Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-05-12
FKoM wASHINGTON.
Especial Correspondence Of the Wheeling In;sssncsr
4 Graphic Sketch Of Life in Washington City,
as seen bu an Ek. Exporter 10 Conqreas

as seen by an En- Reporter 10 Congress.
WASHINGTON CRY, May 9Th, 1858.
/ MEssRs. EDIToRS:-ldleneSs, it is said, il the
mother of sin; and no doubt il Is true One
thing is certain, that an idle hour has tempted
your correspondent to infiict prOsy episte up
on your Editorial patience; for which, by way Of
apology, lie quotes scripture to you, aud says
''leads us not into temptation"
As might be supposed, bird's-eye survey Of
the Federal City just now, is suggestive Of re
Elections, not very agreeable perhaps. hut GER
tainly instructive. Washington is the nation in
miniature, landscape of miles Is sometimes
condensed TO a square inch and when you look
| upon Congress, you look upon the aggregate
American people concentrated into a single pic
ture. Counting the pulsations here from time
I to time, you may determine precisely how flows
the great vital current from Canada TO the gulf.
Changer may be expected; bat it does not fol-
low that they should be continually for the
worse.
There mey have bccn no doubt there was, a
time when an American citizen could stand in
the Capitol of his country, that temple dedicat-
cd to freedom, uncovered reverently, with en-
yiable emotions, in the pecsence of the OTaclcs
Of the great American Idea; when bordering
upon coming years big with destiny, he could
look down upon the assembled patriots, and feel
perfect assurance that his cOuntry's future
would be happier than its past. That time is
not now. The Goths, the Euns, the Yanials
1 arc upon us 4Hey SIT III Ulbu AilSN
plumber and corrupt; cloaking their yalliauy,
they frtteT and gag freedom; they establish an
inquisition, and under cover of law (and with
the bludgeOn) silence free speech; and with
! threats IntimidatOnS and brides, they sway the
Scepter Of national power. Time was, we are
| told when the great heart of the people beat
| with an universal throb in response to the sub
I ii!ue Declaration Of human rights Now I'VE
hear from the highest authority in the land that
the browning conception of John Milton, the
hope of the Pilgrim Fathers, the idea Of the
| sires of 'TG, embodied by Jefferson, is n verv
beautiful, theoretical humbus. This decision
too, comes from judicial robes black the
tains Of ETebus; and it iSyct to be seen whether
the people will rebuke it.
! For years, as the world has grown older, Wi
! ser, and wickeder, each succeeding session OF
! Congress has inaugurated new and ingenious
modes of plundering the Treasury. RascalS,
who were long ago entitled TO seats in state
prisons, are taxing their brains, night and day,
to devise snrne successful dodge whereby to fitch
a few paltTy dollars from Uncle Sam CdpaCiOus
| pocket. Men of talents and position have sur
| rendered honorable occupations to embark in
this miserable pursuit. They come here and
/ lind plenty of plant abettOrs to aid them in
their neiariouS operations and share the plum
der The original idea of our government was,
to transact the business AID guard the interests
al the country; but, by this class Of men, it has
/ beef. perverted 10 mean the collection Of reve-
nue. anu Nle liilcNihE disbursement oil the SANE.
| Cincinnati has its pork interest; Wheeling and
| Pittsburgh their iron interests; the New Eng
land cities have their manufacturing and New
/ York, Philadelphia aud Baltimore, their com
mcrcial interests. Washington has none of
these; but it has II far more peculiar interest
one that exists where eSe--ihr ertrdetire in
tereSt. Extraction is the characteristic of this
city, its peculiar feature, ani distinguishes it
from all others, just as MUrmOp>m is the pccu.
liaIity Of Salt Lake City, ani ln.; eating of
Canton. Everybody here understands Extrac-
/ ton. All practice it-SOne more successfully
than others, of course. Ii is something like the
iGxtractiOn of the cube root with this slight diff.
terence--nstead OF the cube rOnt, the root OF
all evil is extracted. The process is simple aud
scientific as Algebra: one (dollaD from one
treasury te1reS one (rrcasury) minus One dol
| arr and mates one (raScaO Plus one ('ioilnr.) II
is wonderful to what an extent this simple pin
| ciple Of arithmetic may be applied. Il is the
axis upon which the whole government turns.
Any one coming here should get a thorough
understanding of this process, and then come
ahead, for he is sure to succeed.
As for the honorable gentlemen in the Capt..
toll who occupy their time with such problems,
does any one Imagine, when we hear every few
days that some one of them has disposed of his
vote for 81 900 az SIS, 1000, that there oc-
currcnceS of the same kind which we do not
hear Ofr There is great deal of rAScality that
the public can know nothing Of but enough is
pRpable 10 excite apprehcnsnnS as To what may
he behind the scenes. Il would be in bad taste
to mention honorable Senators in this conuec-
ton. But really, the Capitol reminds one Of
the comparison may be pardonedO Of big barn
full Of big rats, aud hig trap in the middle OF
the barn, and big delicious piece OF cheese in
the middle Of the trap. The rats are all trying
t get at the saYnry bait without being caught.
Several brave, jolly chaps, are willing to run ev-
cry risk for sly nibblc; but sometimes one
nibbles too hard, aud the trap closes on him. =
Then there are some old gray fellows who first
opened their eyes in juXtipoSitioh with the pub
lie crib; and who have worn the hair off their
heads trying to poke them into this same crib.
They have had experience; they know all about
the trap, and know. how to get the bait without
being nabbed. How they do it is mystery;
nobody understands it, and the only evidence Of
the fact is, that the cheese disappears and the
old fellows grow fat.
One of the most honorable, most respectable,
most gcnllcmaulY ways of raising n breeze, is
that Of paying out large amounts of imaginary
money for the Government, without authority,
aud then getting y bill introduced for relief or
To perform great imaginary services for the same,
and then ask TO be paid. This is about the la.
test dodge, and speaks well for the talents Of the
inventor. Very much like two ruguish boys,
one proposes to the other that they rob an or
CbarI Ia him, mad. the s,,,,...-