Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

The action of the House yesterday on the Mat
tesoh resolutions, in raising still another In
vestigating Committee toAvhom the resolutions
in question have been consigned, leads us to
the impression that the body are at length
awaking to comprehend the fact, that under
the plea OF protecting its privilege" and vim
dicating its honor, it may not exercise author
1ty without any pretence of Limitation In law
whatever. Up to this time, its legislation of
the session on such subjects has ended in little,
save creating in the minds of ignorant persons
at distance, a sort of vague idea that in these
times, well nigh half the members must neces-
sarily be employed in watching the rest. In
nearly every case the foundation for such legis-
latiOn has been either the wonderful balder-
dash of VIGOROUSLY wonder-mongering news
papers, or the aspersions cast on others by
notorious SPECTATORS on the national treasury,
disappointed in their individual schemes of
public plumber"
We believe that there never assembled in
the capital of the nation legislators more scru-
pulOusly honest in the discharge of public du-
ties than the members of the present Congress.
1t may be that the attention given by the pub
lie mind of late to alleged Congressional short
comings in that connection, may have stimu-
lated the members, one and ALL to a due
comprehension of the necessity for extreme
caution on their part in legislating on all mat
tiers, great and small. Certain it is, however
that there never was less danger than now of
reprehensible financial legislation Of any sort
We believe that this fact is comprehended by
every old member; while none can fail also to
comprehend that to have SO many special COM
mittees engaged in investigating allegations
against the integrity of Legislators, public SER
wants and individual citizens trarsacting bust
ness with the Government, must give rise to
outside impressions that every body connected
or transacting business with any branch Of the
Government are much worse morally than they
really are. We, therefore regret to see new in.
veshgating committees raised; which indicate
that the more they investigate, the greater ne.
cessity for increasing their labors after that
fashion they find. So much for the philosophy
OF the new Congressional system involved in
the current existence of the extraordinary num-
Der OF these committees.
That there is danger of the exercise of undue
power on the part of the House in some portion
of the proceedings of these committees or those
of the body on points connected with them, was
made signally manifest in the course of yester-
days debate upon these (Matteson) resolu-
IONS. We think that that conviction brought
about their reference to the new special COM
mittee, instead of their peremptory adoption,
as was so strenuously urged. We have pre-
vlousiy expressed the opinion that the danger
OF usurpatlon OF power not contemplated by
the Constitution is in Congress, rather than
the Executive branch of the Government. We
hold that every palpable stride of the General
Government In the direction towards consolida-
uon has been by and through congressional
rather than executive action. This conviction
and an Incorporating hostility to the doc
trlnes OF naturalization which are daily becoming
more prevalent, lead US to regret that the pres
ent House have evinced a disposition to legis-
late Wnere irresponsible or sinister charges
against their own integrity are concerned
upon the theory that in such matters they are
above and beyond all or any law, and may
nghtfully ignore all and any statute or prin-
ciple Of law protecting the rights of individuals
involved in any way in their investigations.
These reflections aye independent of bearing
on any particular case now before the House,
having suggested themselves to our mind ON a
fe'ie" Oh their whole proceedings Of the session
on such matters.
IHE VIRGINIA STEAMSHIP ENTERPRIsE.-It
seems tina. the Virginia steamship enterprise
which Col Preston was sent abroad to initiate.
Is not yet fixed fact as alleged recently by so
many OF our cotemporaries Of the Virginia
press The Colonel says that @ no definite CON.
tract mas yet been made, but a paper has been
drawn up by the Orleans (French) RAILWAY
company, abusing, in the form of stipula.
ZION, the basis upon which the projected ser
wee might be organized" That paper is as
follows:
l. The number, tonnage power and sneed n,
the vessels shall be determined by the companv.
tbs nnmh nue ~ snail not be less than four nor
twenty four. ~ 'n""
? and 3 The tonnage, power and speed of the
vessels TO be not less than the tonnage &c of the
steamers Fulton and Arago
ne capital Of the company to be 50 600 600
.o,,, On, aaI 81 he capital to Be subscribed in
company, or under its Influence
poI,. ne aoiniclie" of the company to be in
y ne INST year four directors to be French
u me american the second wear four msr
lean and three French and 40 on aI,e,n.taf
IN, 1ess Otherwise determined by the statutes Of
. The American interests to gra,ant,, tn TN.
tprtss (cy ten years, n snbrention fo, mail
that may be given by the French 'C;overnm,nt
snaH hkewise inue to the common benefit of
Tue stoc khOIdeTs.
y; Two OF the four proposed steamships to he
ouit al Norfolk or omeother point In Virginia,
and To carry the American nag the other Two IN
De Quilt In France, and to carry the French Tag.
Now the basis of this proposed arrangement
Is the subscription on the part of Americans of
million and a half dollars ready money, with
which to build, equip, &c, the American DOR.
uon Of the steamships required This money
nut ootalnaoie on this side of the Atlantic
-. stment In new steamship enterprise,
.n.' WIN perfectly satisfactory guarantee
= viii return fair profit as thus invested.
a. .nu Inc are are no money is to be had any where
So. I n,.ea States for steamship specula-
on ihaiViduai citizens Of Virginia will not
.a. ,n'es' . million and half, nor will the
oA'e 90 SO now through her Legislature he.
cause mere Is no earthly prospect that frai.h