The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1855-03-02


enough TO invest our feeble system with a
regular shaking ague; but philosophy sug-
gested such n result would neither melt ice
nor augment the force of steam, and it was
therefore wiser to "grin and bcarik" How
ever, at two o'clock the smoke of Powhat-
ton's pipe was DESCRIBED in the distance, and
in half an hour our anxicties were relieved
by an entrance into his cabin. (Boats are
generally females, we believe, bat il their
owners sec fit to give them male names,
we shall call them accordingly 1t was
five o'clock when VIC cleared the wharf,
having been detained by some necessary
repairs on the boat, and in consequence Of
that and the extreme colducss Of the wind,
we were denied the pleasure Of observation
as we glidcd up tho beautiful Potomac.
We had hoped that an oportunity would
be offered for a view of Mount Vernon, the
resting place Of the greatest and best man
ever born or buried in the Western world.
We may have that pleasure as we return.
We reached Washington at eleven o'clock,
having been six hours from Game Point or
Acquia Creek. But for the ice, we should
have required but four hours. Thus it may be
seen, that without unnecessary and unavoid
able delay, the transit from Ab5evilc G. II.
to Washington, being a distance Of about
eight hundred miles, requires not more than
forty-cight hours at the most ,lati'udinous
calculation A few years ago, and three
or four weeks would have been demanded
to measure the same distance. This is tru-
ly a fast age. We travel fast, live fast, die
fast, and are f,stly forgotten.
A few words in reference to Cpngrcssion-
al affairs, and we have accomplishcd-poor-
ly cnough-our task for the present
We have been III the habit of fancying
this body to be Il collection, for the most
part, of intcllcctrnl-loohin9, digaGcd men.
While VIC admit that there may and must
be considerable amount Of wisdom in it,
we must say it is not half so good a look
ing assembly rs We had imagined. Many
Of our readers know the physique of their
humble servant, and without vanity, he be-
ievcs, that give him a new. suit Of cloth,
let Cuffec polish his boots, call him Honor
able, and he might aspire to rank, as regards,
looks, a lcefle above the mcdiocrity on the
Congressional scale! But men must not
he measured by their looks, for
''Iis the soul that makes the man. and
that can never be fully scanned save by the
eve Of Omniscicncc.
a few days before our arrival n bill, call
cd the French Spoliation bill, was passed by
both houses, and was in the Presidents
pocket, awaiting his approval or rejection.
If we remember rightly, we gave brief
explanation Of this measure few weeks
ago. 1t provided, that indemnity to the
amount Of some five millions. should be
paid out of the Treasury of the United
States, for certain damages alleged to have
been sustained by citizens Of this country
from the Government Of France, prior to
1901. The same claims have been pcrti-
naciously pressed upon Congress for half
century, and the passage of this bill, at
this late day, is, we fear, only an indication
of the degeneracy ofzthe times. We be-
lieye it to bea stupendous fraud. to whose
support many Of the unwary have been Sc
duced, by the one-sided statements of those
interested. On Saturday last, President
PIERCE returned the bill to the House with
his veto. Ire of course was aroused, and
the President denounced for daring to ex.
ercise the power granted him by the Con
stitution, and discharging his duty as he un-
derstood it. We arc grieved to sec that
the present Administration is weak in Con
gress; not that we regard it as Justly SO,
but because we view it as but an evidence
of thergrowing disposition of country, to
view faults through microscope, and vir.
tues through needles eye. No Admins
tration, we care not how wise and how lust
in ouropinion, can evcrSagain stand upon
FITS legs throughout even single term. We
firmly believe that President PIERCE; has
committed sen,e errors but we still defend
him, and shall;se long as his virtues .prepon.
derate, over his foibles.. We design publish.
ing his message and may then alludet more