Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-12-28
Letter from Washington.
lrRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENCE



WASHINGTON, d. G., Dec. 26, 1871.
THE PRESIDENT AND HIS OPPONENTS.
II is quite curious how very disntereSted we
are apt to become when movement has been
initiated by our action, the motive for which has
been called in question. Mr.. Trumbull, or his
friends, are curious Illustrations OF this. He
consulted no one, 50 we are told, with regard to
the introduction of his recent resolutions of re-
trenchment and inquiry Therefore, of course,
he could have had no sinister motive, or at least
designed nothing bnt what appears on the face
of the proposal. However, it is quite singular
that for weeks before congress met we heard it
repeated, as one of the coming events that cast
shadows before them, that the Illinois senator
designed to introduce just such resolutions as
those thar were debated so fercely, the expecta-
ton being in such an event that the senator
from Missouri would receive the craftsmanship.
This is quite singular coincidence, considering
there was no (') preconcerted action; and all
the more so that it was given out just as often
as the Illinois senator arrived in the city.
think it is conceded here that the presidents
"~'i7''' - "N-''F7 - 49, - 49, -''N7S'7N
and report, on the day after debate closed in the
senate, had the effect OF at once Ranking those
who deemed It certain that the presidents Tor
tunes were on the wane-that in truth he had
received his coap-de,grdce. am reminded by
the Circumstance OF little story told me few
days since by friend from the west. MIR.
Greeley and my informant are personal friends
pf MapfiDp thippnO
some considerable conversation, Mr.. Greeley, in
his shrilest key and most unmistakable intona-
ton, remarked:
"Well, Colonel after all, what do You really
think OF the old man? tmeanins, in the latter
reference, the PRESIDENT pretty honest, isn't he,
ehr
"Undoubtedly' was my friends reioinder,
president Grant is always honest and general
ly sagaelous, MI. Greeley well, think so
tool think so tooN was the philosophers re-
sponse; "but'-and he drew long breath
d-n ConklingN Recently think more than
the Tribune editor have been ready TO respond
to the adiuration, as well as the approving COM
ment.
1t is generally believed that the presidents
at the suggestion of Senator Wilson, in response
to and correction Of the false position in which
he was placed by the senate debate. 1t was UNI
derstood that the message and accompanying re-
port would not be sent in until after the Holt
days. The determination was reconsidercd,
with the result already known.
Mr.. TrumbulPS resolution, as originally word
al Sc oil rr,F+ h..
to the duties of the eight committees on depart
ment expenditures. Mr.. Lynch of Maine had
secured the approval of the house to a resolu-
ton directing the committee on treasury depart
ment expenditures to make just such an invesli-
cation as that over which the senate bothered
and bungled so long. Mr.. Dawes, as the parlia-
mentary leader offered next day resolution in-
structing the seven expenditure committees, as
well as that on public expenditures, to do this
same work. Mr.. Trumbull, as well as those
who resisted him, were "a day after the fair"
especially when the idea of a Joint committee
was under consideration.
The original proposition for Joint select com.
mittee was made in the house in July, 1866, by
I,,lo.o Hale Of Nor, y,rl- uo,, Abandon, oror+
u ~" nv" 1A'-'> II '''' "O'''
before the mixed commission 10 examine war
claims of British subjects 1t passed and went
to rho senate. Bcinp Joint committee il af
-..,.,.,.I, -,
couise pioNlueu ln't luc seNetai ne'lioers slouIu
be appointed by the presiding officers Of each
body. Ancr if reached the senate if was amend
"a ~, 60, ,n,to,,,, 49, -. 80 60.
gu w WV AitHoH9, at the request oi pfdlz
Brown, SO as TO add an inquiry into the civil
service and tie propriety of reforming the mode
Of o,,,o;nt,,ert t,,ero+o Go rood Iool 90 al
worse cr+;cis,,, hoe hoo,, u,oao hooo,,so .,,,,,
ston,,,no, co,,,,it,oo I,,idod mo-, ,o
ho,s thorooc ,,oro o,,,,so, in oo,,,,,s III No, -
nortod airoc, M, ,i,o Woo ,,ros;1o,'t whot,,o.
t,,o ,,,ootioo 10 ,,o,5 -, ,a1 ti,o
o,Ir ala Who, 10. oI,o,,, I,oor H. 49,,
c,a,,,,;,,,. o,,,it,o. :, ~, -,
- ,I,sa,, caioo, ,,o,,,,,;,,o,, ;;',.
aro oI,,,o,,s o,,,o;ntoa h,- ia Liz
,,ro,-l CO... t,,a to+,o,, ~, - -,
i,,,- H., si,,, -. .,la.,,
,,,an sa,ato rha ooro,,s ,,,,,. ia. ~, 49,
t,,,,, ~ ,1,a' ,,,oio.,,,.
T,o.a..,....s, - 1000
,,or,io,, ne r,,roa.,.
.srh,t yoi,, ,a,,,,,,;..,o -, ,,,..,..,, T.,
into the expenditnres in all tbe branches nf the
service of the United States, and TO report
M V,ln1;nt any anu what oflces ought to be
allowances "nt 70 Ivy r %, ir sa'nIes or
methods of securing accountability in nnblic
Officers OF agents in the care and disbursement
ol OH 9uoo ;a ogS mneshet moneys nave been
agents. or other persons have ber9 or arc en- W.
gagged in the service without the authority OF
law law OF unnecessarily; ana generally how and to