Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-02-17
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsnIxaroy. Feb. 10, 1860.

You have seen that, though, on pre-
vious week, we could not secure the votes
Of all the anti-Democratic Northcrners,
protesting to be opposed to d" lIelperism, ="
for South American like NJ. Smith, of
North Carolina, we forced them to take
New Jersey American for Speaker, and
a Maryland American for Sergeant-at-
arms, mighty soon afterwards. Consid-
ering how much we Americans had been
abused by the New York Tribune and
other Black Republican journals, about
our opposition to SO much foreign inter-
ference in our elections, you will have to
concede that we won great triumph in
this instance over Helperism, if not over
Democracy. Very many of the Helper
ties have shown symptoms Of great cha
grin about their being compelled to sell
out to "a handful of Know -nothings, Z"
as they had been in the habit of terming
us, and the cause Of this is said to be the
opposition they now anticipate from large
numbers of German " Free Staters,' in
the West, who have thus far acted with
them. The election Of John W. Fornev
as clerk Of the House, was indispensable
Oh account of the resolute stand taken in
his favor by some four or five Hant- Le-
compton Democrats" without whose
votes no Free State" speaker could be
elected. This thing being done to serve
the favor of that corporal's guard" the
Republicans had no difficulty afterwards
IN efEecting the election of Mr.. Marston
Of New Hampshire, for door-keeper, and
Mr.. Lucas, Of Illinois, for Postmaster
But in their two caucusses Of Wednesday
last, the Republicans had great trouble
in selecting their public printer At the
first caucus held that day, Mr.. Mitchell
(of the st. Louis Ercntaq Ncus) an
american, pledged to Mr., Bates, Of Mis-
souri,, for President, was nominated by a
plurality of votes, but in the subsequent
caucus of Wednesday night, Mr.. Dcfroes,
Of Indiana, was nominated by a majority
of one. AT the present time much dis
satisfaction prevails in their ranks, and
little breeze occurred in the House
about it on Friday, between Stanton, of
Ohio, md Colfax, Of Indiana The New
York Tribune, Of Saturday, seems to be
displeased about the defeat of Mr.. Mitch
ell, and from this | think the Tribune
Gin spite its violent and offensive abo-
litionisn) is for throwing Seward over
board and nominating Bates, of Missouri
Among the most ultra IIelperites, John
Minor Bolts Of Virginia, 5 the favorite,
ID e' ,sisy fi ID u, ,Aea:s.! ses eampellel to
set Seward back Cor pdtIln forward to
1864.
The number Of Republican applicants
for places under the Clerk, Sergeant.at
Arms, Doorkeeper, and Postmaster Of the
House, exceed any thing ever before
witnessed in the history of Washington.
Though many have been provided for in
the clean sweep made, or to DO made,
AMI as many more are hanging back in
the hope of being made clerks Of commit
tees, the train of cars that left here OF
Saturday afternoon, carried away fully
one hundred thousand pounds of disap-
pointed human flesh Thirteen cars were
filed to overaowing with folks bound
North and West. Heretofore, thought
the Republicans were seeking power on
ly 10 legislate for the benefit Git should
be ia.jwy) of the negro. Inever before
dreamed that one of them wanted Office,
or would accept Office. But they have
proven to be the most ravenous pack of
wolves that ever INDUCED in hunt about
Washington. II is Office and plumber
they want, and nothing else They really
care no more about slave negroes than
they did about free negroes, when ex-
Guiding them from several Of the new
States.
Immediately after clecting all their Of
fcers excepting the Printer, the House
went to work and passed the Post Office
Deficiency bill, but omitted to provide
for the abolition ofthc ranking privilege
and to require the printing Of the Post
Office blanks to be let out to the lowest
responsible bidder, to make il acceptable
TO the Senate. As the ranking priyi- !
lege so burdens the mails as to increase
the cost Of transporting them nearly
hundred fold in the sparsely settled re-
gions of our country, aad the printing of
the Post Office blanks has heretofore cost
more than twice as much as the work
was really worth, the Democratic Senate
had the good Judgment to so amend the |
bill sent to them from the House, as 70
require these much needed reforms to be
carried out. As the only Americans to
H.. I< alx nd
Crittenden) united with the Democratic
members in lacking on the Post Office
amendments to the Post Office Deficiency
bill, it is my duty to give support to
said amendments, and to express my sur
prise to you at finding the Republican
committee of the House, to whom the
bill, as amended by the Senate, {" had been
referred, reporting il back with a recon-
lnendation that the amendments Of the
Senate be rejected lfyour memory has
not failed you, you will bear me witness
that the Post Office Appropriation bill
was defeated one year ago by the Repub-
lieans and other faetious members Of the
House, because the Senate had affixed to
it these same much needed amendments.
and if the Post Office Deficiency bill
shall now be defeated for u similar rea-
son. terrible ought to be the consequences
10 the Republican party, if judgment
has not fed TO British beasts and men
lost their reason"
No set Of men have cried out more
loudly against the Democracy for alleged
extravaganza in the administration Of the