Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

TAKING TROUBLE ON INTEREST.-ln new
York Commercial AdrertiSer is distressing
itself unnecessarily over the idea that the Kan
sas and iibuster questions are destined to
prove serious stumbling-blocks in the way of
the success OF the present National Admins
tration. All here who see beneath the surface
of political affairs, already realize that so far
as any danger from them is concerned, both
these issues are practically out of the way,
with not 1.-THE Of the trouble growing out OF
either of them that was anticipated two months
ago. If Congress does its duty with reference
to the Utah question, land we can perceive no
reason now to doubt that it will do so,) that
matter, too, will cause the National Admins
tration little or no embarrassment whatever.
The Military Committees of the two Houses are
in possession of the plans of the President and
War Department for solving that particular
difficulty, so far as the cooperation of Congress
in that work may be necessary; which said
plans are understood to meet their hearty ap-
proval. We anticipate that in less than thirty
days the requisite legislation to relieve Con-
gress from any responsibility whatever for Sc
curing satisfactory end of the Utah imbroglio
very early next season, will have taken place.
The only remaining difficulty that can pos
sibly beset the path of the present National
Administration will grow out of the restless
ness of gentlemen who may aspire to the next
Democratic national nomination. As there are
dozen or so public men who fancy themselves
entitled to 1t, or at least to scheme for it, as
matter of course embarrassments may grow
out of their conflicting efforts to achieve it.
Such aspirations are at the bottom of nine
tenths of the political somersaults prominent
Democrats have "thrown" of late, and will be
at the bottom of nearly all the political ex-
travagancies or ultraisms others of them may
indulge in until the spring of 1860 There is
no possible cure for that ailing, nor do we
think it very dangerous to the public interest
Experience teaches that the only sure result of
efforts to secure the Presidency, based on
schemes for thwarting the policy of the Demo
crazy in any particular, is political martyrdom
for the oyer-ambitious essayIng them.
1HE EXTENSION OF THE ORANGE AND ALEX
ANDRh RAILROAD.-A friend tells us that
there is doubt whether the Virginia Legisla-
ture will appropriate, at its present session,
improvement under construction in the United
States We confess to skepticism as to the
possibility that the State of Virginia will de-
ilberatoly sacrifice her previous heavy invest
ments In this improvement after having pushed
IL ID point when, with a comparatively very
small additional investment, she can evidently
make the whole perhaps more profitable than
any other such investment made by her own
or any other American State Legislature.
The work in question is the only link re-
naming to be constructed to afford continuous
railway connection between this city and the
Mississippi at Memphis with many divergences
by rail running through different portions of
Tennessee, Georgia Alabama and Louisiana to
the Gulf coast; and North, through different
portions of Tennessee Kentucky, Indiana and
Illinois, to the shores of the great lakes
When completed the line will afford not only
a much shorter means Of passing from east to
west, and from east to north and southwest
than any other line of railroad now open, but
through an almost virgin country, possessing a
far more agreeable climate than any other
traversed by any line of railroad in the United
States. Indeed it cannot be that the Legisla-
ture OF Virgin will fail to secure for the peo-
pie Of the region Of the State the road is to pass
through the profits Of the immense passenger
trade that cannot fail to accrue to the finished
improvement. 1t is destined to be greater even
than that Of the Baltimore and Ohio work or
the great Pennsylvania line from PhiIadel-
phia to Pittsburg. Its incidental drippings
into the pockets of the Virginians consider
able portion of which must 60 into the Old Do
minions (State) treasury, will be worth an i'm
mense sum annually. Should the Legislature
fail to do its best TO secure the completion of
the work at the earliest possible moment, un-
der existing circumstances its members will
richly deserve to be ''cut for the sinples'' On
returning to their constituents
APPOINTMENTS BY THE PRESIDENT-By and
ruth tie adUtce anu consent Of tile Scuate.-
John Appleton, Of Maine. to be Assistant Sec
retary of State of the Vnited Stotas- y ;obo Il