The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-02-22
FROM OUR WASHINGTON coRREspovDEyr
WASHINGTON, February 10Th. 1873

WASHINGTON, February 10Th 1858
The Houses not having been in session to-
day, have nothing particularly interesting in the
way of political news to communicate. The
proceedings yesterday presented nothing whatever
of public interest Importance the entire day.
with the exception of short executive session in
the Senate) having been spent in both Houses on
the Private Calendar. In the House, a personal
explanation took place between Messrs Hatch, of
New York, and Zollickoffer, of Tennessee and diff
fculty between the two honorable members was
happily for both and for the country samicably
adjusted to their mutual satisfaction Mr. Hoard
OF New York, called the attention of the House. as
question of privilege, to what he considered
threatening and intimidatory letter which he had
received from Mr.. Burns, of Ohio, relative to a
charge of corruption preferred by Mr. Hoard
against the latter on the Friday previous, on the
authority of an anonymous news writer in the New
York Tribune, and moved for committee to in
vestigate the truth of the charge. The House how
ever adjourned without granting Mr. Hoard the
committee he desired. Thus every days proceed
ngs continue to afford additional illustrations of
the immaculate character of that body, "the repu-
tation of whose humblest member is more than suf
fcient to weigh down the combined influence of the
whole press of the country" The only weight that
attaches to the character of too many Concressmen
is the weight if not of positive dishonor, at all
events, of strong and vehement suspicion of being
open to all sorts of corrupt approaches and capable
of all sorts of corrupt practices.
Some of the military and naval men about the
Capital, for want of other and more useful occupa
ton, have been getting at loggerheads among
themselves. General Harvey and Col. Sumner are
said to mediate hostile designs upon each others
lives, and Mr.. A. c. Rhind, formerly of the Navy,
has posted Commander Boutwell, for declining an
invitation to ''coffee and pistols" Fighting has
gone out OF fashion nowadays, except in the col
umns OF newspapers. | am advocate'of duelling
and consider the practice relic of barbarism which
advancing civilization has justly rendered obsolete;
yet, when look down from the galleries of the
House upon the bear-garden scenes enacted below,
l cannot but think that little wholesome phlebot-
omy might at least have the effect of introducing
higher standard of personal decorum among honor
able members. As for the Army and Navy | think
those gentlemen should reserve their fighting pro-
pensities for the enemies of their country By the
way, opropos OF lighting, the prospects for passing
the Army Bill continue to 'grow small by de-
gress.' Apart from political considerations the
financial condition of the country has much to do
with the indispositon on the part of many members
to increase the expenses of our military establish
ment. Perhaps the number of idle army men per
petually lounging about Washington with nothing
to do, and on never-ending and always renewed
leaves of absence, has its weight--que sais-jeq
DO you wish to know whether the Lecompton bill
will pass? All can say upon that point is that the
bill will pass-or it will not. 1t hangs upon the
edge of divided battle. A day may turn the scale
one way or the other-which way no one with
at stake, or reputation to gain as
prophet, would care to venture conjecture The
current impression, however, is that the Admins
tration is gaining ground