Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-02-27
. law which will do evsn-handed justice to

whatever pretence exacted, amounts to re-
turn to the exploded policy Of protection >
(now that the Treasury is grooming with a
troublesome surplus, and free-trade principles
are momentsriIy achieving greater popularity
is worse than folly on the part Of the manu-.
featuring capitalists By the enactment Of
such q bill, Congress will be but insurine
agitation throughout the length and breadth
of the land, which within two years will result,
in the passage of tariff law far more unfa.
vorable to the interests of manufacturing
capital than that which they may secure
through the conservative influence of Mr..
Hunter and those who share his ideas. by
promptly and frankly acquiescing in his view.
The real question is, |Will they continue to
strive for unjust protection for a very brief
season or, like sensible men, will they per-
NIT their Representatives in Congress to deal
fairly with the country at large, and thus
secure reasonable advantages for themselves
for perhaps quarter of century?
The Collins Line-We have obtained from
Mr.. Collins the following letter to him from
the Hon j. NJ. Miller, former United States
Senator from New Jersey, now in Europe, and
publish it as embracing an apt illu stration of
the views of our countrymen who are abroad
with reference to the policy of abandoning
steam communication between Europe and
America to the English, which will be involved
in permitting the Collins line to 60 down:
/ cannot refrain to express, even at this dis.
lance from home, my regret and modification
at that illiberal policy which has driven you
to petition Congress to put an end to the Col
lins line of steamers; and 1 have not met
with an American abroad, nor even An Eng
Eshman, who does not participate ia this feel
ing Beside the claims which your enterpris.
ing labors-strugglipg through years of dis.
asters to accomplish great national object
have upon the public, the honor of the Gov.
eminent is also involved in the final sustain.
ing OF your line Of steamers. To withdraw
now would be to surrender that which We for
years have been laboring to obtain-and are
just about to acquire-to wit successful com.
petition with England in steam navigation
upon the ocean. When you commenced your
line she had complete control of this branch
Of commercial enterprise Your first effort
surpassed her In the construction and speed of
the ships, leaving her no advantage over us
but that Of capital and government patronage
1t then became a national question, and Con
gress, urged on by public sentiment came to
your aid; and although this assistance was
comparatively small, it was, with your perse-
vering enterprise, sufficient to sustain a hope
full competition which would have by this
time resulted in a glorious triumph, had it
not been for those disasters of the last two
years, against which no human foresight could
provide.
The elements have given to your grea. rival,
III fha r. A.
time being. The question now is, whether
We shall, under these accidental circumstances,
abandon our line of steamers as sinkiug ships.
or with renewed energy increase, enlarge and
strengthen them.
1t is evident that the only advantages which
England has over US, ,other than the number
of her ships,) have been derived from an i'm
in ship building wisely adopted by
her, and the accidents referred to. To give
up the contest under such circumstance would
be disgraceful to America.
Again, II Congress permits your line to be
withdrawn, what other lire can hope to sue
coed? 1t is true that private enterprise in
America can accomplish much, and our Gov
eminent may be able to drive a better bar.
gain with some mere adventurer but it re.
quires but little foresight to see that no indi.
Vlduai can successfully compete with a we'll
established English line, and that John Bull
VIII derive all the advantage from such a
shifting and penny-saying policy on our part.
Every one who visits Europe feels that the
Collins and Cunard lines of steamers have ac
quired a national character.
They are the FIRST of their Kind. Both na.
tions take an interest in their success. This
feeling Is not one Of hostility, but of generous
anxious that the race should
continue to the end Of the course and if either
OF tho competitors should break down on the
way, either by accident or by neglect, it
would be deeply regretted by the people of
both nations. L therefore hope that Congress-
may reject your petition of surrender, and by
all reasonable and proper patronage still keep
the Collins line ahoat
The Watrous Impeachment. - In order
that the position taken by the Star on this
subject may be supported by other evidence,
whilst assailed, We give the following remarks,
made on the 9th day Of the present month, by
the Hon. l. d. Evans, of Texss-a gentleman
distinguished for his high sense of honor and
clear comprehension:
Mr.. EvASs.-I can ve:y we'll understand
the influence which the remarks of the gen
tleman from South Carolina may have. i
KNOW tnat this Is most important proc ,ed-
to Judge Watrous, and i'm
portant to the people of Texas. / think that
1t Is due not only to Judge w skous, but to
the State OF Texas, that this resolution be
adopted, and that the judge be placed upon
his trial, and have an opportunity of acquit-
ting himself before the Senate of the United
States II be be innocent. L do not know t.
whom my friend from South Carolina referred
as the person by whom he was assured of
J udge Watrous's honor and hi9hmindedness,
but can state this that soon after Judge
watrouS was made judge Of the district court
of Texas, he fell under suspicion. and IL he.
came the settled opinion of large majority
OF the people of Texas that he was engaged
In fraudulent land cases. That opinion was
Endorsed By the Legislature Of Texas in I84s,
In the resolution which has been read here
this morning. There are, 1 believe, but few
OF the members Ct the bar-but very few of
the citizens of Texas, who do not regard Judge
Watrous as implicated in some manner or
other IN this class of litigation, and improper
u so.
Proceedings were instituted soon after the
Legislature of Texas had taken action On the
subject. The Committee en- the Judiciary.