Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-29
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.
President BUCHANAN duly returned to Wash
ington by the noon train today in excellent

health.
WASHINGTON BANK NOTES.-THE merchants
Of the District are of sereceiving our Dis
trict currency as usual. We are also glad to
be able to state that the recent suspension of
our city note-issuing banks will in no way in
juriously affect those in trade here. On the
contrary, the result must be an immediate re-
lief to the money market of the District of Co.
lumbia, and a consequent rise in the value of
city property. ID
Our firm belief is-and no other person has
had better opportunity of knowing the condi-
ton of the banks of this locality, THAT with the
exception Of the house of Pairo Nourse which
still refrains from so arranging its affairs (after
having voluntarily gone into liquidation) as to
satisfy the minds of its creditors, that every
other District banking institution is perfectly
solvent-as much so as any bank in New York.
Those of them suspending were driven to that
step for the security of our business men. Had
they continued to pay out specie in the present
state of the monetary affairs around US, and
with their depoSitors nearly all affected by the
current panic, the en- I would have soon been a
draft on them for the total amount of their liza
bilities, which would have left them with simply
their accruing assets. Or, in other words,
without the means of accommodating single
business customer. In the meanwhile, those
whom it is their duty to accommodate-those in
trade here-would have found collections i'm
possible; because, in such times, too many
debtors will not pay, if they can postpone
doing We know from conversation with some
Of the heaviest men in trade in Washington, of
the existence of this difficulty. The suspension
of our banks, however, is the remedy for this
evil, because it enables them to accommodate
their regular customers, as we explain above.
THE PROPOSED NEW FrLIBUsTERING ExPE-
DrrIoS.-The following brief extract from the
Washington correspondence of the Richmond
Enquirer dated the 23d instantly explains the
measures taken here by the representatives of
the Governments most Immediately interested
in the preservation of he integrity of the neu-
trality law of the United States
"The new movement Of the Central America n
States, through their representatives near this
Government, on the subject Of filibustering, is
attracting attention, and is the theme of general
conversation among all classes Of politicians here
Ii appears that these Southern Republics have
their spies through our country, To watch Gen
Walker and his associates, and they have report
make descent on Nicaragua. On this inforIna-
ton these States have Instructed their Minister
here to make the demand for protection which
they did several days ago This document was
Minister PlenipOtentiary from Guatemala and
presented at the State Department by Don Luis
Molina, the Charge d'Affaires from Costa Rica ="
We may add that it is generally understood
that every necessary and proper assurance of
the determination of the ministration to pre-
venta recurrence of the ilibustering acts which
disgraced the United States year or two ago,
was given. And. further, that it is also be-
lieved in we'll informed quarters that, taking
warning by the failure of proclamations and
criminal prosecutions to accomplish the end de-
signed, the Navy of the United States will be
promptly used in this connection whenever that
step may be necessary.
THE ALEXANDRIA BANKS yesterday paid out
specie, for change only. We hear that they do
not call the refusal to pay the drafts of their
depositors, and the holders Of considerable sums
in their notes, in specie, a suspension. The
business community, however, comprehend well
that their explanation amounts to but " dis
tinction without difference .'
The Alexandria Gazere of this morning says
of that city's monetary affairs yesterday, and
kindred matters:
AT 5 o'clock, a meeting Of the directors of the
Farmers, Exchange, and Old Dominion banks
was held but no definite action was taken, and
at O'Clock the doors of the banks Were opened.
and business went on as usual. II was, however,
determined, that should there be rum upon the
banks, they would at once suspend specie paw
ment the directors deeming II more advisable to
suspend than have their vaults drained Of all the
specie, (Which must have been the case, this
being the most accessible point on which brokers
conld make immediate demands aud thereby
make resumption more difficult. There was.
however, no run made on ANY Of the banks and
fve's and tens Were cashed at the counters, and
there was more quiet in the afternoon In
Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington.
there was general suspension among the banks
[See telegraphc dispatches for particulars The
Farmers and Exchange banks al Richmond and
Norfolk continued To pay out specie. but il was
thought that they could not sustain the run that
Will inevitably be made upon them, and their
suspension is looked for. Exchange on NewY ork
and gold are very scarce, and the rates ex-
ceedingly high.
"P ). Since the above was in type, a despatch
f.om Winchester has been received, which states
that the Bank Of Winchester, Bank OF the Valley,
aud the Branch OF the Farmers Bank at that
place, have all suspended
In another article it also says:
"The banks (of Alexandria, have not suspended
though they determined not to allow any run to
b. made on them, which, however. was not at
in the banks, and there was desire on the part
or the business men yesterday that they should
suspend, thereby protecting themselves, benefit
ing community, and rendering resumption easier.
II. ). Since the above, we have seen a petit
ton, numerously signed by the business men Of
the city, and which will be presented TO the Di-
rectOrs this morning, asking the Banks TO suspend
specie payment for the present.
Our friend of the Gneettc has queer notions
of what bank suspension is, evidently How
ever, we must attribute them to an honest pride
of locality. Nothing more.
SHARPER THAN THE SHARP PRACTICE.-Four
or five citizens of Washington, depositors with
the House Of Pairo & Nourse, getting wind of
their assignment earliest, instantly caused the
proper papers to be made out, and one of them
travelled day and night to st. Paul, Minnesota,
arriving there few hours in advance of the per-
son travelling little more leisurely, who was
intrusted with the deed of trust for record in
., -