The Sumter watchman. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1855-1881, 1871-03-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Feb. 81, Is

WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. 81, 1871.
This place was yesterday, and is to-day, the
scene offon and jolity- body, barring scrib
blers and printers, who have to furnish the
public their daily pabulum, is out on the streets,
carnavalizing and enjo, ing the tports which take
place on Pennsylvania Avenue. Yesterday the
weather was magnificent; to-day it threatens
rain. but the fun goes op all the same. The car
nival is, or is not a failure. according to the
condition of our stomachs. With good diges-
ton, no pecuniary embarrassment and deter
mination to be pleased, the thinS is glorious.
But wish st Of indigestion. q condition Of i'm
pccuniosity, an unpaid board, tailor or washmo-
mans bill, or an attack of tho raegrims, the
whole affair is q 61sle The grand ball ct Cor
coran's building last night was one Of the most
brilliant affairs which ever took place here, as
will also be the civic ball at the Masonic Tenn
pie tonight. The Masquerade ball, also to night
at the National Theatre, will be great success.
The banquet to be given to morrow 10 the visi-
ting press gang, will take place at the Arlington
House, and from tho reputation Of the cuisine
and the wine cellar ut that establishment, and
the carte J'rnche given by the committee as to
expense, there is no doubt as TO the brilliancy
and excellence Of that entertainment. The balls
and the press banquet will meet with the ap-
probation OF tie most fastidious. And the car
nival goes on.
Congress completely ignored the cxistence of
the grand fete, and kept on grinding out laws as
;fnothins WAS going on a. their feet.
In the Senate, repeating the law which pre-
scr i5e. dat the possession Of presidential par
don, by any suitor in the Court Of Claims, she'll be
taken and deemed as conclusive evidence ofdis-
loyalty, Senator Blair made a statement which
was not at al: palatab;e TO the Radicals, which
was that "eyery member Of Mr.. LincIln's Cabi-
net favored the surrender Of Fort Sumter in
March, 1861, on the demand Of the Southern
Commissioners, ~ith the exception Of Post MIST
er General Blair, who opposed the idea" To
SQUARE this fact with the frothiness Of number
Mr. Blair also stated that, notwithstanding the
denial of Senator Fenton. the New York Tribune
did acknowledge the right Of secession in 1851
and he proved il by quoting from the articles in
that paper, and also from Wendell Phillips
speeches. who held the same opinion, and he
charged tba. Horace Greedy was more to blame
for this re! ellion thnn ally cthcr man. II wss
only tue other day that Greedy denied the same
thing in his paper and called Mr.. Blair hard
names for 50 accusing him. Lying, the
mos, barefaced, and swearing. the most profane,
are as natural to Horace Greedy as aeas to dog.
Its chronic. and be cant help it, Tho law was
repealed by the casting vote Of The Vice Presi-
dent, much to the disgust Of Senators Edmunds
and Conkling. who now assume to be Presiden-
tia. bugles in the Senate. A greater dsappoint-
inent, however, awaited them in the Senate's con-
curing in the House Lil, increasing the salaries
of the Federal Judges as it was the death blow ol
their aopes to the seat Of Chief Justice, which
both Of them have been racing for. Should the
Chief Justice resign, which pray there may be
no need for. neither Of the aspiring Senators are
eligible. the salary having been raised while
they were Senators.
The House yesterday decided. bya vote Of lld
/ to 90 20 the minority report Of the judiciary
Comnit,ee in the McGarrahan case, which re-
stores the record Of the said oioe TO what is wal
bef,re action was taken 10 1868. Should the
Senate concur, McGarraban will, after fifteen
years Of litigation, receive the patentto the new
Idria Silver Mine.
The House Committee on Foreigu Relattoni
will report the bill establishing . new missioo Il
the German Empire on Wednesday, With tbe
same salary as ut London and Paris-Sl7.5o
Der annum-xnd as the committee will inform
the President that this change was aimed q
getting rid Of the literary snob-Bapcreif; ht
will 60. likely be nominated. Representative
! Orth, of Indiana, will no doubt Be tle men.
Mr.. Van Trump, in the House y-stcrdny, pre-.
sen,ed preamble and resolution instrueting th'
Commissioner Of internal Revenue to enforc'
the collection Of the tsz Of Si,l5l1oee, assessed
against the New York Central Railroad, Marcel
1870. They we're referred 20 tho committee q
Ways and Means. This is the tax which Com
modore Vanderbilt refuses 10 -, and which, q!
has been asserted, causHd . tappointadept ,o
General 2leasauton to tbs ~ommissionership o.
Internal Revenue BY the Military Ring Fl orss'
to secure favorable decision for. the Railroad
We will uatch this case attentively. = 'r--'iss
The appropriation committee heard the ;testi
mony ofa number Of prominent stamped enyel
ope manufacturers in regard to ,hesi1preper an
nuImens. Of the contract Of Nessrs. Dsupsey 4
o'Toole, aud che sale BY the Post 0llcS Depart
ment of stamped envelopes sst prices far bslau
nanufacturer's prees. -ali.eof, sahich tesfinenJ
proved that . conspiracy wss ferned 81 kr
creswell, Pest Master eenersl, to bresk iDemp
sey and oTooe's contract, % % to-sive & 70 hil
especial friends 10 New Fofk. Messrs: BsuPse,
and 0'Taoio are wsShiAgtou ar1n, Gad sfs her
on the ground to push the natsaf, ana z 80
think that CreswelI Will aeeuSe -thsea ols van
and enesry. by the tiDe they have got itbfsdGl
with bin. Nthe connitte and GoDgress sill d
sheiy whole duty In tbs sprsnisss. Mr. cslbsse