The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-05-03
Correspondence OF tho sYIp,snsosni.s. 8

Correspondence moo OF tho Ppsosniis.. !. {.
WAsH1NeTos. D. O., April 80, 1870: s
4 The weather here is indeed delightfuL::
The warm rains of late has forced vege-
Htion ahead beyond all conception; and
in this latitude after the middle OF April,
there is little danger Of frosts to effect
the most delicate plants. There is more
activity among farmers this spring than
any time since the war. The land for
miles around Washington is q sandy
loan, of easy cultivation, and well
adapted to gardening and fruit-growing.
1 learn from real estate agents md others
that they are receiving many letters from
people in the different Northern States,
inquiring after lands, and the prospects
are favorable for large emigration
South during the coming senson.
Business before Congress is progress
ing slowly; the diversity of opinions of
the members on various questions COM
ing before them, is the cause of the de-
lay. Formerly the most of the discus
sion on bills was confined to the men,
bers of their respective committees in
committee. But lately it would seem
that committees were only made n con-
venience to delay business
The financial question is still being
discussed in committee, in newspapers
and on the streets. The whole country,
it seems, is making itself interested on
this question. The President and Sc
cretary are quizzed as to their views on
each OF the numerous suggestions made
by the different members of Congress.
There are no two who exactly agree upon
plan to solve conclusively the great
financial problem. Every member is
Interested, many of them sel6shly 80.
They are daily in receipt of letters from
some of. their constituents, complaining
of the delay. One, who is, by the way,
largo manufactures, in writing to his
member, says: ''Settle the financial
question at once. The passage of the
worst kind of bill, is fur preferable to
this continual talk without definite re-
suits"
The finding bill was debated at length
yesterday in committee, without definite
results; but some of the members of the
committee think that perhaps they may
agree upon something before the week
closes. The tariff question is assuming
gigantic proportions. AS straws indi-
cate which way tho wind blows, Just so
does the votes of members on the tariff
bill, generally, decide whether they are
for or against tho free trade principles,
or whether they arc opposed to tho
theory OF high protective tariff. While
members from the West and South of
both parties, feel that unless they in the
main oppose any tariff above revenue
one their bread is dough-, many of the
Republicans arc afraid to vote with their
common enemy, the Democrats, for fear
that it might Indicate affiliation with
them.
Late letters and kilograms from Geor-
gia received here Indicate that the peo-
pie are anxious for immediate recon
struction In some form or other; even
preferring the Senate military bill, which
put the State under military rule until
next December, to an indefinite continu-
ance of the Bullock administration. It
is reported, from very good authority,
that in case the Senate bill passes the
House, the President will veto it. The
President has expressed himself to mem
bers, calling on him, that he was exceed
ingly anxious to see the reconstruction Of
Georgia closed up by her immediate
representation in Congress.
Colonel Casey, of the War Depart
ment, it seems, from reports in the
newspapers, has testified before the
Committee on Appropriations that the
present style of forts are superior to any
iron-clad system. Is Colonel Casey very
familiar with modern artillery expert
ments? Is he not aware than IN English
war ship, carrying ten-inch Armstrong
rifle gun, could send shot and shell
through and through the himsy walls,
constituting the ramparts of Fortress
Monroe, our most important fort? It
should be remembered that its walls are
but n series of casemates, some of which
constitute the powder magazine. A
single ten-inch incendiary shell, aimed
at the powder magazine, would explode
and make n practical breach, and fill up
the canal or moat with bodies so cffectu-
ally rs to ennble m invading forco to
walk in dry shod within FIVE minutes
after the explosion. And rs for the
water battery, which is supposed to give
great protection to the fort from the sea
side, it could be entirely dem molished with
in M hour at distance of 1000 feet. It's
brick arches tumble down by the mere
conclusion of the firing of the ten-inch
smooth bore gun; and ms for the higher