Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-08-14
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

The Swiss TREArY.-Wehear that the State
Department has of late been literally run down
with applications for copies Of the treaty be-
tween the United States and Switzerland. The
reason for this demand for the document, is the
prevalence of an idea on the part OF many that
it embraces a clause making odious and invidi-
Gus distinctions against Israeltes who may be
citizens of the United States, as contradistin.
guished from other Americans. On examina-
ton, however, it will be found that, so far as
any action to such an end on the part of this
Government is concerned, this idea is unbound
ed. The treaty in question was negotiated by
Mr.. A. Dudley Mann, under the auspices of
Mr.. Webster, then Secretary of State. 1t was
ratified by the Senate and President while Mr.
Marcy presided over the State Department,
which fact should be sufficient to satisfy all of
the groundlessness Of a suspicion that it en-
braces stipulations on the part Of the United
States incompatible with the spirit of our insti
tutions.
Some Of the Swiss cantons have municipal or
canton laws, wherein Israelites are debarred
from privileges enjoyed by other classes or re-
igiOus denominations Of the Swiss. The treaty
in question contains clause giving to the citi
zens of each country certain rights and privi
leges in BOTH wherein they do not conflict with
Federal and State laws regulating our own pop
uation in this country, or with canton or other
local laws in Switzerland. This Government had
no authority whatever to demand of Switzer-
land, in making the treaty, to accord to any eiti
zens Of the United States privileges they would
not enjoy under her laws, were they citizens of
Switzerland. There is no precedent for such
demand on our part in the history of the treaty
making of modern times, we apprehend; and
had it been insisted on, we would have had no
treaty whatever, consummated with the Swiss.
1t is greatly to be regretted that Switzerland,
with all her enlightenment and lberality, has
not yet entirely gotten rid of that relic of bar
barous age-prejudice against Israelites ON ac-
count of their religion and it is to be hoped that
increased intercourse with us, under the provi-
sions of the treaty in question, will soon open
the eyes of all her cantons to the fact that the
infection of civil disabilities upon any of their
citizens on account of their religion, ill COMFORTS
with the progress of the age; in which rests her
hope for exemption from the unjust and unfair
treatment at the hands of neighboring and
stronger powers, Of which she has at all times
been in dread, for, it may be, a century past.
HE REvOLUTIONISrS OF LAwRENCE-The
New York Tribune grows facetious over the
fact that Governor Walker has refrained from
using troops to prevent the threatened attempts
of the reyolutionists of Lawrence *. IT, to set
up an illegal municipal government 1t con-
ceives that cowardce on the part of the Gov
ernor has saved Lawrence from fire and sword
so far, at his hands, Now, the truth is-and
although the Tribune would disguise it from
its readers, all the world know it-on the sight
of the troops, the valiant men of Lawrence
dropped their tails between their legs and pro-
tested that they would not essay to carry out
this threat of attempting to enforce in their
town an unlawful municipal government. Thus
they volunteered to do what the troops were as
sembled by the Governor to force them to do.
Right glad are we that the trouble was settled
without the necessity for firing shot into the
town. The Tribune would rejoice over that
fact, too, if it really cared 1.-THE of what il
processes to care for the true interests of those
there sympathizing with it. 1t desires, how
ever, never-ending muss in Kansas, and
would like nothing better, evidently, than to
have a hundred of its abolitonists shot by
United States troops, under any justifable cir
cumstances whatever, for the chance of making
political capital out of such an event Not long
hence it will be the duty of Lawrence to pay
its share of the Territorial taxes Under the
Trbnne's advice, its citizens will doubtless es-
say to buster out Of the necessity for the pay
ment, on the ground that the Legislature that
levied the taxes was not legal. Governor
Walker will have the money, or sufficient of
their property to bring the money under the
hammer. If necessary, United States troops
will aid the civil authorities in making the
levies. If resisted, the Tribune may RELY on
it the tax law will nevertheless be executed:
and its proteges Of Lawrence will again drop
their tails between their legs on sight of the
troops
A DELIGHTFUL RETREAT JUST Nova
friend who has lately sojourned at Blakistone's
Pavilion, writes us in unstinted praise of the
many comforts and Injuries it affords to all
who visit it. Its bathing, fishing, sailing, and
delightful bay breezes, he tells us, are unsur-
passed, while the host in the manner in which
he furnishes his table and provides all other
desirable creature comforts for his guests, is a
host in himself. Families visiting there may
rely on escaping the annoyance of intercourse
with the gambling fraternity and its train
Col Blackstone permits nothing to be carried
on upon his premises by which the unwary or
inexperienced may be feeced, and therefore
while his establishment meets the authorizations
of all others, it is of course no place for per-
sons who visit watering places to ''make" their
" jacks" out of the guests. Col. B. is winning
golden opinions by the steadiness with which he
refuses to wink at violations of his rules in such
matters, from all whose good opinion is worth
having; and in time he will find that he has
made more by refusing to rent rooms to be used
for playing faro in them, than by pocketing the
enormous rents charged usually, and paid at