Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-04-10
Washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, DC, April Sth.


However hard work it may be to get
the cars through your snow drifts, we
awake here to the assurance that 1T is
not only spring, but pleasant, and the
voice of the turtle is heard in the land"
The earth is looking green agHin, which
is co nmendable of her, rs green suits
her complexion even more than it did
that of the milk maid; peach trees are
i'm blossom, and this morning my eyes
behed the glory of a crocus blossom in
my garden, and from amid the swelling
buds and evergreen boughs on the
Smithsonian grounds, | heard the TIE
DeuD LuuddUus of the robins. When
the musicA4which was rs magnificent
as birds can make-ceased, and Ia its
place came silence, | felt as If | had
heard the morning prayers of the uni
verse.
But of what use will nature be in
Washingt when Congress has adj
journed-and four days more will prob
ably bring that period. TO be sure, it is
getting a little dull since the tenure-of-
office muddle is disposed of, and, as
some wickedly say, the RELATIVES" and
"personal friends are about all ap-
pointed. Those who speak thus dis
respectfully are not " connected " how
ever. They are, rs it were, " on their
ownhool." Thus far the lucky men who
have reached positions of safety are
said to represent two classcs-personal
friends of U. S. G., and personal friends
of the personal friends of the same dis
tinguishcd initials. 1t has not yet been
found that the particularly loyal sol
dicrs have received any special consid-
Grafton above that heretofore bestowed
on them but there is a time for all
things, no doubt, and their good time
coming may arrive.
A gallant soldier of Vermont came
down here, and wanted TO be Governor
of Territory, but failed. In the mean-
time, the defeated politician, Ashley, is
put in the line of prospective Senators
by being made Governor of Montana.
A defeated soldier is generally cOnsign-
ed to an inct nvcnient limbo; but pol
itician who has met with such a reverse
is differently treated. The S .rveyor of
Montana was also defeated politician.
Another gentleman who applied for the
place was warmly endorsed by General
Sheridan. He had, in a collateral way,
"done the State some service"
The Departments in this city will
probably come in for little rcconstruc-
: ton, and they need it, if "to the victors
belong the spoils." Some of them are
filled up with the opposite clement in
politics. In the lst Comptrollcr's office
for instance, out of twenty-cight clerks
fourteen are Democrats, .wO doubtful,
and the balance Republicans. Tho
chief clerk is Il Democrat, and of ths
six fourth class clerks, at 81 800, five are
Democrats. Indeed if you take out the
Democrats and Pennsyiudni0ns from
the various Departments, there would
not be enough left in them to keep up {
movement. Probably Pennsylvania
has a fourth-and in some Department!
she has Il third-of the appointments, il
number and pay; and | know of in
stances where men, citizens of tina
State, have been put into sup oriorplace
l and credited to other States rs citizens
so as to "keep the thing easy"
/ have given you chapter of thu
, gossip of Washington, for what 1t i
, worth. 1t represents feelings and facts
I which will produce some little comma
$ ton yet, no doubt. At least, the chap
5 ter is a TART of the drama of life here
L interesting to the actors.
u AS no one else does, l wish to say
$ word for the Members of Congress. Tn
!, amount of chorlng they have to do TO
9 constituents is amazing and in maki.i!
e an estimate oftheir services it should b
s remembered that they have literally t.
5 serue their day and generation in tn
II capacity of special errand boy, as well a
: Legislators. This is wrong, but at pres
: ent unavoidable, so far as the member
e are concerned. From general knowl
$ edge, can say that no State has NOR
/ creditable delegation than Vermont
u and none who are nUre considerable AM
accommodating | suppose some of ia
y larger States might object if said tina
Is there We're few delegations superior il
l. such abilities as are chiefly valuable il
$ legislators; but the truth of such le
Is mark is patent to many, and probabl
Is theNermont delegation las less scheme
c to push than almost any other State il
e the country, and therefore the least sus
picion can be thrown upon the spirit i
v which they advocate measures. For tn
If credit of the third district can say tina
" its present member is urpassed by fc,