Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1859-01-14
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.


WASHINGTON, Jan. II, 1899.
Mr.. EDITOR: Since the re assembling
of Congress on the 4th, the Senators took
lesve Of their old chamber, which has
been the scene of 50 many exciting de-
bates and great events, and repaired to
the splendid and more spacious hall which
had been prepared for them in the north
ern wing of the Capitol Shortly after
they began to feel at home there, Mr.
Crittenden brought up and ably advoca-
ted the French Spoliation bill as an act
Of simple justice to honest and long-suf-
iering claimants and Mr. Davis spoke
against it, on the ground that the origi-
nal claimants had long since passed away,
and that reckless Spectators now held
possession of all the claims. On yes
terday, however, the bill passed the Sen
ate by decided majority, and has now
to try its strength before the House and
the President.
The Pacific Railroad bill has been ably
debated in that body during the week
ending to-day, and will probably be dis
posed of before you hear from me again.
Senators Bigler and Shields advocated
shat measure in speeches of great power
and ability, and Mr.. Iyerson, Of Georgia,
iD the course Of the remarks he made on
the bill, expressed the opinion that the
triumph Of Douglas in Illinois, was not
Democratic victory, but simply the
success of "Free-soil Democracy over
Abolitionized lYhiggery." The last two
words brought up Mr.. Trumbull of Hi
nois, in reply, who maintained that, as
the Republican party is opposed to inter
tering against slavery where it is now
established, it is not an abolition party,
or anything resembling it. Such claim
as that on behalf of his party, by Mr..
Trumbull, is very cool, to say the least
Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, has
made a move in the Senate looking to
general retronchment in the expenditures
of the Government; but, in my opinion,
nothing can NOR be effected except that
penny-wise economy which will throw
few poor Clerks out Of their places, or
reduce the salaries of some Government
employees who can lily afford to bear the
loss. 1t is in the army and navy where
the expenses of Government have been
so vastly augmented within the last ten
years, and these are the places where
the pruning knife should be applied. -
The cost of collecting the revenue of the
Government has also been largely in
creased during the same period, ocer
achat Il Formerly ,ras, and this is one
of the reasons why so many Southern
men are now crying out for the closing
of all our Custom Houses, and resorting
TO direct taxation for raising the funds to
meet the expenses of the Government
What | may term the era of extravagant
expenditures, commenced under the ad-
minstration of Gen. Taylor, and no par
ty, or combination of parties, has since
been able to check it, though the South
ern delegation have invariably voted
against all loose appropriations
The California gold mines were opened
with the commencement of Gen. Tay-
lor's administration, and to the album
dance of money which followed the open
ing of those mines, many men attribute
the heavy cost of supporting the Gov
eminent since that time. The enlarge
ment of our country, the increase of
postroutes, ana the numerous tribes of
Indians we have had to keep in check.
contributed in no small degree to swell
the expenses Of the Government, and
cannot see how Senator johnson, or the
whole Senate and House combined, will
be able to effect any considerable reduc-
ton in those expenses. Whilst his able
mind is engaged in this effort, he should
abandon that favorite hobby of his which
aims at depriving the Government of the
revenue from the public lands, by giving
them away TO every one who can raise
the money to remove to the Western
wilds and settle GU quarter section of
100 acres
In the House of Representatives, Mr.
Anderson, of Missouri, has been reused
by the hostile tone of the British and
French press towards this country, to
giving them hint that the time has come
for this Government to make a practical
application Of the Monroe tioctrine 10 all
the States of the American continent,
commencing with an immediate abroga-
ton of the Clayton Bulwer treaty. In
these remarks Mr.. Anderson echoed the
sentiments Of nine-tcnths of the Amer
lean people, and il majority of that
body and the Senate shall persist in tame
ly submitting TO British and French in
reference so close to our doors, our coun-
try will soon become the laughing-st
Of the world The President is ready to
do his duty, and the voice of the people
should thunder at the doors of the House
and Senate until their representatives in
those bodies perform their part becom-
ingly. TOBY.
The CONDEMNED MuRDERERs AT BAL
rINoRE. There was quite a number OF
yisiters. including several ministers, to
the Jail on Sunday, and during the after.
noon prayer meetings were held in the
cells Of Henry Cambria, VIM. G.. Ford
aud the colored man Cyphus, all under
sentence of death, The prisoners all
joined with apparent fefyor in both the
prayers and singing, aud seemed to be
fully impressed with the fate that awaits
them. Ford acknowledges the deed for
which he has been convicted, bu. SAYS h,
acted in self-defence. Gambrill protest,
bis entire innocence, and asserts that III,
murder was committed by another party
whom he names, and who confessed ia,
Aned 10 him a few nlinnies hnfnrn hn ,n.