The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The San Domingo Ring Minister
Wnshburnc and his Petty Casl,-Tho
Legal Tender Lnw--A Revelation
about Grcclcy-Wnshington Gossip.
IrnoN orn OWN conREsrospEsr.l


to the washington lobby arc engaged In pressing
It most earnestly. Yesterday they importuncd
the President 10 fail not to indorsc the scheme
in hIs annual message; but they found the admin
istraien fully advised OF the views OF the half-bar
barrie population Of that island OIL this question,
ana possessed Of a knowledge OF the advantages
which would accrue to the United States by an
ncXation. The government has q report from It's
own special ambassador who was sent out In Au-
gust last TO investigate this scheme, and the re-
suit In brief Is, that the United States can hnvc
San Domingo almost on its own terms.
Beyond It's use rs q naval station for the gulf
squadron and its salt deposits, 1t docs not
appear that the island Is OF very great value; and
what is more Objectionable to its annexation Is
that feature of the plan Which proposes that Con
grcss shall give 1t State government. In this
respect the lobby interest here founds lis claims
1t wants to establish national bank, to elect Its
members to Congress, TO control the salt deposits
ana otherwise make money out OF the new State
II Is we'll understood that San Domingo has lit
tic pride In the matter, and will not be annexed
to the United States unless she can become u free
ana equal State In the Union. Congress may he
induced to get foothold iii the West Indies by
going so far as to admit another negro govern
ment within the Federal confines hut 1t ought to
BE- cautious enough to oinquire why these washing
ton lobbyists have such interest in the matter.
There is no doubt whatever, In spite OF nj, the
dcnIals that have been made, that Minister WASH
burne has asked the State Department for q large
appropriation OF coin TO meet, what lie calls, the
contingent expenses OF his legation. This comes
from man who has been notorious in Congress
for years in cutting down the salaries AMI cx.
pcnscs Of every department OF our foreign and
civil service, and resisting with narrow spirit
OF meanness every extra dollar for widowed
pcnsioner or n manned soldier. But Washing
tonians returned from Paris say that Washburne
lives in cheap quarters antl will be able save at
least twelve thousand OF his seventeen thousand
dollars worth OF salary, ana that his call for more
funds Is to help out his two Secretaries of Lcga-
tion-one Of whom Frank Moore, OF New York.
has been absent from his du''es all summer ell
gagged In writing book, or compiling one, per-
haps, ont OF a guidc-book after the manner fp
which he made up the "Rcbellion Record" viz,
out Of newspaper extracts. The Washburne fam
lily has always been known as great humbug,
and members OF all parties here feel rcjoiccd that
the one who misrcprcsented us in Paraguay, and
the one who now mlsrcpresents us in France, are
exhibiting themselves in their true colors.
There is a great anxiety felt In financial
quarters to learn the decision of the Supreme
Court on the constitutonallty OF the legal tender
law. The long delay, for the cases were argued
last term, leads many TO believe that the decision
Is adverse to the consitutionality OF the low. Mr.
Spalding: or New York, who drafted and pressed
through, While In Congress, the legal tender act,
has written ON elaborate letter claiming that the
law was war measure solely, and that he makes
no pretensions that the act Is constitutional.
Careful judges say that ah 1ovcrsc decision will
not interrupt business matters materially. Fu-
turc contracts can be made on a coin basis, and
greenbacks will he quoted at discount as they
arc now in California instead of gold being called
at premium It is not unlikely to hasten the day
for specie payments.
1t is fact not known outside OF one or two
persons in Washington that Horace Greeley was
England, and that he was about to send his name
to the Senate when WashDurnc, who was then
Secretary OF State, advised Grant very warmly
against any such step, and, Of course, prevented
the appointment. II had been intimatcd by out
sidcrs TO Mr.. Greeley that he would receive the
appointment, and, had 1t been made, he was
ready TO accept 1t. In the meantime, Washburne
was always protesting the warmest friendship
for Greeley, and was very active in squirting up
the latter 10 sustain the proposed impeachment
OF Andrew Johnson-a proceeding that Greeley
for while was very 10th TO enter upon. The
gratitude which the notorious Washburne family
usually manifest for those who have done their
best to elevate them Is thus illustrated. II may
lie pleasing 10 the old Tribune philosopher to know
that Washburne Informed Grant that the admin
istration needed Mr.. Greeley more In this country
thnn II did In England.
There is bill pending in the House, which the
Radicals intend TO pass this session, providing
for the division OF the State OF Texas, so as TO
carve out another State OF that portion lying
west aud south OF the Colorado River to be called
the State OF Lincoln. This was old Thad. Stevens
original bil but II was reintroduced In April last.
The senatorial elections Of 1871 and 1873 will, for
the most part result In tho choice OF Democratic
or Conservative sena tors and this is part OF O
plan to steadily maintain the balance OF Radical
power In the Senate by cutting up the Southern
States and securing additional Radical senator's.
In the division of Texas It is quite likely to sue
ceed, but if proposed for Virginia or Mississippi,
rs hinted, 1t win probably foil.
For three years past one OF tho New York pa.
pers-thc Word-has published In full, or sy-
nopss, the Presidents animal message, while
the important report OF The Secretary OF the Trea-
sury was tclegraphed prematureiy to two West
crn papers last year and the year before. Grant
and Boutwell, have determined that this shall not
happen this time, for they are going to send the
message and report to Congress In the original
manuscript. It.is only when these important do
cuments are printed conAdentIally in pamphlet
form that they get out prematurely.
Senator's and members are coming in unusually
early for the meeting Of Congress. The coming
session is the long one, and will probably last un:
til July next. 1t Ia therefore matter of some in
tcrcst for Congressman to be on hand to be COM
fortably located.
The quarrels Of the negroes and carpct-baggers
In our municipal government here are producing
good results In exposing plumber and corruption.
The principal administration organ here, the Re-
publican, comes out this morning and announces
that Mayor bowen has stopped his subscription to
that paper, and has notified the publisher that
"he has no further use for him." People are de.
lighted at the prospect for q complete expose.
An old story Is revamped here again that new
party Is about TO be started to place Chief Justice
Chnsc In the Presidency. There Is no foundation
for II. Judge Chase reiteratcs that he never In
tends to aspire TO political honors
The banker Corcoran was shocked nt tho news
OF Pcabody's death. They had completed ar.
rangements to spend the winter together I'm the
south OF france.
The WashingtonianS hayc q new cnncert hall