Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1870-01-15
From Our Own Correspondent.
WAsIIINeToN. Jan. II, 49,

W AshlNulOH' Jull IL, lOIU.
Punctually at twelve o'clock yesterday, the
two flags swung out from the two wings of the
Capitol, announced the re-assembing of Con-
gress. There are certain sights and sounds
here that proclaim that Washington is the Cap
ital of the naion. The heavy booming of can
non from some one of the forts that grdle the
city, announce when the sun rises and again
when he SETS AT noon every owner of a watch
stands gazing ut the National Observatory,
when, just as the sun touches the hour of noon
large black ball drops down on to the dome
Nobody in Washington has an excuse for hav-
ing his watch out of time the nation gives
him opportunity 20 correct 1t every day At
the same moment the, Speakers gavel gives its
rap on the marble table in front of his seat,
two flags rise instantaneously into air, and the
reverend cheplains invoke the divine blessing
on the assembled wisdom of the nation Con-
gress has begun.
The Postmaster General has determined that,
If possible, that great nuisance, the franking
privilege, be abolished lie has accordingly
forwarded blank petitions TO all the twenty-six
thousand postmasters in the United States, ask
and forward il TO his Senator OF Representative
or Delegate by the first day of February. Let
me advise every reader of the Telegraph to
sign such petition and see that II is forward
ed in due time.
Mr., Cresswell has also called convention
of the leading Postmasiers in the country to
meet In this city on the 10Th inst, TO consider
the same subject. And all postmasters are di-
rectcd to weigh all free mail matter, that If the
abolition he not carried this session, il may re-
ceive It's quietus another winter. Probably no
government privilege Is so much abused as
this
The opening of the year naturally makes us
look back TO see what has been done in the
year that has passed, Ten months have rolled
away since Gen Grant became President, and
u Republican Administration became response
BILE for the national government 1t took one
or two months TO place subordinate officers in
charge of the forty thousand offices that carry
Oh the government, and to cleanse the Augean
deposits of late administration. And now
we can begin to foretell the result from what
has already taken place, In these ten months
over eighty millions OF dollars of our national
debt has been pnid, moro than onc-twentleth
part of our bondcd Indebtedness. Economy
and honesty have been introduced into all the
departments The Indian wars have been vir-
tually settled anu pacific Quakers appointed to
negotiate treaties of peace with every tribe
Gold has sunk from 1885 to 1 30 and Is still
falling, Our national credit is 80 improved,
that whereas year ago, we were borrowing
money NJ six per cent. now we are offered all
We want ut four and half per cent The Ala
baina question has been reopcncd and England
consents that negotiations bo resumed practi.
cally on our own terms and nj Washlngton.-
II such be the records of ten months of new
Administration, what will four years doY
The principal subjects of discussion at the
session Of Congress Just opeiied win be the
census, the finances, and reconstruction. On
the suhjcc, OF the Census, Gen. Paine, of Wis
consin, Introduces bill providing that the
House shall hereafter consist of 200 members
the great contcs, on this point will be the trans
fer of power from the East to tc West
growing question, that would have influenced
Legislative men for the last twenty years, had
IL not been for the oyeTshadowing influence of
slavery, The question of Finance will be n
prolific one, including the contest between, the
Protectonlsts and Free TRADERS. and what por-
lions Of the excise duties shah be given up
1t Is generally thought that the Income tax
will be reml,ted altogether after 1870, or else
be reduced 10 three per cent Tho Reoonstruc.
ton question Will not involve only Georgia
and Texas, but Virginia as well and now tho
Of Tennessee and Gov Brown
low certify that tho late election In tia, state
was In ,etal disregard Of It's laws and oonstltu-
tien'i that young men under 20 and rebels
were allowed 10 vote !; that threats, intlmida-
ton and unjust influences were used, and that
the judges Of election were not qualified to,
hold that ONCE. Most Of which Is true but
ought the nation TO go behind the proceedings
OF state. II stste Il 80 corrupt as to hold |
illegal elections and A,sre is not sufficient hon.
esty In Il TO purify the elections is II the part
OF the nation TO interfere Can we as a ma
iion 10 anything to overcome the fraudulent |
Democratic maIorltles of New York : And II |
not in New York, why can We In Tennessee
II Is result most deyouty TO be hoped for,
but OF very db1btflil precedent
tR WoKcEsrER