The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-02-06
cozrasDoaaencs Coaunbsa Rhoaax.
WAsHnNaToN, d. O., February 2, 1870.

OSseNDH0@%c1~SeSD SOANA13aOcS 9f11NNAbAs
WAsmNeror, d. O., February 2. 1870.
The. .hill.f0E tha 1asias af The. pooE in,
this eity, which Nas discussed iH.t TIE Sc.
nate few days since, brou0At out some
startling pesSess;ons fs6na the douninans
party. SSna{a Wilson. ehesmaa. Haua-
In end othe&, admitted aud bcldly stated
hat Che actin of oongyels so0sgA She
bistsiet of Q3lumbis, was plsszl inde-
fensible. The Repablicans haye had
the government Of the affairs of che Dis
trict for nearly ten years past. yet they
admit that their treatment has been
shameful, and 10 without defence. They
have brought hordes,of negroes here BY
the Freedman's Bureau, and their laws
of equality allowing them the rights OF
franchise and holding Office. These ne
groes now fill our jails, are paupers about
orr streets. and make demands upcc
both public and private charity beyond
endurance. The Government owns more
than $100, 900, 900 worth of property, or
one-half the property of the city, yet
pays no taxes. The avenues all Belong
to the Government, and are under the
exclusive control of Congress, yet not
one dollar of money will they appropri-
ate to pave and grade them. The people
who live along these avenues have not
the power, as Senator Sherman says, to
move ''boulder" without the consent
of Congress. They are not oNolDed to
improve the avenues, and Congress will
not. Congress seems to participate in
that old hate toward the District, that
Sumner had toward the South, from the
time that Brooks administered his chas
tisement to him. in the Senate Chamber.
Brooks struck the great Boston mono
maniac in the wrong place; for he has
very rarely been known, since that nota-
BILE occasion, to introduce any bill in the
Senate, that the negro was not a party
to; his negro bump was large enough
before, but now it bears the proportions
Of the bump of genius.
One would naturally suppose that
Sumner would have raised his voice to
alleviate the sufferings of the poor CO.
lored people of the District, but not he;
he only legislates for the colored man,
when he thinks he can goad or mortify
the white one. Well, we are glad to see
the subject agitated, for if their repent
ance is genninc, we will soon have u city
which will rather be an ornament than a
disgrace to the country.
The colored Senator, Hiram r. Revel,
from Mississippi, has reached the city.
A great deal of curiosity is manifested as
to how he will be received in the Senate
and by members of his own party. We
suppose they will feel, however, some
thing like we poor fellows did in the
army when, in imminent danger, we
were frightened half to death-but then
our comrades as we'll as our enemies
were looking on, and wo dared not run,
although we wanted to.
The Republicans were surprised at the
vote upon the bill to repeal the franking
privilege. The Democrats rather took
the wind ont of their sails, when they
expressed their willingness to support a
measure which had the appearance of
looking toward reform. We have no
belief in the allegation that that measure
was introduced in good faith, although
it may seem so by the manner in which
it will be disposed of ultimately. The
patronage of Mr.. Cresswell, together
with an appearance of reform for home
consumption. has had more to do with
originating the bill than any real honesty
of purpose. Republican gentlemen,
who feel the necessity Of doing or advo-
eating something to raise them in the
hAi iuNso oA ehO oCai pcoplCS Auu ulaLy
and cogent reasons for abolishing q pri-
vilege which has existed almost since the
formation of the Government, and which
has always been considered as one of the
perquisites of q Congressman.
These reformers tell us that millions of
money will be saved to the Government!
And, supposing this be true, it will be
saved ut the expense of the people, their
constituents. What will become of the
valuable public documents which are
annually distributed among the people?
They say these will not be necessary, for
they will not be used if they cannot be
sent out free. The people are cut off
from information which they should
have; and, because tho railroad monopo-
lies cannot make quite as much money
as they think they should, they appeal
to Cresswell and he appeals to Congress.
He has every little postmaster in the
country forwarding petitions to have the
privilege abolished, and patriotic Repub-
licans, willing to crafty Cresswell and to
listen to the petitions of the people
willing to get rid of the trouble of mail