The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1869-01-21
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. Jan 18th ]

brief space of letter of reasonable length
even a synopsis of the Congressional pro-
ceedings of week. Every day brings
forth something of interest," either in the
shape of original propositions, or new views
of old ones.
The present Congress is near its disso-
luton. Many measures, now in semi
finished stage, may remain unprotected -
The respective friends of these are anxious,
if not clamorous, for precedence, not viii
ling to leave them to the undeveloped
mercy of a succeeding legislature. It is
too often the case, that private bills are
urged with SO great pertinacity, that great
public measures have ''to take a back seat" !"
1t is to be hoped that Congress will, dur
ing the less than two months yet left of its
official life, devote itself first to final decis-
ions on the public questions before it, and
then, as subservient consideration. to
private interests. Such course of action
will meet the hearty approval of the coun-
try.
AS [ mentioned in my last communica-
ton, the financial problem is the allah
sorbing topic of debate In Congress, and
of conversation in all circles out of it. No
one can yet form an approximate opinion
of what will eventually be done, or left
undone. The people having elected that
1.-The national honor requires the payment
of the public Indebtedness in the utter
most good faith, not only according to the
letter but the spirit of the laws under
which it was contracted" the requirement.
seems to be the securing Of the means for
meeting the obligations All evasions will
be pusillanimous and dishonest. Until
the question shall have passed through the
ordeal of augmentation, and some one Of
the various propositions assumed tangible
shape, l will forego speculation, exhorting
your readers to be patient, and ''they will
see what they will see"
There is now very important bill un-
derg0ing discussion in the Senate, known
as the Sue Murphy case" 1t involves
the question, whether the National Gov
ernment is liable for damages to property
sustained by the loyal citizens of the South
ern States, during the war. Southern
members Of Congress are becoming impor
tuna,e. 1t being test case, great coDse,
quences are involved in the result.
There are large delegations here from
Mississippi, Virginia and Georgia urging,
in relation to the first two, Congressional
action looking to their reconstruction and
admission to representation and, In the
case Of Georgia, either the admission Of
the Senators elect, or remanding the State
to her position before the adoption Of her
on the ground of having yiO-
lated the reconstruction acts, by the eject
ment of the colored representatives from
the State Legislature. All matters con-
nccted with these questions are in the
committees, where they are being examin-
ed and sifted.
On Monday last, outsiders were taken
by surprise, in consequence of the passage,
by the House of Representatives, Of res
olutiOn, by the heavy vote OF 121 to AZ,
repeating the Tenure-of-Ciyil-Ofice Act.
The large majority favoring the repeal was
secured by the representation
that it was to be viewed as a vote of con-
idence in the incoming administration
1t is not certain how soon the Senate will
take up this resolution 1t will, no doubt,
undergo discussion, before it be finally
passed. Senator Wilson of Massachusetts
has introduced bill amending the law as
it now stands.
Expectation is on tip-toe for the coming
Day" In all political or
CARNATIONS, the anxious benches are crowd
ed, not now by moaowers, but by erpec-
tdntS, redolent with the smiles with which
hope wreathes the human counte-
nance. The time will soon come, when
disappointment will be the lot Of many
who Gin the Wild hunt after office" think
their respective claims irresistible. The
that the searching inquiry
is he worthy ?" win be made, in the case
Of each applicant for place under President
Grants administration, and that honesty,
and faithfulness to the Constitu-
ton and the principles enunciated in the
Declaration OF independence will be con-
sidered as the essentials to constitute wor-
thiness, does not suit the tastes Of GER
tain class Of political braggadocios who are
beginning to wend their way to the Capt.
tai. Il am neither prophet nor son Of
a prophet" but [ can plainly see Tar
enough into the future, to safely predict
that those whose political principles are.
to personal aggrandizement
will not have the ear nor the confidence of
the new President.
President Grants administration will
be an eventful one. He will have to Crap
pie with momentous questions, fraught
with veal or woe to the country, and on
a rightful decision Of which the very ex-
istence Of the Republic will depend. He
will not have the light of precedents to
guide him. We live amid surroundings
such as have not heretofore existed since
the formation of the government. a gi-
gantic rebellion has been crushed. States,
purely in rebellion, have been re-admitted,
under promises OF future leyalty-profes-
sedly repentant, but untried) rebels have
been re-clothed with the garb of citizen