Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-07-13
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, .

w AS1lNGTON, July 4, lolu.
Editors Of tie ChrOnicle:
This long and laborious session of Con-
gress is rapidly drawing to a close. No one
here will feel more relieved by its close
than | will, as the intense heat of the past
few weeks has Frustrated me. The climate
of Washington, though regarded as very
fine by all foreigners visiting here, and our
own countrymen from every section, North
and South, is not yet half so delightful as
that of our own East Tennessee. While
not, perhaps, warmer during the day than
in the Valley of East Tennessee, it is as in
tensely hot at night as it is during the day
On the whole, considering the pleasant re-
freshing breeZes of our East Tennessee
nights i am inclined to the opinion that
we have the finest climate in the world.
Congress is working day and night on
the several appropriation bills. These
must be passed in some shape or other, but
as II consequence, many important private
bills will 20 over until next winier.
We have recently had some exciting de-
bates OH the san Domingo question. In
the Senate, the majority are in favor of the
treaty, but two-thirds' majority being re-
quired, il has been defeated. In all proba-
bility, at the next session of Congress the
question will come up on "a joint resolution
and the islands will be annexed, as Texas
was, IA bare majority OF Congress being ne
cessary for it under II joint resolution.
have voted for it, and shall vote for it in
any shape in which it is presented.
We have voted millions of acres of land
to aid in the construction of National Rail
roads, among the Great Southern Pacific
Railroad, which will he worth To the
Southern States the cost of all of them, and
will do more to develop the vast resources
of the south than its most sanguine friends
can hope.
am hot one of those who can see in ev-
cry appropriation OF this kind big job, ~
"a termed by tine cnemie. of public inn
provements. ! vote for all appropriations
for railroads and the improvement of rivers
and harbors, and, hence, 1 am only carry
ing out the principles which / have adVO-
Gated Ion forty years As a matter of con-
sequence, parties interested can have no
motive in electioneering with or trying to
buy me 90 the support Of such measures. /
ann understood 10 favor all such measures.
Ii il "a part OF my education and raising 10
develop the country by Federal legislation.
III l. much better co apply the public lands
to these purposes than 10 suffer them 10 re-
main unlmproyed and IDLE.
The bill.tO abolish the ranking privilege
vas defeated in the Senate by Two votes,
mine being one OF the two. Instead Oi
calling il the "trankingpr icuege,h it ought
10 be styled the ranking GUrdeH.n II
really lllpO7e u great amount Dl ldbDI
upon members of Congress, and 80 far as /
am personally concerned, ! would rejoice
! 10 see il abolished; but / voted against it,
abolition because / deem it advantageous
to the people. | have franked to the peo-
Pile of Tennessee hundreds and thousands
of books and documents containing valua-
bile information, which / could not have
done had been required to pay the post
age. Indeed, the abolition of the frank
ing privilege means the abolition of the
printing of all public documents contain
ports on Agriculture.
UIcl All gues IONS OF patty politics. my
votes are recoracd IN avOr OF Grant and
his Administration. l believe that the
President is honestly endeavOring to adj
minister the Government for the best in