The Sweetwater enterprise. (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1869-187?, 1870-03-24
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

ten. Prim-Annexation Of San Domingo Re
jected-The Gold Market-No New Ports Of
Entry for Western Imports, &C., sc.
The inelement state of the weather during
the last week has made pedestrianism any.
thing but pleasurable, and considering
the horrible condition of our city streets
and p~avements, it has been a great draw
back upon social enjoyment and gregari-
GUS enterprises of every kind.
The friends of st. Patrick made no pub
lie celebration in honor of the day of his
birth-but the various Hibernian societies
met around the festive board and revived
the recollections of his life and principles
with many lively toasts which were APP
plauded with spirit and enthusiasm.
The question ofTerritorial Government
for the District has excited the greatest
amount of discussion among the various
ward politicians, but the closest scrutiny
fails to discover any opposition to the pro-
posed bill before Congress, except from a
noisy set of corporation officers and their
political henchmen, who are anxious to re-
tain their hold upon the public teat.
Nllt-lGIlilo VI lllC liCOllN tlltuCtS anu
unpleasantnesses of Washington are due
to the fact that the city has no authority
to deal with them and Congress has no
time to legislate in regard to them. The
people of the city and District are thor
Oughly alive to the necessity for improve
ment and reform, and the moment Com
gress gives them the right of self-govern-
ment, and the power to deal with the
evils of the present system, they will en-
ter upon work of progress with an energy
that will bring conviction to those who
think no good thing can ONE out of the
Nazareth of the District of Columbia.
In the Supreme Court on Wednesday
the case of Hosmer, a volunteer, claiming
500 bounty under the Presidents call
for volunteers in 1861, appeal from the
Court of Claims, was decided in favor of
the claim. Soldiers who enlisted prior to
July 4, 1861, and were honorably dis
charged are entitled to 500 bounty, un-
der General order %.
No further action is yet reported on
Senator Morton's resolution, but it is un-
derstood that the Committee on Foreign
Affairs have agreed to commend the pas
sage of a resolution according beliigerent
rights to Cuban insurgents. Gen. Ques-
da received such hopeful assurances from
Senators and Members of Congress that
he returned at once to New York to con-
fer with the Junta there upon making
preparations for the management of af-
fairs under the altered condition that they
will soon be, in consequence of the change
in the policy of the United States Govern
ment.
The Secretary of State appeared before
the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
on Monday and gave much valuable in
formation with regard to the relation of
this Government with that of Madrid,
though it did not at the same time appear
that any new or important steps had been
taken on either side. Mr.. Summers an
nouncement in the Senate that he had re-
ceived no proposition from General Prim
for the sale of Cuba, telegraphed BY cable,
was just in time to save that officer from
the hands of the Spanish mob.
The Senate Committee on Foreign Re-
%lations rejected the San Domingo annexa-
ton treaty by a vote of 5 toy. The Sam
ana Bay lease treaty was not acted upon,
but its fate is undoubtedly decided by
kthis action, inasmuch asthe refusal of the
-RCommittee taaaccept the gater advanta-
Gges offered BY the annexation project,
mdntpecessarily inAoFSNAthe rejection Of
the lease scheme.
Pr4idente TNpt, accompanied<by Gen,
BabcoSk, visited the Capitol on Friday
last, and in a conference with Senators,
Y urged upon them the ratification of the
Treaty of annexation of San Domingo,
which, viii come up before them next
"i Ths Si1i \ iSAp,sunner, introduced
in the Senate ansNkSSsfSent gold down
to Zig. The INTELLECTUALLY is disturb
ed, and there seems n be a disposition on
5 all sides to suspend operations until the
: fate of the funding bill in the House oil
Representatives is ascertained. In antic.
ipation of the law reducing the value Of
, American silver in Canada, which went
f into effect on Tuesday, large sums are be-
ing received in this city and it is intimat.
ed that upwards of $5,00O,OOO arrived il
New York last week.
The Senate Committee on Commerce re.
ported adversely upon the bill to establish
ports of entry at various places on the
Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
! The Reconstruction Committee have
agreed upon a bill for the admission O
} Texas, the provisions of which are similar
!, to the Virginia and Mississippi bills.
On Wednesday last Mr.. Revels, the
colored Senator made his first speech. He
. read from manuscript, in a clear voice
though at first he appeared somewhat EN-
barrassed.
. In the case of R. R. Butler, of Tennes
see, Mr.. Stoughton's resolution of censurC
. was adopted by a vote of l5O yeas, nay
= none, on Thursday last.
y The Committee on Ways and Means ar
carefully adjusting the scale for special Ii
censes and other duties, with a view of re
l;ouor t,olo f,oo, l,,lao, ~ sc oho1,cL