Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-07-19

me there must have been six or eight hundred
people there at once. The crowd going east, via
Knoxville, Bristol and Lynchburg, was so great
extra passenger car. But our crowd took the
Chattanooga train, and in few minutes passed |
through the tunnel, and were speeding away |
On this road there are two springs Gordon's, |
about five miles from the tunnel, and the Co. |
toosa, about two miles from the Cotoosa Platform
The latter has more notoriety, perhaps, than any
place of the Kind in Georgia, and is said To he
capable Of entertaining six or eight hundred per-
sons.
Leaving Chattanooga at o O'Clock D. m ID, ard
the night being dark and rainy, had but little
chance to see the most beautiful scenery on the
whole road-that Of the Tennessee river, around
Lookout Mountain On my return however,
shall pass over this portion OF the route in day
light, and shall thus he enabled TO see il; after
which, will write YOU again.
Hon. ]. Benjamin. and daught came down
from stevenson with MS, and are at the GaYosa
House.
In conclusion, let me say that WAS perfectly
aStonished at the amount of travel on these roads
Every train that j saw, whether going east or
west, seemed to be crowded, and none had less
than three four cars. But, as | shall write you
again, and this letter is already too long and
proSy, i will defer any further remarks on the
route for future letter.
MONSIEUR ToSsoN.
n. B. find the Mississippi is falling, although
there have been very heavy rains in the past few
Gifted. But more Of the crops in my next
M. r.
THE "HARRIEr LANE. After 4 very pleas
ant trip of five days, in the course of which (as
we have already stately she touched at Old
Point Comfort, Norfolk Portsmouth, Annapolis
and Fort McHenry, the cutter Harriet Lane"
returned to this city on Saturday afternoon
last. At each of the stopping places the pas
lon cd nj oil M ta in
spect all the prominent curiosities and objects
| of interest. At Fort McHenry, the officers on
| duty gained the deck of the cutter almost as
soon as she arrived, and invited her passengers
to witness drill of Major French's flying ar.
tillery, which is stationed there. The rapid
ana regular evolutions of this battery, and the
precision with which it discharged the heavy
| pieces almost on the instant after they wero
placed in position for firing, astonished and
| interested our ex :ursionists. They we're also
well pleased with their treatment at the Fort
| generally, and left with emotions of kindness
| towards their hospitable entertainers.
From thence, the cutter with its happy pas
sengers turned her PROV towards home, and
after a speedy and delightful run, came to
anchor off Mount Vernon, when the excursion
| mer home of Washington. Here they partook,
| too, of what may be termed a pic nickian
| repast, which was one of the most agreeable
incidents of the excursion. Among the senti-
ments drank on the occasion was one to the
| Father of his Country, by Mr.. Cobb, which Was
| as follows
| ITO him whose sword achieved his country IS
| cause,
Il ~ hos n.
| In war her leader, and in peace her guide,
| And first in both her bulwaTk and her PRIDE
The cutter arrived at the arsenal, in this
| city, on Saturday afternoon, when she was sa-
luted by discharge of cannonery.
Before separating, the company united in a
letter expressing their thanks for the polite
ness which they had received from Captain
| Faunce, Lieuts. Stanford, Constable and Will
son, and the officers and crew. Arrangements
were also made for procuring piece Of plate
to be presented to Captain F. as enduring tes-
tmonial of the sentiments of the company in
| this regard.
| This was not wholly trip for pleasure, but
was also intended as a trial trip of the vessel.
to test her sailing qualities and the capacity of
her machinery. The Government officers along
| were those whose duties are intimately con-
| nected with this branch of the service and
| whose object in taking the trip was to note
whatever defects might exist, with view to
their correction. We learn that the vessel and
everything pertaining to her performed well
PUBLIC LAND SALEs.-It is undoubtedly
true that the Government at this point in all
the last twenty-five years past, have been un-
| nh IN
tiOns Of spectators to control, in a great
measure, the prices at which most of the valu
able parcels of the lands of the United States
| land those Of the Indians for which the Gov
eminent is the trustee) have sold. When
| measures are taken to hold the spectators in
check it generally happens that the latter, get.
ting wind Of them, change their tactics secretly.
and on the day of sale are prepared to carry
| their points on some unexpected tack-by prac
ticlng unanticipated tricks All administra
tons of tho General Land Office and all Ma.
| tonal Administrations Of the Government have
alike striven to crush out the enormities of suct
transactions. Yet, so far, it is very clear tina,
no certain safeguards against the almost inva
riaDie triumph OF the spectators has beer
| achieved. We question much whether it i.
| possible 10 guard against them completely, ye
being anxious that as near an approach as pos
| s'blc to that desirable combination NAV be
attained, we publish the following communi
cation, which, though more or less of its state
ments and in:erences may be strained, will
| serve to give the functionaries Of the Govern
ment at this point an insight into a portion O
the means by which their earnest endeavors t.
hold the spectators in check are rendered
abortive:
To the Editor Of the Star:
| BY a publication in your paper of the 9Th inst
| IL appears that the Government has determined
In compliance with the petition of certain citi
zens OF Douglas county, Kansas Territory, Il
| throw into market " the surplus of the Shawnc,
reservation remaining after the Indian selection,
had been made" and going on to say that whits
settlers have gone OH these lands upon the assur
ance that they would not be wanted for ind i.
| vidual Indian selections. Now, IL these peti
TONERS and settlers are really what they profrs,
| TO De II they really mean TO take such homes
| advantages as the pre- emption laws allow and