White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1868-02-06
Correspondence.
(For the Chief)
Letter from WashlnglOA.


Letter from Washinstoa.
WAsHIsoros CIry, January %, 1863.
fairnD CHiE,:-The great event here. for
the past week or two, has been the War De.
psrtment sEair. The Presidents friends &C. |
cuse Grant Of bad faith. The General said to |
ne. the other day. that psrhaps he did not do |
just the right thing; but the fact vs., persons
Who called on oaicial business, almoss iuvaria-
bly, came With cigars in their mouths, and be
could stand it no longer-they had literally
smoked him out"
A singular story has come to me, relative to
Secretary Seward's land purchasing mania. Il
have it from his family physician. and am
therefore willing to vouch for its correctness.
Se.ard's Affections, following fast one upon
another-his broken jaw. BY falling from
carriage; the almost suersssfaI attempt to as
sassinate himself and son; the death Of his
wife and daughter-have decidedly unsettled
his mind, and he has become firm believer 10
Spiritualism. Astrology, and kindred humbugs
The representatives of several foreign Govern
ments having useless and expensive posses
sions which they wish TO turn to account, be
coming apprised of his peculiar weakness, have
entered into conspiracy to victimize him. and
through him. our Government. for the ben.
eft Of their o~n. First. the spirits were uade
to reveal to Mr.. Seward, that centuries ago. q
Malay pirate vessel was wrecked on the north
west coast Of North America, in consequence
Of being too heavily laden with gold, but that
the treasure was landed in small boats, and
buried in what is now Russian America, at
spot indicated; and that-if the United States
would purchase that e.'unty. and thereby &C.
quire the right to explore for the treasure, suf-
fcient would be found to pay of the national
debt, and run the Government for years, with
out cost to the people. Seward believed, and
the purchase was effected. Next, an astrolo-
ger informed him that the fabulous treasures
Of the pirate Kidd were buried on the island OF
st. Thomas, and that the stars revealed to him
that the year 1868 would witness their recov
cry, and the nation that owned them would be
enriched. Immediately the purchase of st.
Thomas was negotiated with the Danish Min
ister-Seward hurrying the matter, and offer.
ing . higher price, under the idea that the
prevalent earthquakes and hurricanes we're to
unearth the treasure, and that there was no
time to lose. Then came . necromancer, With
the tale that the renowned buccaneer, Sir
Henry Morgan. had made the depository Of his
spoils on the island Of Cuba. but that only
American enterprise and improvements would
result in bringing them to light. Forthwith a
scheme was set on foot for buying Cuba OF
Spain. England. France, Portugal. Holland.
Norway and Sweden, and other Governments,
are in the conspiracy; and if all goes smooth
ly, We may look for negotiations without num-
Der. embracing the purchase Of islands from
the icy confines of Greenland, Iceland and
Spitzbergen to the remotest Cannibal haunt of
the South Seas.
Detective Baker /, much pnt out By the re-
futations of his stories which are appearing
from time to time. He swears there il q con
spiracy to inJure the sale Of his book. He is
especially severe upon Gen. Butler. whom he
accuses of spelling q splendid assassination re
velstion BY his treachcry. He saya that a
Buffers instance, he had arranged all the doc.
unents and evidence. proving conclusively
that the assassin Of President Lincoln was Mrs.
Cobb, and that of Mr.. Seward, Andrew John
son himself; that the two escaped, and m ct tha,
night at the house of old Blair; and that Booth
and Payne died for the crime. When al was
ready for divuleing, Butler backed down. say.
ing that he had now been Q member Of the
Republican party longer than he vas accustom-
ed to stick to one party and felt that his health
demanded change; consequently, it might
not be convenient to let .uch a revelation 90
forth Baker was therefore compelled to re-
model his whole plot, and seems to think there
is less money in the present arrangement than
there would have been I'm the other.
The abuses Of the franking privilege are
now occupying the attention of Congress. 1t
is said there are number of Congressional
Districts that pay no postal revenue to the De
partment-the members from those Districts
having furnished their constituents with frank
ed envelopes for al their correspondence, and !
BY this means retail their positions in Con
gress. 1t has been discovs cred that one Sena.
tor fanked fifty bags Of beans, under the name |
of garden see.ls." to State that Is about
choosing Delegates to the Convention to nom
mate candidates for President and Vice Presi
dent. Another franked bis old coat home to
his wife, for carpet-rags. A member from
New York franked bull pup home-to his bet
ter-half Shirts, socks and hand Ii erchiefs we're
franked home to be washed, and franked back
agail; and one member franked pair Of boots
home to be halfsoled, because the shoemaker
owed him little balance. ! might enumerate
instances almost with ,ut number. Of similar
abuses. Congressional action is imperatively
demanded.
Kentucky, that noble State, that escaped the
Of the rebellion BY acting the
sleak, is asserting her State rights Not hav.
ing gone into the rebellion, as q State, she
claims that the lavs passed bseause of there.
bellion, are not applicable to her; and that
she. As State. has . right TO protect her citi.
Eens in all the immuniiies claimed, although
large majority Of them we're rebels. She has
n peoasnfad I'LL sU~scst Sk> r.