Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-09-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

4
of Washington-to suspend for the present
the payment of specie except upon notes of
the denomination of IS, and checks for small
amounts They feel themselves able to meet
every obligation against them, but resort to
this as a measure of selfdefence.
The Bank of Metropolis has, up to the time
of going to press, sustained the heavy run upon
it without yielding; as has also the Washing
! ton Savings Bank. .-.----...
The run upon Sweeny, Rittenhouse & Co.,
has also been promptly met.
With regard to the Bank of Washington and
the Patriotic Bank no fears are entertained of
ultimate loss to any one through their suspcn-
sion as they are known to be abundantly able
to liquidate every demand against them.
BE or GOOD CHEER.-There is truth in the
| following reflections on the business condition
of the country, for which we are indebted to
the New York Erening Post. Though spccu-
lation may cramp New York city and the far
| West for year to come, the general condition
Of business people North, Fest and South is
sound; more especially in the South There,
people of all classes owe less and work harder
than ever before. But for the business system
of the country, which cOmpels the South to pay
a tribute on all things to the North, the current
monetary troubles in the nOn-sav eholding
States would be unfelt everywhere south of
Mason and Dixon's line. As it is, it affects no
one in the South not tied up in speculations in
the Northwest. The fact that such troubles
trials, difficulties and embarrassments have
taken place at the North with so slight effect on
the South should be sufficient to make it plain
to politicians of the Erening Post school that
their stereotyped stories concerning the COM
parative industrial condition of the South are
roorbacks and nothing else.
We are, however, glad to have it in our power
to lay before the Stars readers the following
facts from the paper mentioned above, showing
that the present pressure in the North is likely
to be but ephemeral
''IR 1s37, we were importing from Europe large
quantities of grain to supply necessities, in
| addition to our usual impoftatons of rnerchan-
| disc. We bad experienced a loss of over twenty
millions Of dollars by the most disastrous fire
| this country ever experienced. The winter of
| lc3j was one OF the very coolest ever known i'm
| this climate, and followed by a backward
| spring, a short summer and general failure of
| the crops. Added to this, the country was pos
seSsed with an insane passion for speculations in
wild and unproductive land, With nothing TO
pay with without crops TO live upon, with wealth
all Invested in lands of no current value with
destructive fires and Indictment skies, began the
reVulsion which oveT-trading and mad specula-
ton rapidly ripened Into general bankruptcy.
" But how different is our present condition
There has been. without question. much over
trading, much bad MANAGEMENT aud extrava-
gance; and yet the recent report of the Secretary
OF the Treasury shows that we have exported, in
elusive Of specie, during the fiscal wear ending
LIST July last, some millions more than we have
impo ted. The crops of the country re the largest
ever known; almost every section Of our land re-
ports bounteous harvests, and there is every pros
pect of good foreign demand, at fair prices. for
all the grain and flour We can supply. Through
the troubles in India, and the general increasing
foreign demand our pork and beef, which have
become important articles of export. will CON-
mand probably double their averag e value and
We shall have greatly increased supply. The
prospects for fully fair crop of cotton PROM
islng, and prices are nearly quite double those
of average years. Throughout the length and
breadth of the land there is unusual prospect
OF late fall PASTURE and roots for the sustenance of
cattle, which is a matter of more importance than
is generOlly considered. California is sending us
regularly more than forty millions of gold per
annum, a considerable portion Of which remains
in circulation in the interior of our country En-
igration to our shores Of a more thrifty class of
people IS steadily onward, and tn trough the money
they bring, together with their industrious hab-
its, our W estern states are reapinS rich harvest
These are facts plain to every observer, and pre-
sent state Of things different from what pre-
vailed here in 1897 as it is easy TO conceive occur
ing In any country in so short period as twenty
years. We are all great deal wiser for what has
occurred. Several enormous bubbles have been
exploded; credit will hereafter rest on a sounder
and Therefore more profitable basis, and, unless
something happens not lying within the range of
probabilities, our next New Years Day will be
one of the haPpiest and most prosperous that has
ever dawned upon this country.n
COMPENSATION OF CoNsULs-The Attorney
General has given an opinion relative to the
of
various acts Of Congress regulating such pay,
be decides that the compensation of consuls is
to be regulated by the law which was in force
when the services were rendered and not bv
that which prevailed at the date of the COM
mission.
A doubt has arisen about the construction of
the last clause in the Sth section of the act Of
1856
4 consul shall not be allowed conversation
for the time occupied in coming home 'ff he
shall have resigned, or been recalled therefrom
for any naalfeasance of hIs office"
The Attorney General decides that the words
UNDERSIGNED qualify the word "resigned'' as
well as recalled
Under the rule laid down in the opinion of
the Attorney General, the claim Of Mr.. McCrea
late consul at Paris, and Mr.. Murphy, do, at
Shanghae for time spent in returning home is
allowed, as their return home was long after
the act OF loj6 went into effect, and their resig-
nations were not for malfeasance in Office.
| The claim OF Mr.. Epping, Consul at Olden-
burg, for salary while waiting instructions and
going out is disallowed, as is that of Mr. Blythe
Consul General for Cuba of Mr.. Andrews
late Consul General for the British American
Provinces; and of Mr.. Hufrnagle, Consul Gen
eral to British India, as the time at which the
services were performed does not bring them
within the provisions of the acts allowing such
pay.
WALKER s PROPOSED new raid on Nicaragua
is eleciting appropriate comments from the
press in all directions. Yesterday, the Ma
tfo"al Inteihigenerr explained with great force,
indeed, the utter impossibility of his success
Of thi. expedition the Courier and Engnirer