The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1868-06-11
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.

A"o cVnuAstce appointed Oy tne
House to investigate the charges made
by MIR. Washburne, Of Illinois against
Mr.. Donnelly, Of our District, reported
on Monday that Mr.. Washburne had
appeared and Withdrawn all charges Of
bribery or corruption against Mr.: Don.
nelly and all charges affecting his char
acter and standing - . member. The
committee also reported that while Mr..
W. had raised the question that it had
no right to inquire into tho charges
made against MI. DIS character before
he became Member, yet Mr.. Donnel-
~ had offered to prove tho falitv Of
those charges and pay I'll the expenses
Of the witnesses. But tho committee
thinking that the actions Of Members
before being elected to Congress were
not proper questions for parliamentary
privilege, aud as Mr.. W. had retracted
what he had said, asked to be disoharg-
ed. Thus has this whole Washburn
affair fallen through. The terrible
charges which were to bring Mr.. Dom
nelly to shame and ruin have been re-
tracted, and Mr.. Washburn pleads that
Investigation into Mr.. DIS previous
character be dismissed. On the con-
trary, Mr.. Donnclly not only asks this
Investigation, but offers to pay the ex-
penses Of the witnesses. The reaction
is complete, and Mr.. Washbu1ne finds
his position anything but IN enviable
one. The Chronicle Of yesterday, in
referring to this matter editorially, ex-
presses qualification at the result, and
pays deserved tribute to MIR: Donuel-
ly As a man aud US 4 Member.
The House Of Representatives as
viewed in session from the galleries, is
. somewhat curious sight, to a stranger,
At least. Members are anywhere but
in their seats, and are doing everything
else but paying attention to whoever
may be speaking. Some are writing,
others reading, some converting in
pairs, while the majority are threading
their way here and there among and
around the seats. The continual clap
ping Of hands BY members for the mes
sengers constitutes the only applause,
but that is considerable. Yet from this
real and apparent confusion is drawn
the regular and constant routine Of bus
mess; and herein Can be seen the WON
derful ability Of Speaker Colfax. Prob
ably no other man could secure the
transaction Of anything like the same
amount Of business during the time &C.
cupied by the House.
look around for the notables. Gen.
Schenckis speaking on tie Ohio con-
tested election case, and is followed by
Dawes. Fernando Wood comes from =
cloak room, and his appearance makes
one Involuntary clap their hand on
their pocket book. He passes to the
seat Of Brooks, who is "another of the
same" Gen. Logan and Ben. Butler
how tho eopperheads hate him =
come from meeting of the Impeacb-
ment COMMITTEES to respond to their
names as called in the. election case
Bingham and Boutwell, are not in, and
Thadsus Stephens is lying on sofa in
his committee room: Mes.rs. Donnel:
y and Window are both on hand to
vote. Gen. Garfield, Wilson, and Ju-
liam were in during the voting. nj -, .,
go Passing to the Senate chamber the
scene is quite different. It would seem
here ere . i, though some flty q moro ,qui.
Ct, elderly gentlemen had gathered 10
tor a pleasant social meeting. d Comfort
ably ensconccd in their arm chairs or y
on the sofas just. outside the last row.
business flows smoothly along, ., very lit.
tie speaking being done by anybody,
Questions are put by President Wade.
who is in the chair, and "thc ayes have
it." no person voting either way. Thus
silence gives consent. Senator Morton,
who, sits almost in front Of tho Presi.
dent, has shade covering ono eye, and
when he leaves his chair to bobble
across the room, he brings to hi. aid
two canes. One Of the ablcst men in
the Senate he is physically one, Of the
weakest. Charles Sumner sits 10. the
back row, and looks every inch the
scholar. Near him is Senator Yates,
who bids fair to redeem himself iron.