The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1870-02-23
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
LATEST FROM WASHINGTON
III kilograms to the Dispatch.

Celebration Of the Twenty-SecOnt-
A Grand Dress Ball.
One of the features of the observance
here of the birthday of the Father of his
Country is q grand levee and reception
given at the Masonic Temple by q number
Of the citizens of the District. The entire
building was devoted to the occasion-two
dancing-rooms, a eption-room, room
for conversation, card party and smo-
king-room, and on cxcellently-arranged
supper apartment. The reception and
dancing-rooms were handsomely decorated
with fags, banners, flowers, and ever
greens. Pictures from the private
galleries of Messrs. Cochrane, Cook,
and others, we're displayed upon the
walls, adding much to the beauty of the
scene. The main room displayed the fol-
lowing: "Life-size paintings Of Washing
ton, Clay, and Jackson; bust paintings Of
President Grant, the late President Lincoln,
the late Secretary Stanton, General Sher-
man, Chief Justice Chase, Ben. Franklin,
the late Secretary Rawlings; the late
Colonel Bowers, of General Grants staff :;
Ben. West, the American painter !;
Sir Charles Wentworth, the first set
tier of South Carolina; the trium-
viratc medallion in bronze relief of
Washington, Lincoln, and Grant, was
also among the decorations, it having been
loaned by Mrs. Grant for the occasion. The
rooms altogether presented a fine appear
ancc. Senators, members of the House,
the President, members of the Cabinet,
army and navy officers, and other distin-
guished civilians, were among those in
vitel. From Q until 10 o'clock the reccp-
tons continued, after which dancing com.
menced by genuine American quadrille
President Grant arrived at 1oR o'clock, &c,
companied by his brother-in-law, Marsha
Sharpe General Bubcock and wife, Genera,
Porter and wife, and General Dent, were
also present as representatives of the White
House. Mrs. Grant did not attend. Gene.
raj Sherman was absent from the city
General Grant was received by the com
lnittee of reception and escorted to the
dressingroom, and thence into the mair
ballroom. The band played Hail to thu
Chief" as the President promenadcd around
the room in company with Mrs. Senator
Chandler. Many CT the ladies and gentle
men paid their respects to him during ths
evening. About half-past II o'clock hi
retired. Senators Hamlin, Ramsey, Cole
Johnson, Chandler, and others, with nearly
q hundred members of the House, many o.
them accompanied by ladies, were present
1t was one of the grandest dress balls o.
the season.
The War, Navy, Interior, and Post-Offict
Departments we're to-day closed to public
business. The Treasury and State Depart
ments closed ut noon.
| Marriage of an Army officer.
This afternoon Captain Totten, United
States army, was married to Miss Marian
Kensy, at the residence of the BRIDES uncle
General Hunter, United States army. Thu
President and Mrs. Grant, General Sher
man, Adjutant- General Townsend, Genera
Belknap, Secretary Of War, and other per
sons of note, were present.
The Mungen Speech.
The expected sensation for to-day in til,
House upon the Mungen speech, published
in last Sundays Globe. did not come off
It was quiet affair, in which there wa
scarcely ripple. The proposed resolution
of censure had been modified by Mr.. Dave,
so as to merely provide that the COMMITTEES
on Rules inquire if Mr.. Mungen had no
violated the rules of the House in printing
in the Globe speech which, had it beer
delivered in the House, would have beer
objected to us indecent and unparliamen
tary.
Mr.. Dawes characterized the Language
printed by Mr.. Mungen as violation o.
common decency, and such as would be in
dieted at common law.
| Mr.. Mungen objected to this characterize
ton, and endeavored to show that he merely
ouoted from classic writers to which no OBJ
lection could be made with propriety, ane
he claimed that it was not half so objec
tionable as language used in the House du
ring the impeachment trial to which no OBJ
lection was made. He disclaimed any In
tention of violating the rules of the House
but asserted his right, under the Constitu
ton, to free speech. ......
| Thedebete ran off into discussion as to TIT
propriety Of printing in the Globe so-callee
speeches or essays that were not spoken il
the House, the general sentiment bein;
against the practice. - ..t... &
The resolution finally passed, and tn
committee has the inquiry in charge.
Whittemore's Case to be Postponed
General Butler viii tomorrow offer are
solution that final action in the Whistemor
case be postponed until the testimony shall
be completed before the Military Commit
ftee. This is in response to suggestions
members Of the House, who feel inclined t
temporize the present severe attitude to
wards Mr.. Whittemors. From present ap
ipsasanea isiaaps probable that Ar, White