The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1871-01-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Special Correspondent

From Our Special Correspondent.I
WAsH1NGroN, d. c., Jan. 16, 1871.
The friends of the Southern Pacific
or nns-Continental Railway bill
(Fremont's,) say they have gained
strength since last session, and are con-
fident of the success of their measure.
1t will be recollected that this bill pass |
ed the Senate last session and went to
the House for concurrence. A carpet
bag ring were pushing rival bill last
year, in which ID. N. Stanton, of Ala
hama, was interested; but they are not
now in a position to do much to OBJ
struct the passage of the Fremont bill.
Mr.. Stanton has failed to pay the In
terest on his Alabama railway bonds,
and is said to owe in that State, mil
lion and a half of dollars for work done
OH his road. Cakes Ames, tho broker
of Mr.. Stanton, and the head Of the
ring Of New Englanders, who hoped to
get control of the Southern route to the
Pacific, has recently failed for seven or
eight million dollars; so that at present
he is Aors du combat. Everybody agrees
as to tho punctuality and desirability of
a railway to the Pacific through South
ern territory; and it is to be hoped the
House will pass the bill now before it
without delay.
Several bills have been introduced
this session for the protection Of
settlers in Texas from hostile Indians,
and it is probable some measure will
be adopted which can be also applied
to the Western territories. A bill in
troduced by Mr.. Degener, of Texas, is
regarded with much favor, and will be
reported at an early day from the Mil
| itary Committee. 1t calls into service
I'm Texas, one thousand frontiersmen,
or minute men, who arc to act in con-
cert with the regulars under the Cen
eral commanding the District, and pro-
poses to connect the outposts by tele-
graph. An appropriation of one hum
dred and fifty Thousand dollars will be
asked for to carry the bill into effect.
is not sufficiently large at present to
control elections in the North and
South, continue the work Of recon-
struction, and at the same time protect
citizens on the frontier. Three hun
dred soldiers wore ordered to Atlanta
a few days ago to fight the shadowy
and impalpable Ku-Klux of that vi
cinity; while actual and tangible red
men continue to lift hair and steal stock
on our frontiers without the inter-
position Of a single blue-coat. Let us
have the minute-men, by all means.
The President thought better Of his
decision to send a special message to
Congress recommending reconstruction,
ana merely furnished the Senate with
an abstract of the reports of military
commanders in tho South, all of which
had been heretofore published. Not
withstanding the semi-official state
ment given to the public a few days
ago, it is an ascertained fact, that a mes
sage urging further reconstruction in
the South, was prepared at tho White
House through tho instigation of sena-
tor Morton, and would have been sent
| to Congress had it not become evident
that it would meet with anything but
Il favorable reception. Meanwhile,
Senator Warner and Ex-Governor
Smith, of Alabama, both carpet-bag-
gers, and Lewis F.. Parsons, scalawag,
are at work here to secure the recon-
structiOn of Alabama. The ex-Gover-
nor and tho soon to be ex Senator, wish
to retain the offices they have been de-
clared unworthy to fill; and Parsons
doubtless has his eye on plumber of
some sort. This illustrious trio tells
| the most marvellous stories of Ku-Klux
outragcs, but they find few hearers or
believers outside of the White House,
and Senator Morton. If the Ku-Klux
do exist; and do commit so many muir
ders, it is a wonder how such men as
Parsons, Smith and Warner escape
their vcngeance!
Admiral Portcr's confirmation by the
Senate was double victory. 1t was II
triumph over the schcming and dirty
intrigue Of disreputable lobby, COM
posed in part of staff officers OF the Navy,
many of whom Porter had personally
befriended. 1t is we'll known that to
secure the lasting enmity Of certain
class OF men, you have only to do them
a favor they cannot repay. 1t was also
n victory over the notorious Beast But
Ter, who has all the hatred Of a coward
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