Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-18
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. April Is, 1872.
SENATE CHAMRFR

SENATE CHAMBER.
This body with a few exceptions has
engaged a quiet week. One of the first
things that it done was to give slight
expression of it's disgusts at the
unceremOnious way the House tabled its
tariff bill. The Senate is of the Opin-
ion that it did not transcend it's cOnstitu-
tional prerogative in offering general
tariff bill as an amendment to a special
two line tariff bill of the House. The
Honse thinks otherwise with vengence
and precisely how these two great cO-or-
dinate and indignant branches of the
great American government are to har-
monte their little difference of opinion
as to their inherant rights is the I'M
known quality of thelegislative problem
of their future solution. Another early
commotiOn in the Senate was when the
vandals of the nineteenth century, en-
tered with their unrighteous proposition
from the House to quarter the Balti-
moro and Patomac Railroad upon George
WashJngton's present to his devoted f?)
country The fate of this bill here
hung upon it's reference. If it went to
the committee on public buildings and
grOunds-as it was claimed by some
that it ought to, being a proposition to
give away portion of the very grounds
upon which the capital stands-that
committee in considering and reporting
it might have regard for the protection
of public grounds. If it went to the
Committee on District of Columbia its
chances of success were altogether bet
ter, as the road had already secured the
cooperation of the district government.
The vote eighteen to thirty-eight) by
which it was referred to the district
committee, is regarded as a partial test.
The committees report and passage of
the bill on a fOregOne conclusion. We
venture that i'll the days of Washington
not single vote could have been found
in Congress for such a proposition, -
query problem No. 1. If in, say, eighty
years, the rates upon such a proposition
be 10 to SO, what will it be in fifty years
"a hundred years ?; orhow long before
Mount Vernon will be converted into
foundery and machine shop, and Wash
ingtOn's old sword and pistols, now in the
patent office, transformed into rolling
stock. This is to be solved by the rising
statesmen of the age, by which we
mean every body in general excepting a
few in particular, who evidently have no
taste for such things.
Giants in the Senate have also crossed
swords during the week, over the North
Carolina contested election case. This
case has been hanging fire all winter be-
fore the committee on privileges and
elections. The facts substantially are
that in 1870, the legislature of that State
in Joint assembly, balloted for United
States Senator, and two thirds of all the
votes cast were for Ex-Governor and eX-
rebel Vance, and One-third. or there
abOuts, for eX-carpet bag, Senator Alb
bOtt Vance at the time, was under DO
litiCal liabilities and was so elected I'M
der the impression, that before the COM
mencement Of his senatorial term, Con-
gress would, by a general act, relieve all
disabilities of his kind. This, Congress
failed to do, as we all know, and as
Vance could not take the oath of office,
was denied admission to the Senate.
Upon this he resigned and the State of
North Carolina held another election and
elected one Ransom, a Democrat. Alb
bOtt now claims that the votes cast for
Vance in the first election became dead,
as il were not entitled to any recO%ni- !
tiOn whatever because they were know !
iugIv cast for an Ineligible candidate.
The committee reported Abbott not er-
titled to the seat, which report was of |
fercd by Senator Logan, and supported |
by himself, Hill. Thurman. Mr.. Morrill,, |
of Vermont, and others, while the min |
GRITTY report was offered and argued by |
Senator Carpenter. The greater part Of |
Friday was employed by the latter in an
exhaustive argument, citing laws and |
in defense Of AbhOtt's case, |
and demanding the literal application of
the law to this case. He based every
thing upon his right to the pound of
flesh" and conceded no discretion to the I
Senate but to follow the law. His argu-
ment was able, but he failed to get
round the points of his opponents, which
were that no country and consequently
40 law ever furnished parallel to this
,asc. another that the base of his argu-
nent kills his case. for if all votes caste
or Vance be considered dead only those
yoting for Abbott, can be considered in
he light of electors, and of these there
icing not quorum of the entire body
he action not valid.
The case is still before the Senate, a
land fight is being upon it and probably
more of the leading voices are to be
eard from.
To-day Senator Thurman reviewed and
ritised Carpenters argument in a three
ours speech.
IN TIE HOUSE.
The House has been more fruitful of {
promises and results. In {
isposing of the legislative, executive |
nd judicial appropriation bill, some sig
ificant movements TRANSFERRED There j
as the old stereotyped attack upon the ]
anking privilege. The House is. al |
avs willing to abolish this abused pri- a
lege, knowing full well that the SEN e
e will non-concur and thereby save f
EN- not only their credit but their pa v
onage too. The fact is, the franking a
ivilege, like the civil service system, is b
ly Objectionable as it is abused, and in p
her case a change of heart would do I