Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-05-27

dition. The Knoxville Register of the 7th inst
says that everywhere in East Tennessee the great
est scarcity Of provender and grain of every de-
scription prevails. The cattle are actually diving
by the thousand, and In some sections the depend,
ence is 10 cut down trees that the cattle NAV eat
buds. Nor is this alarming state of affairs con-
families that have been we'll provided with not
only the necessaries, but many of the Injuries of
life, are so straitened as to be compelled to 90
forty or dfty miles to buy corn or wheat.
"While this Is the case with those who have
heretofore been comfortable and independent the
Nashville American says that the greater want
prevails among the poorer classes, and in coun-
ties east of Knoxville that some Of them Were ac-
tually unable to have more than one meal day''
''From Canada the same cry of hunger is heard
The Hamilton Spectator says that hay brings $50
ton, that no oats are to be found except what are
needed for seed, and cattle have been driven into
the woods, 'where they are now dying in numbers
from sheer starvation. ~ 80.
We agree with the Post in attributing much
of this state Of things to the action of Congress-
in forcing on the market by undue railroad and
other donation grants, much more of the public
lands than should rightfully be brought into
market-twenty millions Of acres annually, in
stead of ten millions. The tendency of such
legislation is to induce settlers in the West to
pursue the business of specializing, rather than
farming But the quad erat demonstrandnm
Of the condition Of things in the West, as ex-
planned above, is, clearly, that those who steadily
cultivate the soil in the old States are quite as
we'll if not better, off as their more (nominally)
enterprising neighbors who pull up stakes and
move bag and baggage to either Of the north
western States ''on the strength of the chances F"
A GREAT AND COOP MAN GONE. The tele-
graph announced to US this morning the death
of the Hon. A. p Butler, United States Senator
from South Carolina, yesterday, at his home,
surrounded by his family and friends Outside
Of his family circle, none will feel this bereave
ment more keenly than the people of Washing
ton city, to all of whom he was as well known
and by all of whom he was as ardently beloved
as any of this Capitals permanent residents.
His heart was ever in his hand. High and low,
rich and poor, white and black-for all-he al
ways had a kind word in store, and in familiar
intercourse with those around him here his i'm
pulsive and generous nature never failed to run
in the mood of overlooking kindness of heart
He was, in season and out of season, without
the slightest regard to politics, the ardent friend
Of all who deserved the friendship of gentle
man of his remarkable mind, attainments and
character. There was less selfshness in his
nature than in that Of almost any other man
ever in public life. Hence, in a measure, his
SO great personal popularity here. So far as
the material interests of Washington city are
concerned, as well az the influence of his bright
genius, extensive learning and highly cultiva-
red social qualities upon society in the Federal
mi tod hxy ,1ao ~
cannot be filled from his own or any other State,
in our day and generation.
The ELECTIoS-The voters of Washington
will recollect that on Monday next their annual
municipal struggle comes off. As we grow older,
our disposition to 'pitch into our political op-
ponents for being everything in the world but
what they should be, dies away. We are, to tell
the truth, fastlOsing the politician natural pro-
pensity to bully-rag and vituperate everybody
differing with him in sentiment; and as in this
election there could be no reasonable excuse for
fretting ourself into so great a passion as that
we might burst off our suspender buttons in q
momentary paroxysm. We concluded some time
since q to take things easy" Yet is our duty
to say to our political friends-be prepared for
Monday next. There is not the slightest reason
to believe that you will not have fair election
in which you may win sure victory if you will
but exert yourselves quietly, yet manfully, for
the balance Of the week. Your opponents have
the advantage over you of the machinery of
their secret organization; yet you doubtless
greatly Outnumber them at this time in Wash
ingtOn. So, if you fail to redeem the whole
City government on Monday next, the fault will
be that of such Of you az stay away from the
polls
AN ELECTION. Democracy of Baltimore,
a few nights since, had an election for members
of their approaching City Convention, the con-
test being between the ins and the outs in fed
eral Offices there. Of course the latter swept
the platter pretty clean, carrying eighteen of
the twenty wards Of the city. They complain
that the newly appointed federal officers have
grown remarkably conservative since their own
appointment to supercede their predecessors,
and refuse to apply the rule under which they
hold their places, to their subordinates in office
1t will he perceived that this is altogether a
contest for tug at the teats As, in all, there
are probably not more than one hundred
of them, while, perhaps, one thousand will
hot NC Oil oNeI-cstimdte Vi the NUMBER OF very
hungry little pigs squealing and tussling around
them, it is not wonderful that the outs and their
friends have teetotally demolished the ms and
theirs in this contest. The pertinent question
is-If all the present ms be rotated out, will
those who fail to draw prizes, and their friends
be better satisfied than with matters standing
as they do now
The LONG BRIDGE.-The action of the Wash
ington City Councils on Monday night last
appropriating $1,000 for the repair of the Long
Bridge-we apprehend settles the difficulty in
voved in this matter. That sum is sufficient
to close up the gap, the present breach in the
structure. When that shall have been done,
the means g for the repairs of bridges" in the
District Of Columbia now in the hands of the
Interior Department will be available to keep
the structure passable until Congress shall have
an opportunity to legislate definitely on the
subject. 1t is fortunate, indeed, that this diff