Beaufort Republican. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1871-1873, 1872-02-01
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENTS.
WASHINGTON. January l9.

absentees are in their places and speeches
are being made daily. Those which have
attracted the most attention have been from
Mr.. Conkling On the Zone Term Principle,
and from Mr.. Sumner on his "Supplementa-
ry Civil Rights Bill" as an amendment to
the Amnesty bill. The notice of both
speeches attracted crowds to the Senate
chamber on the different days. Mr.. Conk-
ling sspeech scarcely realized the expectations
of his friends though its preparation evil
dently showed care, and he seemed we'll in
formed as to the matter and statistics. But
instead Of confning himself to the real sub
ject, which of course was MIR. Summers
constitutional amendment, proposing to limit
the President to single term of Office, he
wandered off to discuss President Grants
character and acts. and to a defence of the
administration. This was a mistake, as Mr..
Summers amendment is no party topic, but
is subject of the deepest interest, and has
occupied the minis Of our greatest public
men since the foundation of our govern
ment.
Mr.. Summers speech was listened to by
arge numbers and elected frequent express
sions Of appreciation, as loud, Of course, as
the audience dared in their fear Of the
speakers gavel. The co!ored people should
keep his memory green in their hearts for
ever. Through long life Of abuse, mis-
representation, ostracism ami opposition, he
has labored for their race. 1t has been no
plea SAINT nor easy task And even now his
speech has brought upon him the disappro-
bation of the friends of the Amnesty bill
who thinks this amendment will neutralize
the effects of their bill in the S)ath. Per
haps it may, som, Of the bIt ef2cSs.
There can be no peace nor real security in
any society unless equal rights are secured
: to all, and Mr. Sumner is boun1 to do what
he thinks is right though the heavens fall !;
but there is more fear Of such catastrophe
it seems to us when wrong is done.
Certainly the skies have been smiling very
serenely for the last few days, and the ave
nue. has been crowded with elegant equip
ages AMI its payemeuts with crowds o'
pedestrians. What is termed the gay
season has been inauguaratel, and yester
day the avenues lending to the White House
were Incl with carriages, All the vestibu!e,
ante-rooms AMI reception par!or were
crowded by bright concoarse Of people
coming to pay their respeets to Ms. Grant:
The handsome room3 brilliantly lighted by
the chan lelier3, (all dly lighs being eX
cludcdl th9 perfume Of rare hDTe:s, ami
the presence OF han lSomcly dressed ladies'
conspircd to nuke scene in pleasant con
trast to the dull dty outside, As the sky be-
come overclouled towards afternoon. Mr.
Grant was dressed in scarlet silk trimmed
with deep hola;,s Of black threat la;c, and
wore threa lace cape over the shoulders.
her manners are very pleasing AMI cordn,
and she has 4 word Of welcome for every
one The Pfesil,n: AM SIX Lady tIicnl
assisted her in receiving the strangers who
poured in for three hours. Tomorrow th.
families of the Cabinet ministers receive,
Or in other words stand for four hours
eaborately dressed and shake hands with
some three hundred people, finding spare
moment perhaps for. a word Or two with
some intimate friend. These official rccep-
tons have several aspects. There is the
one in which, as black Sam says, you can
cultivate the habit of observation, and
speculate on the infinite variety of the hui
man countenance and the human character !;
then there is the ludicrouS side, where you
see grave senator's and their families, foreign
ministers vainly endeavoring to make their
English ineligible, handsome women, dis
tingui>hed looking people and queer looking
people, all el owing each other, staring at
each other, taking punch, and last making
the grand bow of exit to the hostess. Then
there is the sad side, when you look at the
huge piles of cards which have overtiowed
from the card receiver, covering the hall
tables, and you think of the time and labor the
hostess must expend in returning those calls,
and of the entertainments that mast be
given and attended in the meanwhile. Tru-
ly official position has its pleasures but its
penalties also.
We find the following notice of one OF