The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-01-21
FROM WASHINGTON.
CORRESPONDENTS OF rue COURIER III y
WasHlNaros, Jan. 18th, 1859. e
t - 4 4stt
My DEAR GENERAL:

their business before Cen, Grant ]. g;
comes N. From some cause. or 9TH
er theySarc afraid of himFwhetheE
with reason or not, tipsswill tell.
Any hew you can't get them to wait,
SO lively arettheir impressions. Then
again, the accumulation of impor-
portant business is great, and hcnce>
forward members will have no time
to loaf before the 4th Of March
1t is very clear, SO far as one can
Judge now, that the new Congress
viii organize ON the 4th of March,
About its proceedings it is too early
to speculate. Its organization, SO
far as the Speaker IS concerned, is
already creating an interest, and an
active competition is opening. 1t
seems to be conceded to New Eng
land, and the only material candi-
duties are Mr.. Dawes, of Massachu-
sets, aud Mr. Blaine, of Maine -
Con. Garfield would like to have it,
and the name of Mr.. Paine, Of Wis
conslu has been mentioned. But
there is no present probability that
it will 20 west of the Hudson River.
Apparently Eastern members are
more friendly to Mr. Dawes, but Mr..
Blaine seems to stand quite as well,
il not better, with the Western men,
| bers--probably because he is of lit
tie more active tc nperament--per-
haps it would not be slandering our
folks, or him, to say a little more
''eheelsey,n a little more disposed TO
blow, his own horn" and solicit
votes; Tor our people do rather take
to those who fight well for them
selves. Either would make q good
Speaker. Both are able men. Ii |
were going TO give my opinion in
advance, | would say that Mr. Blaine
would prove the rcadiest, and Mr..
Dawes the surest, in the transaction
of business. Mr.. Blaine has been
here two Congresses. Mr.. Dawes
has been here longer, ! believe, than
any member Of the House except L
b. Washburnc. | do not want TO
say anything to the discredit Of Mr..
Blaine, for it would ee unjust. There
IS nothing to his discredit. But | am
partial to Mr.. Dawes, whom have
known intimately, and admired from
early years. He is one OF the very
ablcst men in the House. That is
admitted. His experience is great.
He is eminently fair ana just mind
ed. Noman ever complained Of his
pariiality, or that he did not meet
fair treatment ut his hands, though
ever since the organization of the
37th Congress has occupied Il posi-
tion-Chairman Of the Committee
on, Eleclions-trying to ones preln-
dlces and patience A strong, solid,
dignified, courteous, just man. as
sound and radical Republican as
Massachusetts, ever sends up; he
would eminently adorn that distin-
guishsd position.
The Copperhcad papers here are
pretty good Grantorgans at present.
think / have never known rancor-
ous political journals to ''squat" so
suddenly. and so fat down before, on
the Termination of political cam.
paign. But the fact is, they are all
excessively mercenary-much more
| so than the journals Of their party
generally elsewhere. The defeat of
Seymour left 40 hope Tor future as
tendency within the lifetime of a
man of reasonable age, and they
have turned fawningly upon the pow
crs to be, in tho hope of dividing the
crumbs. The MtelligeRcer, which is
| the heaviest and best known Of them,
is deeply in debt, and | question if
one Of them ispaying expenses. You
will hear Of their hands poking
round for plupher before i year is
gone.
/ II is not unpleasant to say some
Miag favorable of an odious PRESS
dent who is about making his igno-
minious exit. And he has his good
side, even as apublic man. He is
not vcnial. He has not plundered
for his own benefit, or shared the
plundea or others. If he is able TO
retire from the Presidency with moro
money than when he took the Office,
! it will be solely because he has lived
modcstly. Hcis not man cas er for
money, and he seorns rapacity in
others. And the female department
Of his household can be spoken well
OF, without qualification. They have
elected no remark, as being deficient
in those qualifications which society
ex pects from persons IN their posi-
tion, and whom ii is disposed to sneer
and rail at If they prove little raw
and awkward. And, on the other
hand they have assumed no osten-
tation, INDUCED in no ceremonious
parade. Modeatly, hecomingiy, With
admirable good sense and self-posses~
sion, they have performed the duties
7 Of their station. and ! have yet to
hear any word concerning them save
1 that OF commendation. There have
been women Of superior talents il
! the White House; women of more
| brilliant social as welisas persona
qualities; but there has been mons
/ there OF superior character or moro
admirable spirit
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