Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-09-06
Letter from Washington.
WASHINGTON, Aug. IS, 1870.

The weather here still continues hot, and
only occasionally are we the recipients of
the much needed boon, refreshing show
er. The mercury for the past three con-
secutive months, has averaged higher by
several degrees than ever before in any
one month. The streets are nearly desert
ed by pedestrians, and the store keepers
and other business men are suffering most
terribly for the want of patrons.
During the summer months when Con-
gress is adjourned, and the Heads of the
Departments and the most fashionable
portion of the citizens are absent, the city
is always very quiet, but this season has
been exceptionally so.
The Republican and Democratic Execu
tive Congressional Committees, located in
the capitol, are creating little stir, espec-
cially the republican committee, which is
hard at work sowing all over the country
the seed Of destruction to the last vestige
of dying democracy. Therepublican COM
mittee is in receipt daily from the differ
ent congressional organizations throughout
the country, assuring it that the Germans
almost to man, look upon the democratic
party as an enemy to their race, and will
poll heavy vote against that party in the
coming election.
The lodge of mourning which has just
been held in this city in honor of the Hon.
B. B. French, lately deceased and one of
the most eminent masOns in the country,
proved a grand success, not only on ac-
count of its novelty but also for the reason
that Major French was held in high es-
TEEN not only by the fraternity, but by
the citizens generally. Albert Pike oficiat-
ed, and Mr.. A. G. Mackey was the orator
of the OCCASION. About eighteen hundred
tickets were issued to masons and their
friends, and the Metropolitan (Methodist)
church on A street was used for the cere-
monies. Early in the evening the church
was crowded to overlooking with the friends
of the deceased.
|
o'clock in the evening, and the lodge was
opened in the third degree in the base
ment of the church. After closing this
lodge, all repaired to the upper room Of
the church, and the ceremonies commenc
ed. They were most impressive and sol
emn, and continued with the Grafton UNI
til about half past eleven. Thousands o
persons were turned away from the door
who sought admittance to witness the nov
ell scene. The fact that only one or twt
lodges of sorrow have been held in Thu
country, and the additional fact that tn
outside world were admitted to see yer,
partial working of this wonderful organic
alton of Free Masonry, gave great enchant
ment to the occasion.
1t will not be wondered at that masonr
fourishes in Washington, when it is un
+ derstood that almost all of our public mer
from the earliest establishment of the GOV
eminent, have belonged to the order. B
the way, there have been only one or tw
J Presidents who were not masons.
e We saw a letter this morning received {
c the city postoffice in this city, which wa
4 registered in Hong Kong China, one VIZ
alsoreceived, registered from Alaska, whic
1 came in % days. This registry system, {
l. well as that of sending money by posto
[. flee orders, has become very popular, an
?. is extending to remote portions ofthe glob
r The German clerks in the department
u have perfected an organization for raisiu
e funds to aid the wounded of the Prussia
Y, army. The majority of them voluntaril
9 contribute four dollars month, and prom
Use to give at this rate while the war last
Ex-Secretary McCulloch goes at last
Is establish, on the first of January next,
e, London branch of the great bankir
h. house of Jay, Cook & Co. Mr.. McCu
- loch's reputation as an ex-secretary of Il
treasury, as president of the State bank
y Indiana, will enable him to command gel
b, eral confidence in his new position.
e. The Comptroller of Currency has mat
"A arrangements to have the gold notes f
=, the new gold banks printed on the posta,
III currency paper of buff color, manufactur,
u in 1862, and of which there is a large qua
Te tity on hand. The plates will be of Il
,r same design and size as the national bal
,. notes. There will be substituted for Il
I've y words, "nOte and currency" national go
Is note The first lot issued will be to t
Or Kidder National Gold Bank at Bosto
a and the next to the New York bank, {
T. ganized under the provisions of the act.
The register of the officers and cadets
IL West Point Military Academy for 49,
he has Just been published, and the War [
Ie partment has already received large nul
nj Der of letters requesting copies ofthe san
which will now be forwarded. The a
III mission of the colored cadet seems to ha
n increased the interest in this institution
over the country. The number to be c
lis amined in September, in place of tho
nd who failed to pass or report for examir
al ton in June, is forty; and it is not kno,
~ whether any of this number are colored
be The Acting Second Comptroller has
IRE quested the Secretary of the Treasury
ed; ask the opinion of the Attorney Gene
,ro on the question, Can the pensions belor
&C. ing to the inmates of the National Asyll
st, for disabled volunteer soldiers be lega
elr paid to the treasurer of said institute,
-nlSS under the rules of the board of manage
EN- during the time they remain therein,
les must they be paid directly to the indiv
ng ual pensioners themselves? Gen. B. F. B
al al! Ter, president of the board of managers
he this Asylum, has made application at t
full Pension Bureau for the payment to
&C. treasurer of this institution of the pensiC
hu due soldiers for the time during VIII
90 they were in the asylum or receiving
an benefits. The act of July 8, 1870, set 70
ose that no pension can be paid any pers
Dh- other than the pensioner entitled there
o. nor otherwise than according to the p
visions of this act, and no warrant, poV
of attorney or other paper, executed
OK purporting to be executed by any pensi
OF er to any attorney, claim agent, broker,
20. other person, shall be recognized.
Al By the provisions of the acts of 1865 {
'66, inmates of the Asylum assigned tt
aIe pensions to the institution while they
u.s. joyed its benefits, and Gen. Butler C
res tends that the same provision is inten
by the act of 1870. The amount invol
is understood to be quite large.
Gen. Sully, superintendent of Ind
md affairs in Montana, writes to Commissio
'AN Parker that the Sioux are attacking
LrS. Grows and the latter haze become gre: