Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-01-26
For the Spectator.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. IS, 1869.
Dear Spectator =
The legislation of Congress is
not, at present, OF such vital import, nor is the
appearance of our city so brilliant as to justify
an encroachment upon your columns. Yet it
is here now as it ever has been in this CONS
pound of folly and wickedness, yclept the world,
that our legislators consume time and waste
the nations treasure, while majority is found
to cry ont well done, thou good and faithful
servants |" To the serious and rejecting part
of humanity, naught is left but the unpleasant
reflection,
Honest men are the soft cushions
On which knaves repose and fatten.'
In the Senate the debates are growing warm
er on the bill for the relief of Miss Sue Muir
phey, of Decatur, Ala, whose property was
destroyed by Gen. Sherman. This has become
a test case and as it will establish the relation
Of the North to the 'trooly loir' Of the South,
is regarded as Of Importance. The situation
at present indicates the defeat of the bill. and
with it the refusal of the Government to make
reparation for damages done to Unionists of
the South by the Federal army.
The House seems to be regaling itself over
the new ideas propounded by Ben. Butler, of
New Orleans notoriety; ideas financial, ethical
legal, and political generated by him during
the Christmas recess. But among the many
who daily strive to make an impression upon
the chair, and upon the gallery, the voice of
orr Eta is to be heard. He has recovered from
his hoarseness (no doubt having resorted to
Browns Bronchial Iroches, and is OF all the
members of the House the one best fitted to
represent lin certain way the feelings and in
terests of the glorious old unrepreseuted Ninth
! Your correspondent claiming to be an honest
n,,d hIrr fhTS IN ntxy
avows utter ignorance of doings at the Capitol
except that herein related. Of lobbying and
intrigue, bribery and blenders he is most
happily unenlightened. ~
What has the Virginia delegation accom-
plished, or what is it likely to accomplish, is a
question vital to every true Virginia heart. -
Nothing is as yet known, but if the effect of
this visit to Washington Of the truest and
noblest SONS of the odd Dominion be not
visible and tangible, its moral effect must sure
ly have weighty bearing Naught but neces-
sity could urge to such a measure, and the
prestige of this delegation will doubtless bring
to the minds of the more calm and clear headed
of the dominant party the true relation exist
ing between the carpet baggers and the real in
terests of the State which relation is that Of
the Irishman to the inn. in the story when
told that the building was falling, he petulant
" exclaimed, Faith, an I'm but lodger!'
The gossip Of the city is not such as will in
terest your readers Mrs. Scott Siddons, the
queen of the legitimate drama, RECALLED the vc-
taries Of Melpomene for half dozen evenings.
but has gone. Her appearance as Rosalind in
"As You Like It. is said, by those who know,
to eclipse everything known to the fashionable
but degenerate drama of the present day.
The Davenport Brothers, whose magical skill
has set the philosophers Of Europe and Amer>
lea to specializing, are now giving dance here.
In some future number [ may speak Of them.
The Can Can. that luminousy brilliant mod
ern dance is presented every evening at the
Canterbury, and as it never fails to draw large
crowds of the inquisitive and lovers of the GU
rious, it will doubtless continue in season until
after the Inauguration. Its wonderful gyra-
tions, evoutions, and revelations. defy the most
potent attempts of the quill at description
must not omit to mention that the Virginia
Express Company, although its lines have been
Withdrawn from Virginia, is in successful ops
Grafton between this point and Baltimore In
deed, it is having fiourishing run. Perhaps
it is not known to some that Col. Hartman is
the head of this enterprise, and the agent at
this place is Lieut. NJ. CARRIER, of Stanton,
an efficient man Of business and the prince of
good fellows.
GHPTRT EDTIC