Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-05-25
Our Warrington Letter.
WASHINGTON, d. c.,

minding US not little of Grips" first ct
forts to throw off his dormant slumbers.
As we studied the inaugural of this,
one of the most important gatherings
known in the history of that honorable
body, the treaty 30 wildly associated with
genial spirits and good dinners, seemed
to reflect its own atmosphere, and lend
character to this assembly. First came
the genial, sanguine Wilson, bearing an
immense book, looking-himself, we mean
not the book-the very impersonation of
a good dinner and clear conscience. In
stantly that man Jenkins" of the press
was upon him three or four deep. How
we felt for him The inflexible Trumbull,
the diplomatic Patterson and the unique
Schurz, next appeared upon the scene as
if to extricate or at least to draw por-
ton of the fire from their colleagues, but
not bit of it. The "press gang" were
reinforced by veteran representatives OF
the leading press, and they only succeed
ed in getting themselves into trouble. The
technical Cassidy and the sedate Sauls-
bury appeared on the other side only to
make the engagement more general. The
| pressure brought to bear was immense,
and doubtless for an Fapress purpose.
Our pity for the poor Senators freely Civ
en-, was, however, soon withdrawn. The
bland smile, the jocund greeting, the ia
miliar slap on the shoulder and the defer
entail parting, all told US that after all this
man Jenkins was more to be courted than
summed.
Closely scanning these Senatorial Wis
ages, we read there promises of better
things than have of late been served out
from this chamber to a hungry public.
With bodies and minds refreshed by rest
from long winters work, the Senators
seemed to enter upon the iniatiative of
this important session, as If they were
mentally and spiritually raised above
mere party diplomacy, and prepared to
act upon the higher plane of the work
before them in it's true national impor-
lance. Rejecting upon the past, we i'm
plore the complete fulfllment of these
3 promises not too good to be true-that
this branch of our civil polity may be
emancipated from the political and per-
sonal warfare, which has been permitted
to debauch it's high Office, and make it an
emporium of cliques, parties aad rings, in
the past, that the good of no man or set
of men, the upbuilding of no party or
power, but the good of the whole people
of the United States and of the world
alone obtain in the determination of the
great work before them. But these antici-
pations of millennial justice are embar.
raised by the positive knowledge of per-
fidy somewhere extant. The hue and cry
the sensation of the hour is no longer
"the treaty! the treaty." That seems
shorn of much of its Importance and to
lose caste woefully in consideration of the
more important n watchword, "Who
stole the treaty ?"
The dramatising of this parody upon
the old familiar nursery rhyme, not only
carries US by memory back TO the haicyon
DAYS of childhood. but nnwillingIv forces
US to the consideration % the tre eft tate
of facts, illustrative of the Importance not
of "Cock Robin" but Treaty Robbins.
Since it is we'll known that the SEM
blance of secrecy is but slight barrier
against publishing the work of the social
ed secret sessions of the Senate, it is difa-
cult to see why the Senate are 80 extra
ramp mt about this particular "Cock Rob-
in" Why after tamely submitting for
years to the infraction of rule itself
created by the demands of the last war
should the Senate become so riehteously
indignant all at once, as to treat this dis
closure as if it were the only one ever
made 1t is the most common thing in
the world for the morning papers to give
us the work of the previous days secret(?)
= session. Senators admit that its reports of
speeches b, urs long, are literally correct.
All sorts of State secrets are ventilated
and with perfect sang Jrotd the Sem
ate allo VS. the matter to 60 on until this
occasion. Certainly not one will claim
that crime is less wrong because it is more
common but if one see one criminal pun
ished and fifty of like character go "scott
Free" we naturally ak why such discrimi.
I nation. SO We ak what is there in the
r nature of the crime of these two CORES
pondents of the Tribune to arouse the DOR
mant virtue, and dignity of the Senate so
long silent. Are Senators incensed be-
cause these men published matter which
: they were under no obligations to keep
: secret? Is it because the common herd, y
i the people of the country, who are equally
interested with great milds upon this
, question, thought themselves competent
to read it and form their own conclusions,
before public opinion had been manu-
3 featured for them, and to this end de-
r manded and received it? Is it these con-
siaerations that exalts this above the COM
mon disclosures of secrets for years pastf
e II a bona fiie investigation be the only
motive, having committed these for con-
tempt, the Senate Committee might pro-
coed in other directions. Senator'S and of.
iicers might be sworn, and the Senate and
: whole corps of officers advertised gratui.
tously. There are possibly other parties
that could furnish some clue to tEe,mys-
terry if they are hunted out and interro.
gated.
a The only misdemeanor in the matter
: lay in the infraction of Senate rule, for
: no harm resulted from the publication of
: the treaty and not only the public wanted
o it, but the President, certain secretaries,
1 and majority of the Senate were in favor
of its going before the country. There.
!. fore the pertinency of Senator Summers
words ITO what good purpose are we
. doing this ?" Simply to sustain the honor