Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1870-01-24
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Correspondence of The Virginia Free Press

for an eight months the deadest of all places,
was only warmed into ner life by the re-as-
semblng Of Congress on Monday, 10th instant,
and it has now assumed its iveliest aspect,
things have settled for the long session" the
busy notes Of preparation for business and
pleasure so incident 10 its coming are to be
heard on every hand, and everything indicates
a lively and interesting season. The Senators
and Members are all in their places, the roll OF
the " srd House" has been called and an in
crease of members noted. In the future Of
this correspondence we shall notice specially
this appendage to ourslegislative system, and
give YOU some inklings into the workings Of
this "power behind the throne that blocks
the wheels of honest legislation and saps the
hfe-blood of our material interests.l
The usual, il not unusual number OF gam
blers, thieves, &c, seemingly the " necessary
evils of society here, are of course, on hand,
and the tigers, in their gilded dens, no lenger
repose in solitude, but their powers OF endu-
rance are taxed to their utmost by their keep
ers, and even in the day, when their cat-like
propensities make them prone to sleep, their
low growls are heard, and the passing crowd
alured by corps of well-dreSsed "eoppers
the music Of Champagne corks or the revelS at
sumptuously set dinner.
The great question of the admission OF Nlr-
GINA has occupied public attention during the
entire time since the re-aSSemblng, and as
remarked. it has been q time of intense excite
ment; every day the galleries of both the
House and Senate were crowded to their ut
most capacity long before the hour Of meeting,
while hundreds stood outside unable to gain
admittance. The Diplomatic gallery, which
is almost always empty, has each day been
filled with the representatives, of foreign pow
ers-both ladies and gentlemen-all seemingly
solicitous for the restoration of the great Mo-
Their of States and of Statesmen" while the Re-
porters gallery scarcely presented as lively an
appearance during the exciting scenes OF the
10th Congress Although the proceedings in
the House were looked upon with much ankle
ty, yet the principal interest centered IN the
Senate, during all the early part OF last week,
where many eloquent speeches were delivered,
the most noticeable Of all. perhaps, being that
of Senator Conking, Of Now York, whose ar
gument in favor of the immediate aud uncon-
ditional admission of the state was unanswered
and unanswerable, and worthy the " better
DAVIS" of the body he addressed. Senator
Stewart of Nevada, who introduced the bill,
also attracted much attention by his argument
in her favor. and his sarcastic remarks upon
Sumner were greeted with much applause, but
II remained for Senator Trumbull, Of Illinois,
10 Give him the final blow, and lis remarks
upon Summers political record were replete
with the most cutting criticisms ever listened
TO. Senators Carpenter, Scott, Ferry, Fowler
and others spoke in favor Of her right to adj
mission without conditions, and their argu-
ments were all worthy Of special notice. There
were few speeches made by the ertreme radical
side-Morrill of Vermont, Thayer, Drake and
Sumner being about the only ones who were
anxious to put themselves upon the record, and
in their labored efforts to "say something
thew reminded one of the climbing monkey,
and their remarks fell like = wet rag upon
their listeners. | almost forgot that Senator
Foreman. of our State, made a Speech-it was
his maiden and listened with marked at
tention that might preserve it to his cnnstit-
uency. but failed to catch a word he said. and
had il not been that the Congressional Globe
found its way to my room the next morning,
should never have been able to tell YOU
word concerning this mastery effort. His re-
marks were not long. but Foreman prides HIM
self upon saving great deal in few words,
and so he did-he wanted conditions, he could
not let rebels off so easily, they were rot vet
right, he thought they ought to give bond for
their good behavior, &c. We had often heard
that Boreman was radical but as it has never
been nv good fortune to know him personally
we were not prepared to sanction all that had
been said Of him in that regard We had also
heard that he was 4 decidedly moral man. and
had It not been that we were present to hear
his remarks upon the hill under consideration,
we might not have believed it, but it is evident
that his moral scnsihilities have been blunted
by his associations in Congress, or that he has
4 master whose diSpleasure is more than out
RACED conscience. for il was evident that it was
with great reluctance that he opposed the adj
mission of the State, and when he arose to
speak he seemed scared. and his knees smotc
one against the other" his voice almost failed
10 perform its office. and we doubt if Belize
buh. when he saw the hand writing on the
wall evinced more trepidation than he. while
making this argument in opposition to this
question Of simple Justice 10 the old State, but
the eve Of Massachusetts was upon him and he
QuaiIed beneath its fiery gaze, and preferred to
do injustice to the people of the State that he
ought to he proud to own his birthplace than
to incur the dspleasure Of the great State Of
Massachusetts, Charles Sumner. and when he
had closed his remarks, which none could hear,
the listeners breathed a sigh of relief, and a
man at my elbow said "pOOr fellow, who is
be?
On Friday last, it having become known that
the House would probably come to vote on
that day. long before the hour of u o'clock
every available inch Of room in the galleries
was occupied, and when the hammer fell no less
than 1000 people had assembled to hear, if
possible the verdict of the House upon this all
important question After the morning hour
the consideration of the pending bill was at
once resumed and at o'clock, under the oper-
atioH of the previous question, moved by Mr..
Bingham of Ohio who introduced the bill, it
was passed by vote of 9S yeas TO % nays
As the vote was announced, cheer after cheer
went up from the assembled multitude, and it
was with difficulty the sergeant-at-arms could
restore order. After the vote was announced
and the opposition found they had been defeat
ed several asked the privilege which was grant
ed, to change their votes in favor of the BILL
Among the number were McGrew Of your dis
trict and Gen. Duval of the 1st and it remain
ed for Gen j. s. Witcher from the 81 district
to be the only representative from the State of
West Virginia, in the House who voted and
advocated the passage Of the BILL We shall
in a future letter take occasion to criticise the
action of McGrew and Duval upon this impor-