Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-23

The Virginia Claim.-Ths Stars readers
will bear as witness that We have invariably
enforced, with all possible earnsstnsss and
e emphasis, q rigid observance Of the public
faith in sill things, as being the path of duty
for the Government Of the United States-the
path # duty, honor, justice, and the proper
way to exert the best Influence upon the fu.
tIrs of tie community at large. They will no
" pnder, therefore, that We again respectfully
urge Congress not to fail to dispose finally of
the Senate bill to refund to Virginia and
Maryland the money generously advanced to
the General Government in the latter's hour
of need. We mean tho funds necessary to
enable tho General Government to provide for
the necessities of the public business at this
point, when the seat Of government was re-
moved from Philadelphis. The plea that
those advances were intended as donations"
aud that therefore in strict justice they cannot
be reclaimed, is a singular one, indeed, to be
advanced in behslf Of a government whose
treasury is groaning under the weight Of mill
lions on millions the possession Of which all
men Of all parties unite in declaring to be
fraught with more serious danger to the future
of the country, in its corruptiug influences,
than any other elemen. Of the nations great
ness.
But the history of the original advance by
Virginia shows plainly that she never intend
ed the money as n donation. Her Legis ature
absolutely changed the title Of the act, to ex-
clude this presumption. Virginia now asks it
for herself. Though tho fund is to be invested
in stock Of the Orange and Alexandria rail-
road, yet certificates of stock so taken belong
to the State. Besides, what has Virginia de-
rived from the present location Of the seat o;
government? When Alexandria was coded
to the General Government her trade was
large and her commerce prosperous, and she
was sent back to Virginia in 1916, feeble and
impoverished Maryland and Virginia ad-
vanced this money when the General Govern
ment possessed as little credit as funds and
10 pay it back.
The question is, or at least should be
thoroughly understood by the House, for it has
heretofore been deliberately discussed there
To dispose of it finally need not occupy two
hours of the time of the body; and with the
exception Of the general appropriation bills
and the final disposition Of the Tariff question;
We know of no other measure Of greater pub.
lie importance in all its bearings, than this
same measure.
The impeachment Case-We find in that
veteran and SO invariably well balanced and
conservative journal, the Galveston Civilian,
of the 10th inst notice of the proceedings
of the House at the present session upon the
question Of the proposed impeachment Of
Judge Watrous, which will doubtless strike the
minds Of the public, If not those of Congress,
with great force. We adopt them as express.
ing much more happily than cur pen can, our
own position upon this vexed though most i'm
portant question:
This long mooted question concerning
Judge Watrous, it cannot be Disguise is one
deep f. M Rs1s Of tj
others with asperity- until a large number of
the most prudent of our citizens, who know
little or nothing Of the facts, and have no
prejudice against Judge Watrous, have come
TO regard a change as necessary to give quiet
to hugants and insure that respect for high
judicial decisions, so essential in q free gov
eminent They say las several papers have
lately said) that though Judge Watrous may
be an innocent and much injured officer, still.
where the Dissatisfaction and opposition is Of
so long duration, and has been 50 repsatedly
and publicly expressed by so large a portion
OF the State, II is unvise and unreasonable
that he should preside over their litigations
and determine their ghts
owe have never Joined in a crusade AZ INST
Judge Watrous, nor volunteered in his de-
fence; for the reason that We regarded tie
Case as ono possessing a legal and proper
though tardy, remedy and secondly, because
we have not been in possession Of evidence to
justify US in pronouncins Judgment in 80 grave
matter. The position assumed Of late how
ever demanding that a decent respect ia due
to the popular voice, and that the bench
should be filled by men whose characters are
not only unimpeached, but unimpeachable
and that In case where even an innocent and
honorable judge, for long period, fails to in
spire public confidence in tribunal of soch
vast Importance to tho rights Of the people, it
we're better that a change should be m ade
than that such a state Of facts should exist, is
one that cannot be met and answered, except
by disregard Ct and a disrespect f1r the
public intelligence, which cannot be sane
toned at this day, in our enlightened and free
country. While We respect the Judicial sta.
ton, still judges are but men and public ofi-
GERS, and have no more right to immunity
from legitimate public opinion than has q
governor, sheriff, or any other public furc-
tionary." -
The Joint Committee on the Congressional
Library have selected Alexander Gait, Of Vir.
ginia' the distinguished artist, who is now in
Florence, to execute the order for the bust of
the late Chief Justice Rutledgs for the library
Of Congress.
Postponed.-Ths Secretary!of the Treasury
has postponed the time for opening the bids
for the new post Office and United States cour,
rooms at Indianapolis, Ind
The Current Operations Of the Treasury
Dep Saturday, 2ls; Febru Try,