Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-23
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

corning that now most interesting mystery
the condition of the affairs of the late banking
house of Paro 4 Nourse. Our regret Is our
utter inability to be able to say when the de-
positors will be paid off. As the matter appears
to be arranged, it seems to US altogether at the
option of the trustee to pay off the depositors
promptly, or 50 to delay settling with them, a,
that the defaulting house, or any others choos-
ing to buy up their claims sold under the influ-
ence of " hope deferred, ," which make the heart
sick, may do so at heavy discount
The question involved in the settlement of
the affairs of that house is, simply, las we now
begin to comprehend it, shall the trustee sa-
crifce some of its assets-western lands-by
selling them at such cash prices as they will
bring or shall he sacrifice the poor depositors,
many of whom are widows and laboring people,
by refraining from selling the assets until he
can realize what Pairo Nourse now hold
them to be worth If he adopts the latter al
tentative, we know of no better speculation
than such n failure, that can be made Money
is worth everywhere, at this time, from l ! to 2
per centum per month; whereas they may con-
tinue to have the use of the $500 900 of the de-
month. In the mean time, prices of western
lands, ten chances to one, will 60 up again |;
when sufficient of the assets may be sold to buy
in such of the depostors' claims as may be
found floating in the market, at from % to so
cents on the dollar
If the trustee elects to regard his position
one in which it is his duty to protect the inter
est of tho failing parties, regardless of that of
the laborers, mechanics, clerks, tradesmen,
widows. orphans and others, who are the de-
positors, by delaying sale Of the assets, man
with half an eye will perceive how easily the
game we explain might be played out success
fully.
We have not the least idea that the assets of
the house, if honestly decided to the trustee
and We believe that they have been so decided
are insufficient to pay off every depositor land
the depositors are the only creditors it seems,)
in week, by selling the assets at once for what
they will bring. Messrs. Pairo & Nourse are
both proverbially economical men. Neither
ever squandered dollar in their lives. All
the earnings of their long successful business
lives where duly invested-somewhere.
They received deposites up to 3 p. m. of the
business day before announcing their failure.
1t strikes us as being utterly incomprehensibe
how it happened that they could not have known
that their affairs required them to take the step
they took, while receiving the last deposits paid
into their bank, by their own consent under
the impression of their solvency. This fact,
coupled with the failure to make any showing,
makes US, under existing circumstances, most
uneasy after having done our best to reconcile
the public to their suspension. We know Of no
run on them, nor can we hear of any fruitess
effort on their part to stave off their catas-
trophe. We only know that suddenly ESQ far as
the public are informed) they took it into their
heads to fail, making the brother-in-law Of
their senior partner their trustee, without the
slightest check on him in the way Of some one
as a co-trustee representing their creditors
And We know further, that by the process we
describe, Messrs. Pairo Nourse may buy in
many claims against them at 2j or so cents on
the dollar, and become very rich men at the ex-
pense of the widows, laborers, mechanics, clerks,
&c, of Washington city
Justice and common honesty, we submit,
make a full, fair and prompt showing of the af-
fairs Of Pairo & Nourse necessary.
A SPANIsH-AGERICAy CoALITIoN.-In the
Panama correspondence of the New Orleans
Picayune dated Panama, Sept ID inst.) we
find the following brief announcement, which
requires explanation, as it is pregnant with
results that may materially affect American
interests in South and Central America:
"The CroBica says that grand congress of
representa- of the Spanish American repub
lies will soon be held in san Jose. Letters from
the CHILEAN and Bolivian governments, approving
of the idea, are published
The idea, We knew n month since, originated
with Chilli. It's design is to form a defensive
alliance of all the Spanish American Govern
ments against North American flibusters 1t
is not yet determined whether the congress is
to convene at San jose. Costa Rica,) or in
Chill. From information in our possession we
incline to the opinion that it will convene in
the CHILEAN capital.
Although the Governments to be represented
in this convocation may not design the initia-
ton Of measures or general policy hostile to
American interests, as its purpose is self-prO-
lection against the consequences Of what they
regard as the weakness Of this Government in
the matter of REFRESHING filibustering outrages
upon tntustINts, us Will pTOUu-
bly, serve greatly to inhame Spanish-American
hostility to the United States everywhere.
Our information from Nicaragua by the last
mail is, that that Government, despairing Of the
success of its efforts to obtain from the United
States a treaty whereby it will be protected
hereafter from American flibusters, has notified
its Minister accredited at Washington that bis
services will be required to represent Nicaragua
in this congress, in view of the fact that it is
evident to her that she must depend on the pro-
posed Spanish American general alliance, and
such European aid and countenance as that
may secure, for her future defence. The loss of
the Nicaraguan transit to the United States is
therefore likely to be the first effect of the meet
ing of the proposed congress ere the desidera-
tum of detaching Nicaragua from the coalition
be accomplished. Nicaragua is represented in
Chill by Sr. Don Hermogenes Irisarri distin-
guished son Of Gen. Irsarri, now the Minister
8, Sal