M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1857-02-26
Correspondence OF tho Democrat.
FROM COLUMBUS.
COLUMBUS, O., Feb. 81, 1857.

SoLOhbusj W ESU' 80 loO''
He8Srs. Editors:
Muddy streets, crowded hotels an(
Indifferent fare it is most likely nigh
be selected by the casual visitor of tn,
Capital City, as being at this particula
time its most prominent characters
tics. Nevertheless the plottings anC
contemplating of politicians occupy
principally the attenti on Of the public
mind.
What to do with tile CONTRACTS fol-
the repair of the Public Works" is
now the great question with the Re.
publicans. The first caucus of the
Republican members of the Legisla.
ture upon this subject, resulted in the
pretty unanimous adoption of reso.
luton to sustain "Blair's bill" for di.
rect reputation, ofwhich | made men
ton in my communication Of the 9TH
inst. Thereupon the Ohio State jour.
nal, Cincinnati Gazette, Cleveland
Herald and other Republican journals
of old wing %antecedents, came down
upon the majority like "a thousand
of brick" Thereupon another caucus
of the faithful" was called, which
succeeded in getting into a general
melee and breaking up mid 'nOise and
confusion" without deciding anything.
Again on the following evening the
Caucus reassembled, but with a like
result. The RpudiatOr8, (as they are
caled) charge that the State journal
and other Republican papers have been
bought up by the Canal contractors.
Already notes ofthe dueI2O stripe have
passed between Col. Schouler Of the
Journal and Senator GriswOld Of Guy
ahoga. Mr.. Brace has introduced a
set of resolutions into the Senate
embracing reputation Just as abso-
lutcly as Blair's bill, but in a more
covert and plausible form. These res
o!utions were debated in the Senate
Yesterday some four hours, entirely by
Republicans. MeSsrs. Griswold, Bra
zee, and Hamilton, chairman OF the
Smelling committee on the Public
Works, for reputation, and Messrs.
Kelley of Franklin and Taylor of Ma
honing, opposed. Mr.. Caldwell, Gre
publ has. introduced into the House
and Mr.. Spencer, (Repub.) into the
Senate, Bills to refer these questions
to the Courts, leaving the contractors
to manage their work as heretofore,
until a Court of competent jurisdic'
ton shall declare the contracts null
and void. When your readers are i'll.
formed that the "Smelling committee"
in their report recommended repudia-
ton as the grand climax Of all their
wonderful labors, and Sunday medi-
tations, they will perceive the impor-
tance of the facts aforementioned,
not only as showing the remarkable
harmony which prevails in the Re-
publican party, but also the great ben
eft which it was boasted the State
would derive from the researches OF
these sharp scented gentlemen, a large
and the more intelligent portion of the
Republicans being unwilling to adopt
the recommendations of that Commit.
tee.
The Reports Of the other Smelling
committees are showing a similar fate
in popular estimation. Already have
numerous memorials come in from in
dividuals charged with gross malEea'
sance and frauds by the Committee or
Public Buildings, accompanied with
proofs, showing the utter fal8ity
and malignity Of those charges. One
from Col. VIM. Sawyer, the old war
horse ofthc Northwest who gener.
ally speaks in plain language, and
who stood charged by the Committee
with receiving more money than just
ly belonged to him fol deepening the
St. Mary's Basin," pretty emphati
cally informed the Legislature thai
what the Committee said ''WaSnt So
and if his word wasn't good, just tt
send on their lawsuits, torecover bacl
the money and he would endeavor tt
show himself 'rigltSid up with care.
1t will DC remembered that Col. Saw
? ,.o, y.oe ,bo,on n non,hcr nf fhn prnc