The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-12-25
Letter from Washington.
TAe Holidays - Investigating sne
) lresident-A RsdIcai Qufbble-
sAmnesty-Exelud Gov. Vance
The West Virginia Democratic

Ihe West Virginia Democratic
Delegation.
E& WASHINGTON, December %.
E4itors OF the Register:
Congress adjourned on Thursday, and
Washington City is now almost desert
edby The Solons who make laws for the
nation and money for our merchants
and hotel keepers. Nearly all OF the
members who have homes to 60 to
have gone thither to enjoy the festivi-
ties OF the season, and even the public
Departments are closed to-day, will be
closed on Monday, and will also be
closed on Saturday Of next week and
fhe Monday following.
You have doubtless been informed by
telegraph OF the famous fight made by
the Administration Senators against
the investigation Of frauds and abuses
ia the civil service, and how they finally
bscked down and consented to give to a
hacked whitewashiDg committee the
power to investigate. 1t is generally
Believed that the most important civil
service reform that is called for is in the
Executive office itself, but it is now
claimed, in loyal circles that the
Senate committee has no right to inves'
ltieate the dealings Of the President were
1t ever so much disposed to do 80. The
Ionipion ia circulated that such an in
vestigatiou being in the nature OF
obtaining evidence upon which to
Sround articles Of impeachment ls the
Exclusive business Of the House
Iof Representatives, and that the
ISenate can only sit in the trial OF
1.-The case when the House has collected
1.-The evidence and presented the case.
tUnder this quibbie the Senate commit.
ltee will probably endeavor to shield
Their disinclination to inquire whether
tie President has ever bestowed offices
lin return for personal property or has
"turned an honest penny" by the sale Of
Presidential favor.
The Independents" or the NAL
| contents" or the Republican Senators
who refuse to wear the Grant collar,
4 call them by whatever name you will,
seem to be terribly in earnest in their
.lendeavor to shake of the Presinent who,
Hike the "Old man ofthe Sea" is cling
ling to the back of the Republican party
] and seems determined 10 ride it to death.
jTumbull and Schurz are fast friends
and have frequent consultations, and
Tipt6n boldly declares that he will not
support Grant even though he be made
| the Republican nominee. What will
| come OF all the Radical turmoil re.
i mains TO be seen, but the present indi
/ cations are that these Senators will
make things rather uncomfortable for
,IUlyases long before the meeting of the
4Republcan National Convention, and
in the event of his denomination, will
put such facts before the country as
NAV lead to his defeat. At all events
.lthese Senators deserve we'll Of the peo
pie for the efforts they have made in
the cause OF reform and the decided
disinclination they have manifested at
being ridden over, with boot and spur
by the most corrupt and incapable ad
ministration that ever disgraced the
country.
1t was fondly hoped by many that
the Senate would so far appreciate the
needs Of the hour as to pass before
adjournment general amnesty bill.
This hope was, however, disappointed
on Thursday. From some mean little
personal motive, Morton is very anxious
to exclude from his seat Vance, oi
North Carolina, who has been duly
elected Senator from that State. He
therefore labored to so frame the
amnesty bill as to exclude Vance from
its provisions. This was, however, a
task OF some difficulty. Vance held a
seat in Congress in 1861 and continued
to hold it until the expiration OF his
term, not resigning as other Southern
members did. He afterwards beld the
rank of Brigadier General in the Con-
federate army, but so did Alcorn, OF
Mississippi, who was admitted the other
dav without question and who, to his
credit be it said, although chosen as a
Republican is a very conservative one
and will vote with Trumbull and
Schurz and Logan every time. The
efforts to exclude Vance from amnesty
and Summers effort to engraft his negro
equality bill upon the amnesty resolu.
tons resulted in the defeat OF the whole
matter, or rather its postponement until
after the holidays. A peculiar and
disgusting incident Of the struggle TO
exclude Vance was the presence oi
Abbott, the contestant for Vance
place, who is the worst sort Of a carpet
bagger in North Carolina, and who
went upon the floor OF the Senate
button. boiling Senators and imploring
them not to let Vance have the benefit
of amnesty. What would Clingman OF
Mangum, noble names in the Congress
sional history Of North Carolina aud o'
the nation, have thought and said o'
such an exhibition in the days Of their
power and the republics pride?
The Democratic members Of Congress
from West Virginia enjoy very fail
standing among their compeers and
have the unqualified respect Of all who
know them. Hon. John J. Davis, o.
the First District is recognized a. q
thoughtful and earnest man, Demo
crat OF the pure old stock without any
departure" whatever, and possessed o.
more than average mental ability. H'
is quiet man, has made no speeches
and is always in his seat when vot'
is taken and always prompt in the dis
charge Of every duty. Mr. Hereford
from the Third District, has also made
a very favorable impression. He is &
very genial and companionable man. 6
good talker, aud has made many &C
quaintances and friends among th'
. members. Senator Davis is recognized a.