The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-03-25
sracshane at Washington.

Dear Mac have been out of print so
long that am almost ashamed to intrude
myself upon. your readers without formal
Introduction. But have been on the ram
page again, as Joe Gargery would say, and
wish to give some account of my travels.
A few evenings since found me seated in
the Washington City train at the Baltimore
depot. As l was a stranger, and wore
shockinglv bad hat, l attracted little or no
observation. A heaUy delegation from Pitts
burgh occupied the smoking car with me,
and while waiting for the train to start they
commenced thorough ventilation OF the
modus operandi of making appointments at
the Federal City. l soon learned by the
conversation that they had all keen scent
on the flesh-pots of Egypt. They gave
Smon Cameron a few. He had sold them
out ''body and breeches"-had got up a
slate of his own-had reached the footStool
of power, and every thing he asked at the
hands of the President was Granted. In
short, they made him worse than SIMON
MAGUs of old, who was excOmmunicated
from the primitive church for trying to buy
preferment, whereas this Simon had actually
succeeded in purchasing all he wanted
Finally, sandily complicated military law
yer insisted that his conduct cane up to
Blackstone's denfiition of the crime of 81
MONY, in purchasing the preferments of the
Radical Church. 1t was suggested, however,
that there might still be "balm in Gilead." F"
and physician thar would be found in the
person of the Virgin Senator, Hon. John
Scott and he must be called upon to check
the Simnniacal influences among the powers
that be-"
The cars started and drowned further re-
marks, when a little Scotch -Irishman, with
a very strong but short handled pipe, seated
himself beside me- We entered into conver-
saton. lie told me he lived in Washington
| and limited desire to know if / was after
an Office. A negative reply brought on the
remark from him that he had got lone ol
the best offices in the city from Grant him.
self" 'Ah! what is it 20 cit is" said
| he, removing his pipe and assuming an air
| of conscious dignity, sit is the right to
remove the night Sile from the public build
ings." On my remark king that l was not
aware of any such position being in the gift
Of the Preside 1T, he answered that it was "a
very necessary office. and he wouldn't take
81 00G for his priUy-lege ''Then," said
you are an Irish radical" ''Yes." he
answered, "but Pm none of the Pope's Irish
l was always a Free Siter, and that's why
tie President guv me the liberty Of the nigh
Sile"
Twelve o'clock next day found me on the
floor of the House of Representatives. Mr.
Blaine, the Speaker, solemn. earnest look
ing Yankee, raped with his gavei to cal
the House to order, when prayer was of
fered by the chaplain. Here was puzzled
| to understand the religious faith Of Congress
The members did not kDeel during prayer
| like the MethOdists and Catholics neither
did they stand up like the Baptists and
PresbyteI ians but each one remained in hii
seat writing, or talking. or looking around
So universal was this that when l observed
siz Of the members standing up during the
prayer took it for granted they were trans
| crossing the rules of the House. l after
wards understood, however. that these six
standing members represented the three con
tested districts from Pennsylvania. and thai
the members stood because they had not gO
their seats yeti
But must close for the present by sub
scribiug myself
Yours to command, MACSHANE.