Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-01-20
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

ceeded from knowledge of the great financial
panic which pervaded not only the United
States, but the nations of Europe, and which
still to a very considerable extent, prevails.
The old bankrupt law of 1Sil VIGOROUSLY
embraced fewer guards against fraud than it
should have had.
An important case of bankruptcy is now be-
fore the United States Supreme Court. 1t is
that Of Henry S. Buckner as. the Commercial
Bank of Manchester, Mississippi. 1t was ar
gued last week by Messrs Bayard and Bepja-
min for the plaintiff, and by L. Madison Day,
ESQ, of New Orleans, for the defendant.
The points mainly under consideration were:
LIST. Whether the making of preferences and
and concealments of property in contemplation
of bankruptcy would void a discharge In bank
ruptcy after it had been obtained,
I'd. Whether or not a Court of Equity had ju-
risdiction to declare the certificate Of bank
ruptcy void for fraud
Sd. Whether the statue of limitations con-
stituted bar, the frauds being alleged to have
boon discovered within two years.
4th. Whether the taking of dividend with
out knowledge of any fraud on the part of
the bankrupt, would preclude the creditor
from sueing the bankrupt.
The cause wasfully argued pro and CON, and
then submitted to the Court. What its deci-
sion will be remains to be seen. At all events,
the opinion of the Court will serve to shed
light upon the minds of members of Congress
who will undertake TO frame and carry through
a new bankrupt law, agreeably to the recon-
mendation of President Buchanan
SOMETHING NEW UNDER THE SUN.-The tent
not long since invented by Major Sibey, of the
Quartermaster's department, according to Of.
fetal reports has turned out great desider-
alum, and bids fair not only to prove a great
addition to the comfort of the troops of the
United States employed on the frontier, but to
the settler in our wide extent of new country.
We form this Judgment of its promise from Of
fetal reports, the result of experience in its
use. Two hundred and fifty of these tents
were embraced in the provision for the troops
now serving in Utah. according to the official
reports alluded to above
Lieut.. Warren used one in the carly part of
the winter In Dacota, and could keep quite
comfortable when the thermometer was five
degrees below zero. Lieut.. kelton and DIR.
Paige, U. S. A, make a similar report of one
used last winter from Laramie to Leayenworth.
when the thermometer was fourteen below zero.
Capt, Van Vliet says q it makes good substi-
tute for house. Reports from all quarters
are most favorable. For warmth in cold
weather, and for good ventilation and pleasant
shade In the burning sun of tho Plains, it far
exceeds any tent ever used. For its capacity
it is more portable and cheaper than any tent
ever used. We repeat, it would be a most ex-
cellent habitatiOn for pioneer Of the West,
giving comfort and health to his family while
opening his farm and building permanent
residence.
AT present, the value of such an application
Of experience and judgment in making proper
provision for the comfort and accommodation
of troops is hardly to be estimated
The PROPOSED BRANCH OF THE WEST PoIxr
ACADENY.-Wel learn that Mr. Zollicoffer is pre-
pairing to urge with all possible zeal, the prop
osition that the Government shall establish n
branch of the West Point Military Academy at
the Hermitage, near Nashville, a considerable
portion of which the State of Tennessee
L
that end. The course of studies at West Point
embraces five years there, and Mr. L. in his
bill desires to provide that the first two of them
shall be spent by the cadet at the proposed
Western Academy. His theory ia, that gentle
men to be in all respects qualified for high and
responsible positions in the army of the United
States, should not be entirely sectional in their
education. That is, that those entering the
United States military service from the North
should learn something, by intercourse, of
the people Of the South and West, wherein
they differ from those of the North in char
acter, habits, tone Of thought, &c The idea
is good one, and will, doubtless, have due
weight with Congress. The odd soldiers
national convention" not long since in ses-
sion at Philadelphia, by the by, urged this
Hermitage military school project earnestly on
the attention of Congress, in their resolutions
The LETTERS or THE CABINET.-On their
appearance, we took occasion to comment at
some length upon the letters of the different
members of the Cabinet upon the present phase
of the Kansas question, as in themselves en-
bracing remarkably clear and convincing
Territory into the Union, as a State, on the
Lecompton Constitution, as well as showing
that the present Administration is emphatically
an unit in political purpose. Our exchanges
frequently bear out this judgment in their com
ments upon the able papers in question. Be-
low we quote from the Barnstable (Mass.) Pat
rot the views Of that journal upon Postmaster
General Browns letter in question:
rosT MASTER GENERAL BRowN.-This gen.
ueindn having been recently invited to be present
at the great meeting of the Democracy in PhiIa-
delphia. addressed letter to the committee of
invitation, which Is of great interest and power
he sustains the Presidents views on Kansas af-
FAIRS, In manner which does honor both to his
head and his heart. Nothing but the pressure of
other matter prevents It's publication in our col
uInns to-day. We see not how any fair reason
able and patriotic man can remain unconvinced
that President Buchanan is right and sound in
this matter, after reading the calm and copent
reasonings contained in the letter Of Hon Mr..
Brown
THB MARTYR BoARD.-If ever fifteen gentle
men were likely to be made martyrs, they ar.
those who compOsed the late Naval Rat;r;nr