The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-23


District Government.
The most interesting part of the proceed
ings of the House of Representatives yester-
day occurred at the hour at which that body
usually adjourns, and arose from q simple
resolution to defray the expenses Of the select
to proceed to New Orleans to investigate the
troubles there in connection with the organza-
ton of the State L. legislature. Mr.. Farms
worth, of Illinois, always practical and fair
minded, could not see that any good was
to be attained through the proposed investiga-
ton, and suggested to the House whether it
was worth while to proceed any further with
the matter. From that sprung up an excited
discussion, which lasted a couple of hours,
and which took in the whole field Of the
reconstruc ton Of the Southern States. Mr..
Voorhees,, of Indiana, depleted with great
which all the Southern States had been reduced
by means of reckless, chewing Governors and
corrupt Legislatures. He characterized the
governments of all the Southern States, making
some exception In favor Of Virginia, as the
worst governments on earth, and imputed the
blame largely to Congress, which had placed
the pyramid on its apex instead of on its
base-in other words, had given the control to
the ignorant and the debased classes of So
ciety, while 1t disfranchised the men of prop
erty and of intelligence. Mr.. Beck, of Ken
lucky, followed in the same strain, and in
Weighed against Governors Bullock, of Geor-
gia; Scott of South Carolina; Davis, of
Texas; Brownlow, Of Tennessee, and Clayton,
of Arkansas, as men who had tried
to escape the Penitentiary by get
ting into the Senate of the United
States. For this remark, disrespectful to
the Senate, Mr.. Beck was called to order by
the Speaker. The other side of the question
was upheld by Messrs. Shellabarger and
Stevenson, Of Ohio, who defended the recon-
struction policy and denied the extravagant
estimate of Southern State debts. Mr.. Dawes,
of Massachusetts, and Mr.. Garfield, of Ohio,
the chairmen of the two leading committees of
the House, took more dispassionate and less
partisan view of the mattsy, and both favored
a full and impartial investigation, no matter
what party or officials 1t might refec
most upon. The debate, without being
acrimonious, was able and exciting, and
the final result was that the resolution was
passed without division. 1t was thus settled
that the select committee should 60 to New
| Orleans. We understand that it is the inten-
| ION Of its members to leave Washington for
that city on Thursday next.
Another yStter on which some discussion
arose in the House was bill appropriating
fifty thousand dollars to defray the expenses
of the Japanese Embassy. A demo-
crat from Illinois, Mr.. McNeely, raised
some objection to It, but an able
and convincing review of the whole
matter was made by the chairman of the Com
mittee on Foreign Affairs (Mr. Banks), who
pointed out the propriety of showing such a
mark of courtesy to these Oriental Ambassa-
doris, who were on their way to the great
courts of Europe, where they would be sure
| to receive the most osentatious and lavish
hospitality. He had not much trouble ia con-
vincing the House that the proposition was, in
all respects, judicious and correct, and the bill
was accordingly passed without its opponents
being able to have the vote taken by yeas and
nays.
The bill introduced some weeks since by
Mr.. Hale, of Maine, looking to the revival Of
American shipping through the remission oil
duties on all materials entering into the con-
struction, repair and use of ships, came up
again yesterday, and after short discussion
the friends Of the measure, who wished to
have it passed without further formallty, were
vanquished, and the bill was referred to the
Committee of Ways and Means.
| The new Territorial government established
last June for the District Of Columbia appears
to have got ahead of all competitors In the
race for the prize Of a bad reputation. Mr..
Farnsworth yesterday offered a resolution for
an investigation of charges made against 1t in
a memorial signed by the principal citizens
and taxpayers Of Washington, and in the de-
bate that ensued it did not appear that the
new Territorial Freedmen's Bureau, young,
| Christian government of the District
had q friend or defender on either
side of the House, except its own Dele
gate, who, in an apologetic sort of man
ner asked suspension Of judgment till
after trial. From the present temper of the
House, and from the contempt in which the
new government is held by all the decent
classes in Washington, 1t would not be at all
surprinng if conviction would follow close on
the heels of trial, and execution follow con-
viction in the shape Of repeal of the organic
law. The new government has no friends
except among corrupt officials, thieving con-
tractors, subsidized newspapers Of Washing
ton and the colored people, whom
for its own purposes, and to retair