Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-12-17
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


terprise to make application to Congress to
terminate their contract with the Government,
rs they find it impossible, at the reduced rate
Of their compensation, to continue their line
without furnishing the national prestige which
they have already won for the country. AL.
though they have had to contend with many
difficulties, more than the public can be aware
OF, In the conduct OF their great enterprise,
Mr.. Collins, We know, trusts that, whoever
may be his SUCCESSOR, the American flag may
remain, go fer as prestige in ocean steamer
navigation is concerned, in the position in
which he has placed it and will leave it--hav-
ing no fears but that the Adriatic, when on
the ocean, will excel all the great achieve
ments of the Persia, the last remarkable effort
of English ocean-steamer skill She, 1.-THE
Persia it will be recollected, is the eighth
and last English steamer constructed express.
ly to beat the American line-not one of those
previously built proving equal to that task.
That IL, none ofthem have equalled the west.
err and most difficult passage Of the Collins
steamers, which have beaten them more hours
to the westward than they have beaten the
Collins ships to TIE eastward.
Though nos near ten years since Mr. Collins
mstured lis plans for the construction Of the
first four steamships Of the line, the passage
OF all its ships have actually averaged but IL;
days. That is, not estimating the passages of
aae vessels he has this year been compelled to
employ, which were rot built by himself
This average is a day and a half shorter than
that of the Cunarders ard, to accomplish II.
has cost the Collins line more than the addi.
tional pay taken from them by Congress at
the last session. But for that legislation. the
ratio Of improvement which has marked the
progress of the line, and the preparation.
made to that end, would have brought the
passages down to an average of not more than
eleven days.
when the contract was originally made the
Cunarders were averaging equal to I6 days, to
New York. The achievement of the Collins
steamers IN shortening that average one. fourth,
has actually already saved to the country in
interest more than every dollar paid to it by
the Government-throwing out of the estimate
the amount paid into the treasury for hostages
through Its existence and rivalry of the Eng
ish line. II will be remembered that the
Cunard lire were compelled to shorten their
passages par' pas,U with the achievements of
their American rivals. All bills of exchange
against expectations and impoItatiops cross the
ocean by one or the other line, and the saving
oil one fourth the aggregate interest on them
all, brought about by the achievements Of the
Collins line, has Of course been an enormous
gam for those paying that interest or in other
words, 10 the actual producers of American
exports aud actual consumers Of American i'm.
ports Those cOnversant with the laws of
commerce comprehend that such are the par
ties who eventually pay the interest on such
bill. of exchange.
The 6umors The currency Of rumors Of
excitement among the slave population in
the region Of Virginia surrounding this city,
wherein they fare in all respects as well as
any laboring population of the North, ia doubt
less founded on expectations generated among
them by the positions and labors of Republi-
can pariyism. 1t cannot have amounted to
anything like an effort to concert for Insured.
assured from cur own observation, though
many wonder-mougers have figured out such
occurrences to the great great qualification of
their oTn propensity for mares nests. Those
Immediately interested in the status Of that
description Of population in that portion of
Virginia are duly on their guard, and enter.
tain not the slightest apprehension Of trouble
from such sources. In the meanwhile, con-
cert, caution, promptness and 6rmnesI Of bear
ing has been rendered absolutely necessary
Tor the future, by the aggregation of the
strength Of sbolitionism and its tendencies az
developed In the history of the Republican
party. If Its effects on the status Of society
IN the South as recently developed in the
western slayeholding States and Virginia are
to grow with its growth, the necessity for gen.
eral effective precautionary measures will soon
bling them about ia every State Of the con.
fedsracy soath Of Aasons and Dixon's line.
Inc News from Nicaragua We are with
Out space In which to publish to-day the in.
teresting particulars of the T,nncssee's al vice;
frem Nicaragua. They render it certain, be
yond Peradventure, that Walker reer there
HraPldiy drawing to close. HIS reported
victories turn out to BE disastrous series O.
reverses, resulting in his abandonment of nj
he has gained in the way Of military position
since the first month after landing there III,
whole native population have united agains
him under, kivas, and the neighboriDg State
were rapidly marching against him large AM
well appointed armies which were not engage,
IN his recent battles, in which he contende
almost alone against the Nicaraguans. TIL
cholera ard dest:tution were playing terribl
havoc IN his raIks. His situation is indeet
desperate.
Inc hsys-We hear that tie gen,Iemei
W'o voted on the day before yesterday agaius
the modified resolution Of NJ Der On .h,