Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-17
LETTER FROM WARRINGTON.
wAsuuxoror. Feb, "A. 1870.

Inc Cuban question which had been put
quietly to sleep by the opiates of Senators
Sumner snd Fish and the lullabies of its cabi-
net nurses, has againbeen galv anzed into life
by Senator Sherman, who introduced reso.
luton last Friday expressing sympathy for
the Cuban insurgents and according to them
belli-erent rights. The resolution was refer
red to the Committee on Foreign Relations, and
Senator Sherman hoped it would be consider
cd promptly by them. Senator Sumner,
chairman of that committee, said they had
considered the subject, but the facts which
had been brought to their notice had not been
such rs to warrant any definite action. Sem
ator Sherman tho ught the fact that Spain had
built thirty gunboats in our ports to put down
what was termed little rebellion, was q sufi-
cient excuse for his resolution. The course
of Spain has become so very unpopular that
it's quite likely Congress will ere long give
belligerent rights to the Ccbans There really
seems but miserable excuse left why il
should not do so. The Southern and Cuban
rebellioas are not ut all analogous No one
disputes that the South fought on the side of
oppression; no one can deny that the Cubans
are fighting against it. While there was hone
that the revolution in Spain might result in
the establishment of n republic in that unhap-
py land, we had plausible reason for not in
terfering in the Cuban question and thus DOS.
sbly jeopardizing the republican cause in
Spain; but now, after waiting patiently for
many months, during which the hope of lib
erty in Spain has been buried in the graves of
its thousands Of martyrs, the excuse has
vanished.
The opinion Of Chief Justice Chase, which
has been long expected by those in high posi-
lions, has at last been delivered, denying the
consttutionality Of the action of Congress in
declaring greenbacks to be legal-tender for
debts contracted prior to the passage of the
act. The opinion does not pretend to gainsay
the right of Congress to declare greenbacks a
legal-tender for all debts arising after the
passage Of the national currency act. This
action though, us have before said, not un.
expected, was yet rather surprising, and has
been, Of course, much talked of in political
circles, IN quiet way, however. There does
not seem to be any particular excitement
about it. The Chief Justice is considered As
having written another epitaph for his politi-
cal tombstone, and most effectually killed
himself in this last act of the drama. 1t is
expected that after the two new Judges of the
Supreme Court are chosen some other similar
cases will come before that court for final
decision, when the present opinion will be
overruled. 1t does not seem likely that the
opinion will create any serious disturbance in
business.
amending the bill to abolish the franking
privilege, and the House is at work soldering
the leaks in the appropriation bill, which ap-
pears to be almost as full Of holes as . sieve.
On Thursday long and amusing debate took
place on the motion of Gen. Butler to strike
out the compensation for mileage Of members
and to reduce the total appropriation for their
compensation, from 81 SOC, 900 to q, 900 900.
During the debate Mr.. ("Sun Set') Cox Of
New York, made covert attack upon Gen.
Butler, in reply to which the General brought
down the whole house and galleries by telling
Mr.. Cox in his peculiarly sarcastic way that
he (Cox) would bear his answer to him made
by every shoe-black and news-boy-"Shoo
fly don't bodder me - This enraged the
honorable 'sSun Set" to such degree that he
got up and said that the gentleman from
Massachusetts was well known throughout
the country and on the floor of the House as
''bad man," when he was called to order by
Mr.. Hear of Massachusetts,, the brother Of
the Attorney General, who, by the way, seems
to have taken his rejection by the Senate for
the position OF Associate Justice of the SUI
preme Court, very quietly. 1t seems = pity
that the members Of that honorable body
could not have laid aside their personal pique
(the real secret Of the Attorney Generals re-
lection and not on account Of locality caused
by Judge Hears abrupt manner, and have
placed him on the Bench, where there was
never more need of sound and able men than
at the present time. No one disputes the
Attorney Generals eminent fitness for the
high position, and there would have been q
poetic Justice in placing him in the S. Carolina
Circuit, his father, also Judge Of great abil-
ity, having been driven out Of that State years
ago because of opposition to the peculiar in
stitution. The President was considerably
QlSpleuSeu ny ACtioh VI LS CeuAtcs hC
having taken a personal liking to Judge Hoar.
This calls two mind two facts which are prob
ably not generally known, viz: that General
Grant inv tied Secretary Boutwell, first TO the
Interior Department, and upon Mr.. Boutwell,
calling upon the President to decline the
proffered honor the latter asked him to recom-
mend some one for Attorney General, and
Mr.. Hoar's name being mentioned the Presi-
dent Immediately decided to nominate him.
Judge Hoar will probably remain in the cabi-
net, of which he is regarded as an able
member. .sr
Mr. Blaine's fiattering success rs Speaker
of the National House of Representatives,
was not unexpected by those who. remember
the remarkable celebrity with which he dis
patched the business of the Maine House Of
Representatives. To fill the position occu-
pied by Mr.. Colfax was no easy undertaking,
as there probably was never more popular
presiding officer in the House than ne ons
your honored Representative has rejected
credit both upon himself and his adopted state
by the mastery manner in which he mas mus
far acquitted himself He has one great ad-
vsptave over Mr.. Colfax, in having q very