The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-13
Our Washington Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 5, '67

Dear Varyanaon In this great cen
ire Of attraction, every thing remains in a
state Of comparative quietude, which is a
great relief from the former noisy demon.
STATIONS that have been made. A mild
balmy atmosphere now surrounds us, un-
der the influence Of which the ice and
snow are rapidly disappearing
The political world is not particularly
agitated by any great measures. That
monstrous oppression the tariff bill, has
passed the Senate, of course and has gons
to the House, there to be remodeled te
suit the further demands of overgroWn
capitalists, and returned for final settle
ment
The Supreme Court of the District, has
under advisement the subject Of the modi
fcation of the rule of Court. concerning
the admissionof attorneys to practice with
out taking the ''test OATH SO lately de.
clared unconstitutional by the Supreme
Court of the United States We,do not
perceive how they can possibly avoid the
repeal Of the rule, coming as it does from
the highest judicial tribunal in the land
whose decisions have been heretofore re
garded as the laao of the land, even if il
was by "only one majority"
The amusing exhibition Of spread eagle
oratory, by one Cook, oAice-holder, lawyer
and preacher, we believe will hardly have
any force with Court who are accus
toned to regard the law Of case in max
ing up their decision upon any question
more especially such one as this, that
has been already acted upon by the high
est appellate tribunal, we think, in the
world. As Mr.. Joseph Bradley forcibly
stated, "this Court or any other could moi
do indirectly, what they could not do di
reetly-"
Yesterday, February 9th, We stepped
into the House Of Representatives, for a
few moments, and while there Generals
Grant and Sheridan entered, and as soon
as they were observed ON the floor Of Con
gress a rush was made for them, and on
motion, a recess of five minutes was taken
in order that the members might be pre-
sented to the notorious cayalryman. and
when the honors ofthe house were accord
ed him and he was received by the mem
bers with such demonstrations ofapplause,
we could not help recurring to some Of the
scenes that were enacted by his order, in
our beautiful Valley, against all the re-
eognized rules of modern warfare The
broken scattered family circles, desolated
hearth stones and smoking ruins, came
crowding on our memory. And that last
act of his refusing civic demonstration
over the remains Of Gen. A. S. johnson,
and all forsooth in the name Of liberty
Sorrow for the dead, is one Of the feelings
that can never be eradicated from the hui
man heart, and when that sorrow would
be expressed by deeds Of love and kindly
sympathy, but is forbidden by order Of a
military commander, it looks SO much like
petty spite and personal maligpity, that
the soldier, however celebrated, sinks into
insignifcance It reminded us Of Esop's
fable, where all the inferior beasts, after
the King Of animals was dead, snapped
and snarled and bit at him, and even the
Jackass kicked the dead carcass that he
trembled at while living, and before whom
in life he used those feet for very differ
ent purpose.
The ice in the Potomac river yesterday
commenced to give way, augmented by the
heavy rains that have recently fallen, with
a tremendous noise, and much grinding
and writhing, as if impatient of the icy
thrall that had SO long bound it came
down with resistless force against the long
bridge and carried away several spans, and
that caused the railroad bridge to succomb
to the pressure also, and consequently trav-
Ell across the river, except by the Aquaduct
at Georgetown, is suspended for the pres
emit 1t is much feared that in the gener-
al thaw and breaking up which must soon
occur, clean sweep will be made of both
bridges, putting the travelling public to
much incenyenienceand delay. The want
Of a substantial structure across the Poto-
mac is much felt. One that will not be
liable to damage from ordinary causes, and
at the same time be an ornament to the CT
ties and States between which it is the con
Meeting link. When partizan legislation
shall cease to becloud the brains of Con-
gressmen, and they get the "woop out of
their eyes, they may then see the necessity
of such a measure.
Yours, Truly,
G. P. H.