Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1860-05-18
Editorial Correspondencc.

The Great Editorial Excursion - Hotels
Political Matters - The Iowa Congress
men, 5'c. r ' f.'''.
BRowN's HOTEL, Washington, D. g.,
May 9th, 1860. !
DEAR JOURNAL: = write to you for the
| first time from this "city of magnificent dis.
tances" The Editorial excursion of Southern
and Western members of the press came of
according to the programme. Upwards of 800
editors, about half of them accompanied by
ladies, left Wheeling on the morning of the
4th, in train numbering ten splendid cars,
drawn by locomotive decorated with flowers
and evergreens, by the ladies Of Wheeling.
At Cameron, Piedmont and Martinsburgh,
Va, military companies, bands ofmusic, and
crowds of citizens turned out to welcome the
excursonists. The tram arrived in Baltimore
at o'clock, Saturday evening, where most
of the party took lodgings till Monday, while
few, we among the number, came to this
place. la, l...>,..... .r.... .--.. +. .....4
T The excursion thus far has been a delight
full one. The management of the affair, from
its inception to its consummation, has been in
the hands of WM. PEEsroN SMITH, Esq, the
able and efficient Master of Transportation,
who has immortalized himself, so far as the
Western press is concerned. 1t was certainly
one Of the most princely entertainments ever
gotten up in this country. After the excur-
sionists came upon the line of the B. & O..
road they were not permitted to pay for any.
thing. Their meals, lodging, and even their
cigars and the latest papers were provided at
the expense of the Company. Nothing was
omitted that could have been done to contri-
butte to the comfort and pleasure of the
excursionists.
The natural scenery along the line of this
road is the most bold and picturesque in
America. Having "taken notes" as we passed
along propose alluding to the most striking
objects of interest in future article, merely
remarklng in this connection that the traveller
will find the shortest and pleasantest route
from the South and West to the East to be
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and its
connecting lines. Let him, however, avoid
the Sprigg House, at Wheeling, ifhe is at all
fastidious about his fare. A portion of our
company were obliged to stop at the Sprigg,
the Mcclure House being unable to accommo
date them all, and they were "taken i'm
decidedly. Miserable slop was presented to
them in lieu of coffee, and the most unpal-
table stuff for food. We wish our readers
to understand that the editors paid their way
at all the hotels, and are not under obligations
to speak avorably of some and disparagingly
of others on account of favors bestowed
We would have no fault to find with the bills
of the Sprigg House if its accommodations
had been at all decent In contrast to it, we
are pleased to name, as excellent houses, the
Burnett House at Cincinnati, the Baltimore
and o! 10 Railroad Companies Hotels at
Grafton, Cumberland and Martinsburgh, |
Barnurn's Hotel at Baltimore, and Browns at
Washington, at all of which we stopped
The traveller will find good accommodations
at these houses.
Politically, "things is working" as some
genius has remarked. Yesterday, fell in
with Mr.. Hamilton, chairman Of the Maryland
delegation to the Charleston Convention, who
was returning home. He says Douglas is
politically dead and damned. The obstinacy
and trickery of his friends at Charleston
injured his cause He can never receive the
nomination of full Convention, and if he is |
candidate for the Presidency cannot carry
single Southern State. The Oppositionists
at the South will probably unite on the mona.
inee of the Convention at Baltimore, this |
week, and if the split in the Democratic
party continues will be apt to carry the |
Southern States.
The skies look bright for the Chicago NOM
inee. l found much diversity Of opinion
among Republicans at Washington as to who
is the best man. There is strong feeling
in favor of Judge Mclean, as a man whose
pure and spotless character renders him
impregnable to tie malicious assaults of his
political enemies. Seward, Lincoln, Chase
and Banks are also talked of. But very little
is said of Bates or Cameron.
While at Washington, where my stay was
limited to one day, l had the pleasure of
meeting our able and efficient Senators,
Harlan and Grimes, whom l found in good
health and spirits. Senator Haran's excel
lent lady (who, by the way, is quite politi-
clan and charming conversatianalist) is also
in the city. Mrs. Grimes has been here
during the winter, but went home few weeks
ago. failed to see our worthy Representa-
tives, Messrs. Vandever and Curtis, notwith-
standing the former honored me with call
when was out
will proceed from this PLACE to Pennsyl
vania, on visit to some relatives, and will
write again before my return. j. N.
~ The Washington correspondent of the