The Portland daily press., 1870-07-16
Terms $500 per a,anuas, s,s adrance.
PRESS.
Saturday Morning, July l6, 1870.
Letter freln Washington.
WASHINGTON, D. C., July IA, 1870
CORTLAND

CLOSING LABORs.
1t is quite amusing to observe the reckless
skill with which Speaker Blaine Jebus tie
stormy House through these busy hours. He
snaps all bands, and ove1ides most technical
tiles. The House enjoys the fun so long as
there is nothing serious on hand. If there
was presume the Speaker would be as care
full as the House is jealous of its rights.
There is good deal to do in these latter days,
and so far it is being done well, as well as ex-
peditiouSly. About these hours il is amusing
to note the warnings OF the Tribune and
others to take care OF the thieves. After their
special pet projects are disposed of, they ap-
pear inclined to cry chief" But on most
things the facing of an election is the surest
preventive of undue cheatery. The land and
railroad jobs are all sure to be objected to.
The Senate has passed twelve or thirteen
land grant bills, but there will not be one of
them taken from the Speakers table.
The only questions of real importance
which appear to be at issue, are the Georgia
matter, the Indian appropriations, and the
Southern Pacific Railroad bills.
GEORGIA.
On the first there seems no prospect OF
reaching ground of common action. The
Conference Committee met last evening and
this morning and reported no agreement So
Georgia is left to Gen. Terry's supervision
On the whole it is perhaps just as well,
though there is no doubt an earnest wish to
settle reconstruction and close accounts.
Two policies were at issue. The Chase in-
fuence hope to keep it as a running sore un-
til they can get their remedy applied. Sen
ator Sprague has been all through in constant
communication with the enemies of the Re.
publican administration there andhere. On
the other hand the Toombs- Ben Hill Democ-
racy were prepared to take advantage of the
Chase policy, and through the Bingham Pom
eroy amendment, carrying the election next
fall Ku Klux fashion and thereupon call a
new. Constitutional Convention and oyerturn
the present government and its principles
The defeat of any policy or measure, though
not satisfactory as being merely negative, viii
yet prevent the consummation of this plot.
OUR INDIAN POLICY.
1t is declared and generally believed that if
the Indian appropriations fail, the President
will call an extra session to consider the
same. He wisely concludes, if this be so, that
he is not anxious to face a general Indian
war, which in such case would appear to be
inevitable. After examining the question
little more closely, l am satisfied IL at the
Senate cannot bat stand by its claims, as re-
garding the treaties,-a at least until the House
offers them some well considered plan of its
own as substitute for the present corrupt
and corrupting hotch potch. Should there be
no action, Gen. Parker expresses great ankle
ty as to the summers work before him and
us. he has reason for his apprehensions.
PERSONAL.
notice that Mr.. Hale, of the 5th District
has returned home for the session. Allow me.
therefore, to speed him with such good word
as disnterested Spectator can offer. In
my five years experience here, have seen no
young man make the favorable impression Mr..
Hale had done upon the House--the hardest
sort of an assembly to impress favorably-or
as generally obtain and maintain growing
reputation for real ability, great industry and
fair sagacity. Perhaps he may have talked
this session little too much, but then he has
always had something to say, said it well, and
50 as to command attention. Mr.. Hale has
shown thorough comprehension of his duties
and wide range OF Information on all the
questions he has spoken upon. l don't re-
member being as fasorably impressed with
any new members capacity for public busi-
ness and usefulness as / have been with Mr..
Hale's, and therefore may be pardoned if L
say that his constituents ought to renominate
him without opposition. SPECTATOR.