The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-05-05

B.ef pointed letters upon all subjects Of public
interest will be welcome here if written plainly,
on one side Of the sheet
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. G., May 4th, 1871.
TO the Editor of the State Journal.
Our government is about to make an
effort with the Canadian government for
the release of the Fenians now remaining
in prison 10 Canada.
There is much dissatisfaction exhibited
on the part of the various claim agents
here at Washington with the course pur-
sued by the Southern Claims Commission.
1t was anticipated generally by the claim
agents that the action of the commission
would be final as far as the government
was concerned, and it was only necessary
to satisfy the commission of the validity
of claim to assure the claimant settle
ment, but it now appears that the judy
ment of the commission is only an indica-
ton of future action, and that the commits
sion acts in double apacity-that OF
Judges and attorneys for the government.
Thus far there has been over five hun
dred claims filed, aggregating to nearly
two and half millions Of dollars. 1t
will be remembered that the commission is
only authorized to consider claims for
stores and supplies actually furnished the
army, and no notice whatever is taken OF
claims for seizures unless ordered by COM
petent officer of the army, for use in the
army, or for any damage or depreciation
committed by the army.
Census report, revised, full and COM
plete, is expected to be in by the first OF
next month. 1t will doubtless exceed, by
for, tDe report ten years since. 1t will
show, that of the 100, 1919 inhabitants of
Washington, there were born in foreign
countries, 1857 in the United States,
6O,0SS white, 1891 colored, Is Indians.
OF the native-bcrn population, 8, 120 white
and 1922 colored people are natives Of
Maryland; 5,591 whites and IA 1868 colored
of Virginia, and over thousand whites Of
Massachusetts. The foreign-born popula-
ton includes natives of almost every coun-
try in the world.
Two of the ladies whose names the
board of registration for our late election
refused to place upon the lists of voters
have entered suits against the registers
They claim five hundred dollars each as
damages, alleging that they are citizens OF
the United States. of proper age, residents,
and entitled to vote in the District of Col
umbia. Hon. A. J. Riddle, a prominent
lawyer here, and formerly member OIL
Congress from Ohio, has been retained as
their legal adviser.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT.
One of the most certain indications of 6
bad cause, is to find its partisans forced tc
the necessity of making use of the false.
hoods and articles to sustain it. Of this
nature are the calumnies and misrepresen.
tations invented, and disseminated by the
Democratic leaders, against the financial
policy of the present administration
While on the one hand they disclain
against the Republican party on accoun
of the war debt, and consequent taxation
corruption in Office, and misappropriatior
of public funds on the other they raise
hue and cry against the existing financia
policy. by which, they admit, the debt i.
being rapidly diminished, thus refutine
their own allegations Of dishonesty on the
part of those entrusted with the manage.
ment of the national finances.
A proposition to change present burdens
to the shoulders of others, has in all times
and countries been highly popular ant
comfortable procee ding, especially among
the rabble. The Democratic leaders counted
upon this in 1868, when they made the
generous proposition to pay off the entire
national debt with greenbacks, and thus
make money plenty, and at the same time
relieve the people from the payment O.
the interest. Fortunately, the great intel.
ligent, conscientious majority in 1868
could not be deceived by this thinly dis.
guised reputation scheme, and it is fol
them now to consider, whether in the flu.
ture the proper basis of financial manage.
ment will be to stop reducing the debt
dismiss the present honest officials who
advocate its contraction, and turn the
whole machinery over to Democratic ant
Confederate custody, or to continue thu
present policy of applying an honestly col
lected revenue to the liquidation Of oul
honestly incurred obligations, thus sustain
ing the public credit and good name, ant
keeping the country upon its present SOUND
financial basis.
THE DEMOCkATlC Address.
1t was a favorite saying of an old col
orsd man living down in Kentucky, tina
"Blessed are those who expect muffin. fol
they amt goine to be disappointed" bu
with regard to the manifesto of the Dem
ocratic leaders in Congress, it was differ
ent. Its forthcoming bad been proclaimed
In the East, South, North and West; on
the hilltop and in the valley. Yes, the
great fat of the emocracy-wonderful
document--about which SO much had been
said, and of which so much had been ex-
pected, and which was intended to startle
the whole country with its sublime wisdom
was coming. 1t was not expected that
any new principle would be embodied in
the forthcoming proclamation, because thu
Democratic party, to be true to its bes
interests, must be true to its past record
and there the rub,-the new issues it dare
not champion old ones it dare not cast
aside.
The mountain labored long, and brought
forth what? Nothipg-absolutely nothing
After four weeks Of severe labor, or, al
one of the dailies of this city says, 'jus
long enough to hatch gosIings," the Demo
cratic members of the Senate ard House