Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-04
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

and evidently misiniormeu Wfiter, III al aT-
tide recently published in The Ahany IN. W
Journal, attempts to cast odiom on t1e Ad-
ministration and Navy Department Cd accoant
of the contemplated demonstration towsrds
Paraguay. He finds fault VII evssy thing
connected with the a6air, and matss ssssr-,
tons as wide of the mark and untruthfui as
could well be given. He commences with the
statement that the feet is composed Of such
craft as no other nation would think of sending
to war. We're this true, we cannot perceive
why it should be alleged as an accusation
against either President Buchanan or Secre-
tary Toucey, as it does not rest with either OF
them to have navies built. The several vessels
are then noticed, and condemned in Of-hand
style, plainly showing that the writer knows
nothing about them, and did not care whether
he uttered truths or falsehoods. The flagship
Sabine never was intended to 20 to the scene
of operations, as it is of too great drsught to
ascend the river; and therefore his observa-
tions concerning it are inspplicable. 1t is the
flag ship of the Brazil squadron, not of the
Paraguay feet. 1t is, however, a staunch,
sea-worthy vessel, all the better for being
thirty years on the stocks The other Gov
eminent vessels-those intended for the expe-
dition-are the best belonging to the navy, of
such draught as to render it practicable for
them to ascend the river. The store-ship Sup
ply is the store-ship of the squadron-not e1-
pected to be used for fighting. The chartered
vessels are not passenger steamboats," as the
Journal asserts, but heavy, substantial, and
staunchly built freight carrying propellers.
The Commodore Of this extraordinary squad
rom is not cover seventy years of age" by
several years yet. He is q thorough going
brave, sagacious officer, we'll versed in the
naval service. and as active as ordinary men of
forty five or fifty. If his flag ship cannot as
cend the river, the Commodore is not compelled
to adhere to her, but may, if occasion requires
or convenience dictates, transfer his flag and
himself to any other vessel of the squadron,
even one Of the smallest steamers.
As for the delay in fitting out the feet, the
writer Of the article alluded to only exposes his
reckless determination to find fault in advert
ing to it. Paraguay is not on the coast, nor ac-
cessible by any sea, bay, or strait. 1t is far in
the interior of South America, and must be
reached by river only navigable for vessels of
light draft. There are not a sufficient number
of such vessels for an expedition of this char
acter belonging to our Navy, and those in the
service were employed in various quarters Of
the globe, and had first, for the most part, to
be brought home and fitted out especially, be-
fore they were suitable for this service The
deficiency had to be supplied by chartered YES
sels and as it was desirable to get the best that
could be obtained, and at the lowest rates, a
good deal of time was necessary to hunt out
and bargain for such. Again, suitable officers
had to be called home from distant stations and
allowed time to get ready. As it is, many Of
those who will be employed on this expedition
have just returned from long cruises, and we're
allowed to spend but few days with their fam
lilies. We will venture to say that it would
require less than one half the time to prepare
our naval force for an effective demonstration
against one Of the leading Powers of the world,
than is requisite to fit out an expedition against
this Insignificant inland nation. In the former
case, our large class naval vessels could be en-
plOyed, together with any required number Of
merchantmen of heavy draught, none of which
are available for this duty.
This is the third naval expedition, we be-
lieve, ever fitted out by this Government, (the
naval demonstrations against England and
Mexico were not expeditions,) and as both the
others were successful, though of less force and
inferior equipments, it is hardly reason
able that we should not be almost sanguine Of
the success of this. Those determined to find
fault, therefore, do well to commence now, as
no occasion will probably exist if they await
the issue of the event. 1t is, however, singu-
lar that they should object to the Commodore
on account Of his age, when it is remembered
that, only little while ago, the same class of
faulthnders found cause Of censure in the re-
firing Of Commodore Stewart by the Naval
Retiring Board. That gallant old veteran is
over eighty years of age, yet he was roundly
asserted to be competent to perform the duties
pertaining to the active list, and the act Of
retiring him was denounced as one of grossest
injustice. But, so it is. Such newspapers as
the Journal have determined not to be salts
fed with anything a Democratic Administra-
ton may do, and hence, we are not surprised
at this attack. On the contrary, our wonder
has been excited by the fact of the directors
keeping quiet so long as they have done.
Should the expedition prove unfortunate, we
shall expect to hear them rejoice over the coun-
try's mishap, and endeavor to attach all the
blame to Mr.. Buchanan
THE "CAHooDLING'' OF THE LAST SESSION
The impudent denial on the part of the Spring
field, Illinois, organ of Mr.. Stephen Arnold
Douglas, Of the unbushing conspiriDg and in
triguing against the Democracy on the part of
Judge D. with the Republican leaders-who
are not to be blamed for using him when they
found 'Barkis was willing have cur
rency but short time longer. A friend writes
us from st. Louis, under date of the 18th ult,
that F. P. Blair, jr., is preparing to substan-
tiate every allegation of his letter written to
Gratz Brown. last winter, explanatory Of tho
overtures of Douglas to himself, Mr.. Colfax,
and other Republican members of both houses
OF Congress, for a thorough union and alliance
between the Republican party and the Punk
ey-Fellows. On the part of Douglas 4 Co. the
concession to have been made was the substi-
tuition Of Blair, jr., for Green, in the Senate of