The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER
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WAnuN0TON, Dec. 9, 1854
Dscidedly tho best tdocumeut of the batch iusfseu
mo Congfess b the Report Of the Secretary Off.
iasertor It proceeded from de peu Of ! nan q
ciear mind and practical views. Such 4 H. .ene
'1 sentiment OF those who have read those psper.
Ane Union, OF to-day. calls the public attention
70 bill recently introduced BY Senator BaopHr n
sssaoiish acommission for the examination and
adjustment Of private claims aesips the U. se,fs.
inns 2 : move that merits the highest eommenda-
Ton. have always regarded h q 1 most pitiab,e
usnt 70 look upon when the two Houses Of Congress
nave been occupied, hour after hour In the consd.
etauon of trining claim. not amounting to one
.eosn the sum required to defray the expenses Of
Congress while considering Il And yet that i
not tne most important view Of the subject Jusjce
|" not done under the present arrangement Such
matters are seldom reached, except when called M
oy general consent; and there are claims of nm
doubted validity, and of very inconsiderabls
amounts, that have for years been pressed ia vain
upon the attention Of Congress 4 remember very
ontnctly when one of this class involving not more
tnan three hundred dollars, (but which would have
been godsend to the humble suitor,) was objected
TO by creature who had, somehow, found his road
to the floor of Congress to become the general oh.
lector to measures that be could not understand
when sober, and would not attempt to look into
when, as usual. intoxicated wit who has never
uttered witicism in his life, and legislator who
Is utterly ignorant ofthe nature of laws and of the
reiaton tnat statutes must bear to the constitution
under which they are enacted.
This man, the Hon. MIKE WALSH. il five feet
seven inches high, or thereabout. He is probably
forty years old, and stouter than his face would
eao one 70 suppose His features are rather sharp,
toeraoiy Irlsa and peculiarly of the loao Irish ex
preston. His complexion Il rather bright and
evidently the more SO In consequence of his oft
repeated potations.
His whole aspect and manner are of the "Ja.
Key stamp. He has the genuine coachmsn
roll in his walk, and with his furtive and sinister
eyes, cunningiy concealed by his depressed lashes
always evlnces consciousness that he is the obeer
ved OF all observers He would wear an air ofnon.
chatGnce, but missing it, has surly look that con.
stantly betrays the vulgar afectation of the man
Having vote, it is of course designed; and being
In the habit OF opposing every thing he can he of
course Is noticed and flattered by gentlemen who
no means an unusual thing for members before
making move of doubtful succsss to frst prop;ti-
ate his favor or make of his absence when ths
measure In view Is to come up. have even seen
the great aboiitiGnist, GERRIT SMIrH-one of the
most majestic men have ever looked upon i-do
this In advance OF making q motion. And all this
attention. the general recognition of hts vulgar self
Importance, this man regards as spontaneous tri
butes to his snartnessfor his IDEAS even of him
self, ascend higher than to this conception. Bat
find hope. even In the presence here of such a
representative. think Byron says, In Don Juan,
that, "When things get to their worst they some.
times mend" and such presence hence inspires
me with lively hopes of national reformation
But to return. The commission proposed by Mr..
Brodhead. will, presume, conform its proceedings
to the usages of the best constituted courts of JUS
tlce, and act upon unerring maxims OF right
poor woman will find cause to rejoice. and the zen.
eral government will save millions of dollars within
q few years. Al q