Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-20

ject
Of Mr. Boteler-proclaim no moral turpitude, and
areof no consequence in this connection; neither
is the assertion that the President had admins
tered a severe rebuke to this Southern Senator
entitled TO thought. No one would believe
that the President would stoop to rebuke one he
thought capable OF acts SO criminal and infa-
nous, nor forget himself so far as to attempt
reouae upon any Senator whose name and honor
stood untarnished in his estimation ~. - e
In view Of the foregoing which presents, IN
impassioned, what are the facts, on my own
knowledge, 1t becomes evident that your 6orres-
pondent was either deceived and imposed upon,
or was actnafed by a personal malignity towards
me In making his statements. In either event,
conceive IT to be proper that you should furnish
me his address, since in so acting, If he has been
deceived, 1t will afford him an opportunity to do
me that justice which any honorable man under
like circumstances would be anxious to do. IL,
on the other hand, he has been influenced by
malice in this matter, and has awaited himself OF
the columns Of your paper to promulgate a SLAM
der upon one who has not offended, / feel conf
dent that you, as an editor of journal aiming
and processing TO vindicatc truth, let il wound
whomsoever IL may, will not allow yourself to
posture.
As matter Of justice, therefore, respectfully
request That you will furnish me the name and
address Of your correspondent before mentioned.
am, very respectfully, your obedlent servant,
-.F= X. w. JOHNSON.
AN'APPROACHINa MATINEE MUsICALB.-We
hear that the Washington public's favorite,
Harry Sanderson, proposes to give matinee
musical in short time, for which subscription
papers are now in the hands of several gentle
men distinguished as patrons of the divine art.
One, by-the-by, is on Metzerott's counter, we
perceive, and trust that it may at once be filled
up.
MIR. Sanderson, who is probably unsurpassed
as performer on the piano, by any one of his
age in either hemisphere, is on that occasion to
be assisted by the best musical talent, male
and female, to be obtained in the country. So,
his entertainment cannot fail to be truly a
charming one. 1t will, of course, be crowded
with the beauty and fashion now assembled in
Washington, where music is duly appreciated,
if any where on this side Of the Atlantic.
NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS AND THEIR VALUE.
Our late fellow-citizen, A. G.. Seaman, Esq,
having recently purchased half of the New
York Sunday atlas probably the most widely
circulated and influential Sunday newspaper
in New York city-has become it's editor, and
Is now engaged in writing a series of really
valuable papers upon the subject of the public
printing. No other gentleman may reasonably
be supposed to know more facts Of substantial
interest to the country bearing upon it, and
being one of the most lucid and forclble writer's
of the day, We fancy his pen is likely to shed
much light upon that vexed subject. We tako
from the last issue of his journal his second
paper on the subject, (having some time since
published his frst,) as follows:
Zone OF the greatest evils Of our system of
constant change Of representatives to our National
Legislature Is the entire ignorance upon many
subjects which ii almost of necessity entails
upon the members themselves, and the conse-
of knowledge
MEN who know, at the outset that their term,
OF representation cannot possibly last more than
four years-and, indeed, without strenuous exer-
hon, but half that time-are not apt to sit down
ana caIeiuliy study the very many questions of
national interest presented during a session.
Iney are, Tor the most part, entirely too busy
with matters merely affecting themselves, or tn.
interests OF their particular districts.
"They, az we know, are more often biased by
the representations of parties who may be inter.
ested In producing a certain impression or by the
newspaper articles which are, from time, pub
llshed with like objects. True, upon subjects
which agitate the political world most mem
bers speak and vote of their own KNOWLEDGE
Ihey read and think "upn on them because IL
Is aos0iu.ely necessary for their political exist
ence but, upon matters of practical good which
Involve In their study large practical apprecia-
ton, we are sorry to notice SO general a lack of
correct knowledge
"These thoughts have been forced upon ne
more particularly by various debates which have
recently sprung up in Congress upon the subject
OF governmental publications for general distri-
Dutlon; their necessity, cost and value in a
national point of view. In all these debates II
is clearly shown that the crusade preached and
melted Tor months past, by the public press and
individuals writing for it, have produced i'm.
pressions upon the minds of MANY members To-
tally at variance with the true facts at issue
ne enormous cost of the public printing, and
its 'utter worthlessness, have been frnitfnI
themes of comment and inyectiye until ahso
luleiY, members OF Congress have accepted as
correct, the ideas OF others, which if critically
examined by them, would be found ligh, as COS.
samer. o.
IL Is not our purpose to discuss, In this ar
tlcle, the cost of the national printing except
simply to assert fact, easy Of proof, that gov
eminent works are published, at this present
tlme, at less cost (style and finish considered
than the same character of works issued bv pri
waite publishers; but we propose to saw a few
words upon the value Of works published Inv
government, containing information collected
lor national purposes, and designed TO contribute
' TO the knowledge, or advance the
" IL mas long been custom with the PRINCIPAL
European nations (many Of whom. indeed have
Immense printing establishments owned and
conducted exclusively by the government itself,)
10 publish, In the most elaborate and costly
style, any new discovery I'm the arts or sciences
or the history OF any expedition undertaken by
government itself for the advancement of popular
knowledge. These have been recognized, and
Practically so, as contributions to the nationa,
wealth., returning to the government, in the in
creased knowledge Of the people, manifold the
amount expended VIZ
'lf this be true Of old countries, how much
more forcioly will the idea apply in this com
paratlyely new land How little do we vet know
OF ourselves, our resources, our surroundings. or
even OF our own mighty land What Immense
tracts, within our own limits, are still absolute
ly UNEMPLOYED, perfectly unknown. True. the
foot OF the daring hunter the restless frontiers
men, nay have crossed them at times but II was
with single purpose. The people know com
paratlvely nothing OF the vast domain owned by
them, or of the capabilities of the very portions
they occupy.
cit is with a view to increase this knowledue
SO needed TO advance our national prosperity,