The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-03-29

w ASHINdION, -. W, N1 1FCu -3.1.
Editors Journal:
The great object Of interest and
conversation continues to be the pro-
posed repeal Of the Tenure of Office
Law. 1t has been under discussion
in Congress for 10! these many days.
The lines are closely drawn between
the combatants. There are four classes
of them, viz: those who favor repeal
those who oppose it; those who favor
suspension until next session Of
Congress; those who wish to
suspend during the whole Of
Grants term of Office. / have
all along thought that the
repealers would prevail ultimately,
but it now seems doubtful whether
they will do so. The anti repealers
have developed great strength 1t is
very probable that the proposition to
suspend the operations of the law
during President Grants term will
finally be carried as a compromise
Whether this will be satisfactory to
the Administration or not, [ cannot
say, but it seems to me that such a
law, like Mrs. Toodles's coffins and
or p ates, is a handy thing to have
abol the house, and should be kept
where In can be used in cases of emer-
gency when we get such pests as Andy
johnson on our hands. 1t has served
good purpose, and Ougl not to be
eI tirely thrown asidesa rubbish
There have been some able speeches
on the subject, and some very weak
ones. 4 few hours observation of
Congress-Senate as we'll as House
satisfies one that some very mediocre
men get into the National councils
Where there is one really able states
man. there are Il dozen members who
would not make prominent figure in
u State Legislature. Indiana is con-
cedod to be ably represented, and
when say this, 1 include Democrats
as we'll as Republicans.
Senator Morton is the peer in in
tellect of any other Senator, and Sen
ator Pratt Is pains taking, patient and
practical. and a man of very strong
mind. He will, assuredly, make an
influential Senator.
Messrs. Julian, Coburn, Orth, Pack
ard, Williams, Tyner, and Shanks,
Republicans, and Niblack, Kerr,
Holman, and Voorhees,, Democrats,
are talented men, each having his
special excellence. OF our Ex-Sena-
tor Hendricks, it is no more than just
to say that he is a man of very supe-
rior ability, and that he is much re-
spected here for his talents. Of Ex-
Representative and Fix Speaker, now
Vice President, Colfax, it is super
erogation to write relative to his ca
liabilities aud requirements as pub
lie man. No one In the nation Is
more highly esteemed. Messrs. Hun
| ter and sWashbHrn retire to private
| life with the respect of all who know
them, and the regrets of their friends.
No State has brighter galaxy than
this.
Much to the surprise and regret of
the public, the Senate, in changing
certain officers. elected a Mr.. Clapp
OF Buffalo, N. Y, Superintendent of
Public Printing, IN place of Hon.
John ID. Defrees, of Indiana. He
(Delrees) had served the Government
in that capacity long and faithfully.
and merited retention, but certain
| Eastern parties concluded that the
office was fair game, and went tor
| 1t f." with the foregoing result. The
| change takes effect on the 10Th April
Mr.. Defrees has made very extensive
additions and improvements to the
Government Printing Office since he
has controlled it, and there is no
/ other In the world superior to it in
| size or business facilities.
| Amongst the sights here that every
visitor should see is the Navy Yard
/ 1t is an immense collection of manu-
| factories, storehouses, docks, shin
houses, officers quarters, etc. HUGE
| trip hammers, engines and all kinds
of machines for working iron, COPPER
| and brass, make the air tremul6us
with their motions. All kinds of war
materialSand weapons appropriate to
! sea service can be seen. In the water
are moored huge Steamers, saucy little
tugs, and terrible monitors, some of
the latter SCARED and dented from
the effect of almost irresistible shots.
Commander Davis, an Indianian-
formerly of Sullivan County, was
very kind in giving us access to the
curiosities of the yard and supplying
US with information. An examina-
ton of the battle scared ''Montauk,"
the monitor which he commanded
before Charleston during the rebel
lion, proves that he has done the
Union good service.
Amongst the numerous Indianiaus
and ex Indianians here, who should I