The union Democrat., 1871-02-18

WASHINGTON LETTER.

WAsHrScroN. D. C. Feb. 4th, 1871.
The Butler investigating committee met again
yesterday and examined the alleged swindle
in the purchase of the Hampton property in
Virginia. When the witnesses for the prose
cution were all examined General Farms
worth, in order to determine by General
Buffers private bank account how truthful
were the statements made, demanded Butler
private bank accounts in Boston, Lowell, and
in this city, which the committee declined to
do, none can doubt pursuant to Buffers re-
quest or dictation. General Farnsworth at
once ssw that the committee were determined
to shield Butler and he dropped the case.
The coat of whitewashing which Butler will
receive on Monday from the committee may
serve to enable him to 'scape punishment in
Congress but the country will know from his
refusal to show his bank accounts that be
feared investigation and the charge of rob-
bling sick and crippled soldiers will not be
passed over as lightly as stealing spoons in
the South was.
The House committee on appropriations
run counter to the Groton fuancier, Mr..
Boutwell,. Although their deliberations were
secret it is known that they will report res
olu.ion to suspend action under Boutwell,
ruling compelling the Pacific railroad to pay
interest on their bonds. Mr.. Boutwell, will
find powerful enemy in this gigantic cor
poration he is aware of it too having already
tried to shift the responsibility Of the ebove
decision on to the shoulders of the law officer Of
the Treasury.
The cotton tax case involving over fifty
millions Of dollars comes up for argument in
the Supreme court on Tuesday next. Hon.
Herschel " Johnson of Georgia, on behalf OF
the claimants will argue against the consttu-
tionality of direct tax on cotton. In the
event of the tax being declared unconsttu-
tional every person who paid the tax can re.
cover from the government.
The committee of conference on the income
tax had another meeting yesterday but moth.
ing came of it and indeed it is not probable
that their differences will be settled. The
House through their conferees insist on the
exclusive right to originate all measures with
regard to the raising or reduction of revenue.
While the two Houses are wrangling over q
question of power, the Secretary of the Treas
ury and his man, John Sherman, are laugh
ing at the success of their plan to "set both
Houses by the ears" while the income taz
yet remains.
The House Committee on Pacific railroads
will report in favor of the Southern Pacific
railroad bill as it passed the Senate last July
In few days the bill will pass. The com
mittee appointed by the Southern CONNER
cial convention, held last fall, will present
resolutions of the convention in behalf of the
Southern Pacific railroad on Monday. The
bill will pass without debate as there is little
or no diversity of opinion on its merits.
The President is in quandarv with regard
to what he shall do in the case of the bill re
pealing the test oath. On one side he is be.
set by the carpet bag and scallywag members
and Senators who in the most piteous tones
beg him to not with stroke of his pen wipe
out the Radicals in the South, his chances Of
carrying the Southern States in the nexl
Presidential election and, las: though moi
least, the complete obliteration of his humble
servants forever from the chess board of poll
tics. On the other side those Radical leaders
who have read lesson in the results of the
recent elections tell him most emphatically
that veto will kill him and the Radical par
ty in the North and West beyond the power
of resurrection but a pair of Mephistopholes
appear on the scene and as self constituted
Representatives of the West and the East cast
their sweet voices with their dear carpet bag
friends, need l mention the names of the
cruel spiseful Morton and the devilish Butler
whose voices are for veto and let the conse-
quences take care Of themselves.
Collector Murphy of New York, who knew
so little of politics that he could not tell the
boundaries of his own precinct feels the neces-
sity of making splurge and do something
for his party. He purposes coming to Wash.
ington to have bill introduced into Congress
authorizing collectors of ports (he being one)
to act as commissioners of immigration under
the authority of the National Government
ard to place quarantine regulations under
national instead of state control, also to urge
the passage of bill increasing the powers Of
Supervisors and inspectors of elections.
wonder if there is nothing else that jolly Tom
would have placed under national control.
Since New York has cast off the slime oil
Radicalism it is remarkable what an affection
the New York Radicals have for national con-
troll, they fairly doat on the Government.
The Radicals not content with manipulating
the negro, now are DESTROYS first of making
the immigrant means of bleeding the Gov
eminent and then using him for q political
purpose, the trick has been exposed. Now
Tom Murphy had better stay at home and
await his decapitatioa calmly for he can't
throw dust in the eyes Of the ranting Ra6i-
Gals BY his eleventh hour intense earnestness
as he is well known as milk and water
Radical
The preSidant had a lono conforanco NTH