The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-06-17
BIDDEFoRD, ME-, FRIDAY
Muiun aud SunruaL.
WILMINGTON C0RREsP0NDENCE.
WASHINGTON, June 6. 1870.

WASHINGTON, June 8, 1870.
EDITOR UNION JoURNAL:-The two leading
topics Of conversation at the present time arc tn
weather and politics; both seem to be terribly
mixcd. As far as the weather Is concerned, !
has rained for Gle ven consecutive days, and
give up. Ifhowevcr, the rain could purify
our city politics, as nicely as Il clcanscs ou'
streets, think II would be an occasion Of 10
joicing. / do not think there was ever such On
intense excitement upon political Affairs, a
there is In this city at the present time. Both
parties have Republican candidates. and there
are many Republicans that really do not know
for what candidate to vote. Brown, is called
the regular nominee. Mr.. Emery the reform
candidate, for the latter the Democratic party
give their full support, whilst the former carries
about all the negro vote. The entire vote OF the
city is about 1900, the colored votes number
about 1000 and II is thought that Brown will
receive over 5000 of the colOred votes. but tha.
Emery will be elected. The eolored voters are
very enthusiastic politicians, and for the past
week, Notwithstanding the rain and mud torch-
light professions and open air meetings were
held about every night In the week and the
negroes are perfectly jubilsnt. The negroes
are bound not to loose their privilege Of voting
to-day, for they assembled at the various voting
precincts last night by ten o'clock and formel
In line and remained there until the polls opened
this morning at A. NJ.
II was said by the Democratic party that the
colorcl people did not care anything about suf-
fragc, and that they would not vote unless urged
70. That was great mistake, for there is no
class Of people that prize the privilege higher.
or take more interest in political matters than
they do. Congress is busily at work and among
the many bills passed notice one that will un-
dOubtelly, attract some Notwithstanding
the Northern Pacific Railroad Company to issue
It's bonds for the construction Of its trade and
TO secure the same by mortgage, and for other
purposes" This latter clause in bills or rcso-
lutions, "and for other purposes" may imply
great deal and usually does, for under such
clauses the government subsidies and boun-
tics arc usually made. The land grants to rail-
roads has increased rapidly within the last twen-
ty years and there seems to be something very
singular about these railroad bills. For instance
a bill granting to a certain comp,ny the right
of way to build road without any subsidy or
grant Of land, stands q very poor chance for en-.
actment, while one giving vast quantities Of
llnd is generally hurried through. The question
naturally arises why is this sol OF course the
inference to be drawn Is, that somebody makes
money out of these large land grants. by the
resolution aiding the Northern Pacific road, II
grants the company the fee simple In every al-
ternatc section, one hundred and twenty miles
in width. This enormous grant will take some
70, 600 900 acres Of public land, about four times
as large tract AZ the State of Maine. In form
CT years Congress used to grant there alternate
sections CT $40 acres per mile on each side Of the
line Of the road to be constructed. This amount
was increased 70 FIVE sections per milo on each
side of the road. Dutwithin the last few years
these grants have greatly enlarged, 30 that twen-
ty sections per mile has been given, but this bill
TO which have referred certainly takes tho lions
share, getting one hundred and twenty miles
In alternate sections.
The House has after great deal
of discussion increased the amount to be
exempted in incomes to two thousand dollars,
and reduced the rate from Ave to three per cent
It has, also, made the sum Of $500 the high
est amount to bc exempted for house rent.
There is no doubt but what the Senate will
readily accept these amendments Of the
House. There is no doubt but what the people
at large, are strongly In favor Of the entire
abolshment OF the income tax, and nOtwith-
standing the assertion Of Senator Sherman that
II Is the most impartial Of all taxation. Quite
IN interesting discussion occurred in the House
few days since upon contested elections, and
Il would seem that there has been paid out Of
the Contingent Fund Of the House Of Reprcscn-
tatives during twelve years past, to parties who
have contested seats, and'whom the House has
decided were not entitled TO seats, over 173, ,0O0
and the present Congress has appropriated more
than $4,000. 1t has been In the past. good
business to contest the seat of setting member,
for II has been the custom TO pay the departed
contestant his expenses and his time the same
rs though he was member. During the past
fourteen years, Mr.. Dawes said, there had been
ninety-fye contests for seats. aud only sixty
threc in the sixty years preceding, and In the
present session there has been thirty election
contests; so that 1t will be readily seen that
these &C ntcsts are rapidly increasing. A bill
has been introduced in the House to regulate
these contests and discourage contestants, by
refusing to pay them only actual expense1 in
curred. The Indian Appropriation Bill has
been pretty thoroughly discussed in the Senate.
aud Senator Morrill, has again taken occasion to
express himself freely upon the policy pursued
by our government towards the Indian tribes.
The thanks Of the nation are due Senator Nor
rll for his statesman like position upon this ques-
ton. II is fact which as government we
cannot uOlSt tuat ECCtUt
ore owing to the inhuman treatment of the In
dia ms, and II cannot be contradictcd.
There arc any qusntity Of champions for
the white settlers upon the borders, but very
| few for tho indians. In the Senate there has
been great deal of interest manifested in be-
half Of the whites, and the inhuman conduct
Of the Indians, freely commented upon, but
| these Senators failed to tell the whole story,
| nj tb,,s 10 roulI hav 0ona hefnro tha anuntrv
IL Mr.. Morrill, had not met and answered these
statements. The whole difficulty resolves it.
self down to this the whites are protected In
their rights, and the Indiaus aru not, the
whites can make the Indian tribes pay for dam
ages inflicted upon them, the Indians cannot.
As the Indians have no resource for damages
from our government, they do the next best
thing, make rcprisals upon the whites when-
ever they can. Until we recognize them as
citizens, and make them amensble to our laws,
| VIC shall have trouble upon our border. Mr..
Whttemore Of South Carolina, who was recent
ly expelled from the House for selling q CADET
ship, has been reelected again by about eight
thousand majority. The question 10 raised,
will they admit him have no doubt at all Of
Il, Tor considering the punishment he received,
while others perhaps fully rs much ut fault.
|
I have heard II said that Gen. Logan chairman
Of the committee, upon investigating the cadet
ship business, said he hoped ho would be 10
elected. The Capitol movers are entirely dis
couraged Of affecting anything at present, for
the recent appropriation Of 100000 by the
Senate TO increase the Capitol grounds, and
$50, 900 for improvements has nonplusssd them
entirely. 1t Is thought that the House viii
concur.
The Senate was In very happy mood .
short time since, and increased the salaries Of
the judges Of the Supreme Court, and also Of
many OF the heads Of bureaus. quite literally;
the House will probably not concur In this
movement 10 increase salaries at the present
time.
DR.. Newman, pastor Of tho Metropolitan
church, (Me<hodist) Is absent from the city,
having been appointed visitor TO West Point By
the President, 20 attend 10 that pleasant duty.