The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1871-02-01
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, d. c., |
January 18th, 1871. !

Saturday, the House was the attrac-
ton for those who care to listen to dull
and prosy speeches, generally read,
which are only gotten off for the benc-
fit of tie member who delivers it in his
own District, said efiusi0n generally
being printed by his organ at home,
when his admiring constituents fancy
tina. their member must have almost
raised the roof of the Chamber by such
IA display of eloqSence as that speech
indicates when the truth is there was
probably not two dozen members on
the floor and the galleries quito empty.
Such is Congressional hunihug.
b On Saturday, Mr.. Armstrong, OF
Pennsylvania, moved to pay the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court si0,500
and the Associate Judges $4,000 per
annum. This was amended by Mr.
Hale, of Maine, making the salaries
$500 and So, 600 Respectively
Messrs. Potter, Dawes, Beck, Bing-
ham, Hear aud Butler favored the in
crease on the ground that the highest
order of talent should be secured and
that low salaries was not economy In
any sense. Economists of the land
grabbing school, who have voted time
and time again, objected to the in
crease of salaries. Mr.. collector
Benjamin, of course, oljected--he al
ways does-as did Ella, Benton and
Kelsey, the latter warning his Radical
friends, in a most dismal whine, that
this increase of salaries was load
which would break down their party.
Mr.. Kelsey must have been asleep for
some time past, as he does not appear
to be aware that his party is already
broken down and gone up.
The Radical politicians who are look
ing to the Indian Bureau as source
of power aud plumber, wherein to quar-
ter meritorious and needy Radicals aud
to draw supplies from for the coming
Presidential election, have hard fight
on hand ere they can control that nice,
soft, easy place for pickipgs. The In
dian Commissioners in their recent
Council held here, have, by resolution,
stated that the Commissioners Except
Commissioner Parker) intend to run
the Indian Bureau themselves. They
are very independent and speak plain
ly and assert that if interfered with in
the discharge of the duties imposed
upon them by the President they will
at once resign and retire. The PIesi-
dent has assured them that he will as
sist them in whatever they may deem
best for the practical benefit of the In
dams. AS the Commissioner of Indian
affairs, General Parker, is subordinate
to the Board of Commissioners and re-
ligious communities, he is of little inn
portance. Tie answer of General Par
ker to tho charges of Mr.. Welsh, one of
the Commissioners, will be met by
charges even more plainly expressed
than before. Mr.. Welsh will pursue
his charges of fraud and peculation
until an investigation is had and the
"big injun" ousted from position
which the Commissioners think he does
not fill crcdibly. General Parker has
failed to break up the "Indian ring
Can the Commissioners do 1t?
The United States Senate has much
offended Horace Greeley by their ac-
ton in confirming Admiral Porter
Greeley, it will be remembered, was
rather Iukewarm towards Grant, or
rather towards San Domingo, which
was the same thing. Grant sent for
Horace, and in couple of interviews
a reconciliation was effected, and Gree
ley nominated Grant for the Presiden-
cy in 1872. With all the ardor of a
convert and in the tenderness of his
heart, overfiowing with the milk of
human kindness, he is much grieved
that the man who maligned his friend,
the President, should be elevated to
high position, aud he felt it his duty to
the man whom he has nominated for
President, TO take the Senate to task.
He did not on this occasion, however,
use cuss words, as usual, but he pitch
ed into the Senate and Admiral Por-
ter sharp, and gave advice to the Pres
ident to beware of Porter. Accord
ingly his High Mightiness will be-
ware.
1t is now we'll known that the Presi-
dent had written to Ben Wade Offering
him the pos ton of Commissioner be-
fore the resolutions were passed by
Congress. A little respect for propri-
ETY. would have restrained any one
else from such an action, but Grant
will be Grant.
The President failing to cast an air
of sanctity around his San Domingo
scheme by having Bishop Simpson one
of the Commissioners, and of concilia-
ting and fiattering the Garmans by
General Sigel's going as Secretary, has
managed to pick out three as rabid ne
gro lovers as the country affords, and