Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-12-24
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

The IARIFf BATTLE--lhe ne great HSIil on the
Tariff is definitely set down for the first Tues
day in January, when, according to the order
made to-day, it will be the special busine SIS,
day after day, until finally disposed of. Par
ties representing various Of the great manu-
featuring or producing interest, to be affected
BY legislation npon this subject, are already
on the ground, and large delegations are ex-
pected here within a few days. The fight is
evidently to be a fierce one, and the contest
close; and all sorts of combinations and log
rollings viii be resorted to for the success, de-
feat, or shaping of the measure.
Duty on WooL-TRoUBLE AHEAD.-Until re-
Gently had been of the opinion that the pro-
position for the repeal of the duty upon Wool
would be carried without serious difficulty. I
find, however, that the silence of the opposi-
tion is deceptive, and that beneath the surface
the opponents of free wool are working with a
caution, energy and confidence, quite condu-
Give to success.
The DUTY or SuGAR-oFF Win Ir.-Mr. Col
fax has entered with great zeal and industry
into the struggle for free sugar-a measure
which is every day more and more necessary
and which is popular all over the Union, ex-
ccpt in Louisiana, the sugar growing State
When it is remembered that the duty upon
sugar is thirty per cent. ad ra!oren, it viii be
seen that the price of sugar is enhanced by
the continually increasing deficiency of crop
at home, that very fact increases at the same
time the duty upon the foreign article. thus
adding to the prohibition Of foreign sugar just
in proportion as our need to import is aug
mcnted.
TRUE PHnosoPHY--Mr.E Etheridge. of Ten
nessee, whose independence in raising storm
in the House, by his resolution against the
Slave Trade, is an original in his way. Talk
ing with some Southern gentlemen the other
day, he remarked that the Fugitive Slave Law,
about which so much fuss was making, is con-
siderable humbug. ssWhy," he said, ssif a
niger runs away, one of two things is certain
either he is a mean niger, or he has mean
master. If the nigger is mean, he isn't worth
catching-and if the masters mean, the mig
ger ought to run off.''
SUMyER AND BRooKs.-Mr. Summers pro-
tracted absence from his seat in consequence
of continued debility, the effect of the fearful
blows inflicted upon him by the ruffian Brooks,
is much regretted in Washington circles, leg
islative, social, and diplomatic, in all of which
he has ever been a decided favorite. The
feeling against his asSaiIant. though not ex-
pressed il q way to attract the attention of u
casual visitor, is nevertheless strong and deep.
He is looked upon by the mass even of those
who treat him with the respect which ought
TO be commanded by the office he fills with
feelings Of detestation and adherence. Nor
is he satisfied with his own conduct. Those
who will watch him from the galleries of the
House of Representatives, or as he walks the
streets, casting his nervous stealthy glances
from side 20 side as if he expected each shad-
ow to spring into an avenger of his brothers.
blood; those who note his forced gayety, and
the hollow insincerity of his laugh at bar-room
joke, cannot fail to see in them the operations of
the silent inward monitor ever scourging his
soul. He is tolerated rather than received and
the circle of his associates and familiars is
very limited. Northern ladies' directly cut or
silently avoid him, and few Southern ladies
of the higher class treat him with more than
cold civility. Some days ago Brooks met in
the Rotunda of the Capitol Massachusetts, la
dy, with whom he was formerly on excellent
relations. She had not been to Washington
before, however, since the Sumner assault
Approaching her, Brooks bowed politely and
fiimiliarly, when the lady vindicated the spirit
of the true woman. who knows how to rabpl-.
a wrong which has become national, by turn
ing coldly from him without returning his re-
cognition. a gentleman who witnessed the
transaction, describes Brooks confusion and
modification as most humiliating. If gentle
men and ladies will all have the moral courage
thus to rebuke ruffanism, at all times, by re-
fusing association with it, it will soon be at
discount.