
be found of great Importance to their cause.
We might name a dozen of them, who, as
body of debaters, are superior to any others
that have stood ranged together in the Hall
on any one question, within at least ten years
past. They will make sad havoc with the ar
guments of their inexperienced opponents;
more especially as their friends seem disposed
to leave the management Of the case on their
side almost wholly in the hands of those ge n
tlemen.
Genuine Americanism Last week we
took occasion to publish a report from a Brit
ish official on the result of experiments made,
under the orders of the British Quartermas-
ter's Department, with the American CORFU
gated iron military wagon body, wherein its
vast superiority over everything else of the
kind was freely admitted after demonstra-
ton. We find in late Liverpool journal the
following account of recent experiments made
in that city with an American metallic boat,
constructed Of corrugated iron, with air cham
bers, which we lay before our readers with
great pride; insomuch as it demonstrates un-
mistakably our national progress in a most
important branch Of the useful arts. 1t will
be recollected that the use of these boats for
the purpose of saving life on the coasts of the
United States, has already decreased the dan
gers attendant on shipwreck in this quarter of
the globe nearly one half!
"AHERICAN METALLIC BoArs.-A very ex-
trsordinary trial of the strength of the cele-
brated american metallic boats" took place
on Thursday, in the Huskisson dock The
Collins steamship Baltic, as we'll as all other
American steamers, is furnished entirely with
these boats On the deck of the ship, is one of
the largest boats slowed upside down. She is
the dimensions of the longest size man Of war
cutter. A strong man with an axe, having a
long handle, struck some twenty blows on her
bottom, in one spot, with all his strength,
without being able to make an indentatiOn
Any one blow would have gone through a
wooden boat One Of the boats was then put
on shore and rolled and tossed on the cobble
pavement, with all the strength of six men
then lifted up, many times, on end, and suffer
ed to fall, with great violence, on the stones
She was then thrown overheard, and rowed
many times against the stone-pier, end on,
with all the power of four men, and one to
guide her All this did not iniure the boat,
or cause her to leak. These boats have been
on the Baltic ever since she was built over
five years since, and will last as long as the
ship, without repairs; besides having the ad-
vantage Of being always tight, and ready for
Ahssohe uso, ouu dI . uIo pIOOl. 1ue govern
ment of the United States have lined their
| coast with the metallic boats, mostly on 40
| count of lightness, and being able to dart over
| reefs and rocks to board wrecks"
0T.-The adjournment over of the House
afforded large number of the members the
| desired opportunity to leave Washington on
short trips to their respective homes or neigh
boring cities, which they have eagerly en-
braced. The cars yesterday afternoon took
off quite host of them bound north, east
| and west. They will, of course, be back
among US early next week, when the business
| of the session will commence in earnest
The Door Keepers new Appointments
We understand have all been made, already.
Quick work Sscundsm, artem, pom honor
| There are more than two hundred and fifty
applicants disappointed.
Tho Currapt nnorotson. ~ tba Troa.,.r