The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-02-19
rER0M OUR OWN CORRESPONDENr1

WASHINGTON, Feb. Is, 1859
Congress is insuiferaby stupid to-day. The Sen
ate is doing good service with the Private Calendar
| however, and the House is engaged in discussing
the Army Appropriation Bill to which innumera-
BILE amendments are moved for the purpose of ena-
bling the movers to get off five minute speeches.
The usual efforts to cut down the Army in numbers
or pay are essayed but there is little prospect of
their success.
No movement has yet been made for an inyest
CATION into the heinous charges preferred against
the Committee on Accounts Several mem
bers talk of moving in the matter. but
have thus far delayed action under var-
Gus pretexts. Of course, no member of the
Committee can more the investigations because that
would imply desire to be appointed to conduct it,
which would be highly improper, as, until the
crime charged is individuazed it stands against
the entire Committee on Accounts. But it is pass
ing strange that no member of this Committee has
arisen in his place and demanded, as an act of JUS
tce to himself and associates, that the charges
made should be disproved or fastened directly upon
| the gully party. The duty of investigation can
| not be evaded. 1t is known to more than one
member of the House that the charges are sup
ported by atiidavits of such character
as to render the guilt of a certain party
more than probable; and the House has no right to
avoid investigation. Depend upon it that the mat
| ter will not be allowed to rest Now that the
charges have been publicly made, they will be per-
sisted in until established or disproved; and Honor
able gentlemen will be held to strict accountability
at the bar OF public opinion, if they fail to respond
in proper manner to the demand that they shall ex
pose an unworthy member. So much is due to the
public interest, and the case can not be allowed to
rest until properly disposed of. "
u The ball in honor of Lord and Lady NAPIER, last
evening, brought together magnificent company
from every State in the UNION, not emitting Cali
fornia and Oregon. The ball room was decorated
end lpnu its IF
ToRIA and General WASHINGTON, the former from
the private gallery of GEORGE RIGGs, Esq. Just
below these was placed a raised platform or
das upon which seats were placed for the distin-
guished guests. Lady NAPIER received the saluta-
tions of every body who desired to be presents
and her unaffected affability won rresstibly upon
all who approached her, Your lady readers will
be interested in a description of her dress. Not
being du fat in such matters, l inquired of "I.Iz
zIE." who informed me that Lady N. wore a skirt
OF white silk covered with white tulle in flowers and
puifed each puff being covered by fiounce ofvery
rich black brussels lace. The corsage matched the
skirt. The head dress of pearls, trimmed with
ostrich feathers and scarlet velvet
The arrangements in some respects were very
unfortunate. The music inferior for such an
occasion, and could not be heard distinctly more
than half the length of the hall. The WIZARDS
ought to have understood their business better and
should have brought on full brass band from one
or the Northern cities The supper table, set
handsome, but after the first rush was over, those
who were not fortunate enough to be in at the begin
ming were compelled to engage in sort of hand to
hand encounter with the walters every dish of
terrapinsor oysters The champagne flowed, but
not ''freey." On the contrary it came slowly and
grudgingly, long after had called for it, and
only when the walters had learned that delav would
not send the applicant unsuccessfuly away. This
should not have been so. Everything ought to
have been upon liberal and unsparing scale. The
occasion demanded, and the price of tickets would
afford it. The managers of such an affair in future
will probably be careful to engage the services of
more liberal host