Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-28
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

who followed his fortunes-25O in number
have taken refuge on the sloop-of-war st. Ma
rvs, and been carried to Panama-reaching us
this morning by telegraph, of course dissipates
the delusion Of those who believed that he
would eventually succeed in the subjugation Of
Nicaragua 1t also renders certain the fact
that hereafter the Nicaraguan Isthmus transit
route will be safe to all peaceful Americans
Walker, his murders, robberies, delays and ter
rors having been the only causes why that route
has not been at all times open, safe and peace
full.
The difficulties Mr.. Soule and Col Slater
came here to solve, discussed by US in another
article to-day according to distant newspapers,
are, therefore, ended; though not to the taste
of those gentlemen, with whom, we apprehend,
" protection to Americans crossing the Nicara-
guam isthmus" probably means measures on
the part Of this Government to eventuate in
recovery with the once expected profits on
them Of the heavy advances made by Col Stat
ter to aid Walkers schemes, and realization
OF the famous plantations which were bought
by adventures in his fortunes under Walkers
DEGREES of confscation, to which the purchasers
had no more legal or moral right or title, in our
humble judgment, than the burglar has to the
proceeds Of his nights ventures.
We can perceive no moral difference whatever
in the "speculations' of these parties; and
should as soon dream of sympathizing with the
triumph of receivers of the proceeds of the bur-
glar operations in holding on to their i'll gotten
gains, as rejoicing in the assurance to the pur-
chasers of the confscated estates ofmurdered or
despoiled Central American gentlemen, of Me,r
ill-gotten gains. Walkers expulsion from
the country, the immense loss Of money falling
on those of his co-operators who had money to
lose by investing in his outrages, the immense
loss of American life resulting from his "opera-
tons" in Nicaragua, and the appalling cata-
logue Of murders, arsons, robberies, &C., in
ficted by him on the people of Nicaragua with
whom we have been nominally at peace through
out all these occurrences should, together, teach
a lesson not soon to be forgotten by this Gov
eminent and people.
The telegraphic dispatch telling that Costa
Rica had no part in his surrender, is of course
drawn up, like all other New Orleans dispatches
concerning Central American affairs in order to
put the best possible face upon Walkers for
tunes, without the slightest regard for the truth
All know that he capitulated" to the officers
of the United States only to escape the fire and
sword of the Costa Ricans
The question is-what has become of his sick
and wounded, of whom, when last previous heard
from, he had more on hand than the number of
his men in fighting condition? Has be magnani-
mously saved his own bacon at the expense of
their lives?
The LYNcHBURG RAILRoAp.-We are glad.
indeed, that Walter Lenox, Esq, has underta-
ken to awaken the attention Of his fellow-citi-
zens Of Washington to the importance of the
speedy completion of this railroad to their own
future. 1t is the only remaining link in the
direct line of railroad between the Federal me-
tropolis and the Mississippi at Memphis, almost
due west from US. The peculiar advantage of
this line to property holders of this city, arises
from the fact that Washington is the first At
lantic-cOast city which travellers on it from the
West, reach No stranger can pass through
Washington without tarrying fer days here if
the trip be his first to the Federal METROPOLIS
Those coming from the South and West who
reach Baltimore first may not find inducements
strong enough to come forty miles out of their
way North to this city; but. if touching Wash
Ington necessarily on their route North the
chances are ten to one that they will tarry here
Washington has no commercial business what
ever, that docs not grow out of the transaction
of the affairs Of the General Government here.
and the expenditures of strangers visiting il
solely because 1T is the Seat of Government
and, as such, contains various objects of special
interest to all.
The great chain of railroads to St Louis, to
be opened las a continuous and unbrokep
chain) on Monday next, will serve to increase
the Hood OF strangers upon US, and, as a matter
oil course, the expenditure of money of residents
OF other localities in Washington Yet for eyery
dollar OF profits that chain can ever bring us.
the completion Of the direct chain of railroads
to Memphis will bring us fifty dollars The
man Of common sense will therefore perceive at
a glance the great Importance of its speedy CON-
pletion to all interested in the future of our
city.
Unlike the people of every other considerable
American city, we of Washington have not
been called on, up to this time, to put our
own shoulders to the wheel to advance our COM
mon interest as involved in the construction of
railroads-not one Of which has so far been
constructed in this country without repaying
to cities Of the population of Washington that
have taken stock in them, tenfold the outlay in
the increase Of the value of real estate. This
is view of the question eminently practical,
and is borne out by experience every where.
1t forms the reason why we have SO frequently
called the attention of the Stars readers to the
Importance of the completion of the railroad
chain on which we are now commenting.
1t will be recollected that from Charleston on
the Atlantic coast and Augusta, Georgia. to
Mobile and New Orleans the whole Atlantic
and Gulf coast will, in eighteen months, be i'm
mediately connected with this chain by cross
roads, as well as every considerable city north
of it to the great lakes, as far north as Chicago.
and, west, as Davenport, Iowa; all of which
cross railroads must operate as feeders to it.
When finished, from the remarkable advantages
it possesses, it will bring to Washington per-