Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-10-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

the rejoinder Of Gen. Pillow to Gen. Hitchcock.
While we will not disguise regret on account
OF It's virtual parody, so far as its tone Is con-
cerned, upon the paper it was designed to re-
flute, (which we regard as unfortunate, because
the argument and facts are clearly with Gen.
p. y we look on it as embracing an entire refu
tation of every point Gen. Hitchcock essayed
to make against its author, which, by the by,
are simply the points he essayed to make on
the court-martial Of Gen. Pillow in which the
witnesses called virtually by him III tchcock)
refuted his allegations one and all, clearly ex-
onerating Gen. Pillow from them, and procur-
ing his triumphant acquittal. For Gen Pill
lows own sake we can but regret that in this
paper he has condescended to handy epithets
with Gen. Hitchcock. 1t will, however, be
read with interest by all curious concerning
what is termed the "secret history" of our war
with Mexico.
TRIAL BY JURY has, as all the world know,
become, in important criminal cases at the
North, but little more than farce, owing, we
think, to the prevailing laxity there concerning
the obligations of the jurors duty to society, if
not Immediately and directly to his oath. In
New York city, especially, is the jury trial in
murder nought but a prostitution Of the law for
the benefit of the criminal. The New York
Times attributes this state Of things to the ex-
istence of the law or custom in that State that
accords 10 the prisoner the right to challenge
and set aside all offered as jurymen who hsv 70
formed any opinion upon the case it being
impossible in these days of general newspaper
reading and the publication of facts in such
cases to find men fit to be jurymen who have
failed to receive impressions as to the gull or
innocence of the party to be tried. The conse-
quence, according to the Times, is, that persons
incapable Of reasoning out Of court, or draw
ing correct impressions from facts appearing
in testimony are invariably found on juries in
such cases to chang" them, or to bring in YER
| diets as utterly absurd as that rendered on the
recent trial Of Cangemi, the murderer of po-
liceman Anderson.
While the explanation Of the Times is to a
considerable extent q sound and correct one,
we attribute the now proverbial immunity of
the murderer at the North In great part, to
the influence of that sickly philanthropy which
so many newspapers and political and other
| demagogues have been intoxicating there. 1t
| is the legitimate result of the teachings of the
perfectionst's theory, for the most part. The
| rights Of individuals are magoified in the minds
of the Northern public out Of all reasonable
proportion, while those and the interests Of So
ciety are whistled down the wind and men are
taught to believe that they may lawfully and
properly crafty a mawkish sentimentality at
the cost of the peace, good order and we'll being
of society.
The utter failure Of trial by jury in such
quarters as manifested 60 soon, in our mind,
raises grave misgivings of the capacity of So
ciety, as organized at the North, for prudent
and successful self-government. The trial by
jury is generally styled the bulwark Of our
liberties. Itwas SO, intended to be, and was so
so long as the jurors function was honestly,
conscienciously, and fearlessly administered.
Since it has become there but the back door
through which the notorious criminal inyaria-
bly, escapes due punishment, in our humble
opinion, it is next to nuisance as administered
The TINEs.-It is very clear that the pinch
of the times is over at the North The business
community there have rapidly succeeded in
making their financial arrangements to suit the
altered condition Of things, and failures here
after are to be rarer than Of late. The seasons
crop has commenced to seek the Atlantic coast,
and is thus paying up the Indebtedness Of the
West. An effort is being made to induce the
Pennsylvania Legislature to perpetuate the
present condition Of the banks Of that State;
which must fail Of success, as the Democratic
party sets its face against it in the called ses-
sion of the Legislature, and a considerable wing
of the Republican party bids fair to act with
the Democracy on the subject.
This effort is the work of the managers of
such OF the Pennsylvania banks as are notori-
ousiy weak through having, as assets, huge
unavailable debts due them-dead horses that
they have been carrying over from ledger to
ledger, as assets, for some twenty five wears
past
In this city, owing principally to the secrecy
with which the managers of the note-issuing
banks are just BOW conducting their affairs. q
strong feeling is arising against them, which
should be promptly allayed by concert of action
on their part, and some exposition of their af-
fairs and plans as will satisfy the public that
they Will seek to resume specie payments at
the earliest possible moment.
We are for rescuing the interests of this
community from the disabilities and drawbacks
brought on them by the suspension of the Dis
trict of Columbia note-issuing banks with as
little injury to the latter as possible Never
theless, we are for accomplishing that end at all
hazards, and with as little delay as may be DOS
sible without injuring rather than beneftting
Cur fellow-citizens large. There exists moth
ing that separates the interests of our people
and note-issuing banks, unless it be something
as yet covered up from the public eye Be-
lieving their interests identical, we entreat the
note-issuing banks to deal frankly with the
public, by whose breath-in the present anom-
alous condition of the law-they live Their ter
are upon the privilege they exercise is far too
slight to justify them in setting up for them
selves as against the community, as it were.
INTERESTING FROM NEBRASKA Young
WashingtOniaD. settled in Nebraska wr;,as -,