Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1871-12-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
WAsnINoroN, Dec. 10, ISL

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 1871.
Tie hre,Gyrtiop Coutsa n Ms Senate
Back Do~n Of The Administration Party
-Ererytlirg to be Lasestiya'cd-The Re
cent National Bank SuPensiOn-Failpe
q Congressional Contest, &c.
The contest between the conservative re.
publicans aud democrats on one side and the
administration Senator's on the other, ended
in tho Senate to-day by substantial triumph
Of the former 10 the adoption Of instructions
to the committee on retreuchment to invests
cato the New York cnstOm,hOuse aud oil It's
abuses, its recent influence over the republ>
can State convention in New York, the
Treasury dclalca,ions, the Hodge detalcaiion,
and tho National Bank examiner who was in
volved in the late bnnS suspension in New
York. The Instructions proposed by ilessrs.
Schurz, Trumbull and Upton, of the repub>
lican,, aud IIayard aud Ca'serly, OF the dem-
ocrats, which had been voted down in effect
last week, were all accepted to-day BY the
Seuals without dissenting voice. Indeed
the committee we're unanimously instructed
to 20 ahead and send for person, and papers.
This newborn zeal for investigation, as MIR.
TrumbulI termed it, was brought about by the
tone OF public ssutueus expressed III letters
and newspapers sent to Senators. There is
still want Of confidence in the composition
of the committee, as it remains composed Of
republicans who were originally opposed to
Investigation. Thu chairman stated iO,dHy
that tho Senate had already impo,ed upon it
more than It could do. The discussion has
had the effect IN summon to Washington ex-
Collector Murphy, and the firm interested in
the general order business OF the New York
custom house, and 10 cause uneasiness IL
other quarters where congressional inquiry is
feared. The committee is clothed with am.
PIE powers, and it remains to be seen Theth>
er il will stiOiuQuiry by policy Of inactiOn.
The House committee on banking aud cur
cency, having been duly authorized to day,
intend TO send sub. committee at once to New
York to investigate the causes of the recent
national bank suspensions, and to look into
all The other rational banks there, against
which suspension exits as well as others, to
see il they are doing business in compliance
with the law.
The ways and means committee have de-
cided to do nothing on the tariff until alter
the recess. The president Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company was before the
committee to-day asking for large reduction
of duty on telegraph wire imported for tclc-
graph purposes. The New York salt manu-.
iaCiurers are flooding the committee with
memorials against tho abolition Of the duty
on salt.
Tho committee on elections Of the House
Of Representatives to,lay heard the case of
Lewis MrKcnsis, contestant, against Elliott
NJ. Braxrou, tho sitting member from the
Alexandra (VS.) district Tho contest Was
based on the grounds: MiSnOmers on bal
lots, violation Of secrecy Of the bsIIots by
placing numbers thereon, and want Of proper
nuthcn,irliiou orrCtnrns by judgcsoI election.
Mcs,rs. Tucker aud Il. II. Chandler appeared
Tor Mr.. Mckenzie. Mr. lInxtpn conducted
his own case, concluding his argument by say.
ing: ~ attn the frat Of my name thst has
held n seat in the COngTCss OF tho United
St,tcs since l77G, when a rovered ancestor Of
mine pledged lite and fortune aud sacred
honor to tie cause of freedom. That honor
| still claim, aud do no, wish a sOp, in Con,
gress unless can have it honOrabIy"
Tho committee unanimously decided that
Mr.. Mckenzie had no claim whatever to the
seat of Mr.. Bnxton. The claim was so ut.
terry groundles that the committee will
probably decide not to PDy tho expenses of
contest.
The treasury investigation develops no new
defalcations so far us it hiss progressed. The
recent dciaultcts 10 this department were to-
day indicated.
The temper of tho debate in the House to
day indicated very clearly that the hill to
provide for commission to examine the la
Dor quc,tiou will pass that body. zETA,
nS- Tho Congressional npPOrtiOnment bill,
which passed the House last week, fixes tho
,u,,,L.. ,r ,o,,,s,rt,tivas nj 0S3-an increase