The Portland daily press., 1872-06-05
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON d. c., June LIST, 1872

THE strMNrR-scHtyRz ASSAULTS REcoIL.
Adjournment is again postponed to June
10Th and there seems 10 be an opinion prevail
ing that it is quite likely to be again Extend
cd 70 even a later day. The House is ready
to adjourn but the Senate is behind-hand
with very little indication of any energetic
effort towards getting through. l
Friday was wantonly wasted in that body
by the two Republican Senators now recruit
ing for the Democratic ranks, Senators Sum-
ner and Schurz and to-day has also been spent
in settling the question of adiournment-so
nothing has been accomplished for two days
but the purposes of the two Senators above
referred to, who have for some time designed
to assail the friends of the present admins
tration and have spent weeks in preparation
for this assault. The failure of Mr.. Schurz's
plans at Cincinnati has not in the least soft
ened his feelings. Both have shown great
deal of bad blood in their efforts aud 1 feel
convinced that if the people of the United
States could have heard those two speeches
as they were delivered, and seen the evil
dences of prejudice and ill nature, shown by
the orators they would send back response
next November that would show in whom
they have most conf dence, in such tones that
even Charles Sumner could not mistake them,
blinded as he is by .hs disappointments and
fancied wrongs. As it is, the public cannot
fail to see its direction if not its full e1tent.
and will bring in a verdict that will read like
the words so eloquently spoken by Senator
Logan to-day in the course of his remarks
when he said, "that the deeds of Gen. Grant
on the field of battle were of infinitely more
benefit to this country than all the eloquence
that eper fell from the silvery tongue of the
Senator from Massachusetts,"
The verdict of the people was indicated by
the burst of applause that came from the gal
leries at this allusion to the President. 1t al
most led to the expulsion of the spectators,
and the peremptory order of the chair to ex-
pei those who should repeat the offense did
not prevent an occasional expression of the
favor with which the remarks were received.
During the speeches of Senators Sumner and
Schurz there was painful silence in all parts
of the chamber and galleries which showed
plainly that no feeling of sympathy bound
the speaker and audience together, but that
they listened to him with very much the
same feeling that one looks at the Cardiff gi-
ant, impressed somewhat by the exhibition,
but feeling all the while that there is hum
bug about it that they cannot satisfactorily
account for. In listening to Senator Sumner,
on this occasion, one might be in doubt
whether he is work of art or a being
through whose veins once flowed human
blood and whose heart once experienced the
feelings of humanity. There was heartless-
ness of manner about him that chilled lis
tener. Not so with Senator Logan. He
evidently felt every word of his speech and so
will the country, and if even those few words
could go to the country side by side with the
speech the aristocratic Senator from Boston
there would be no need of further reply.
There is less difference now between the peo-
pie and their representatives in the Senate
than in the days when newspaper was not
found in every family. -t
The Senator no longer leads a rabble but an
intelligent people leads the Senator, and when
he ignores the popular will and speaks of the
judgment of the people with contempt, he
will soon see the consequences of his rash
ness.
1t is evident that this two-fold raid on the
administration was preconcerted attack
Senator Sumner was to abuse the President,
and Schurz was to abuse his friends, and by
this means they made available the whole
stock of venom slowed away in the retentive
brains of both. 1t will be enough for the
'boys in blue" to know that when they were
done they received the ue
CONGRATULATIONS OF THE REBEL GENERAL
who now holds seat in the United States
Senate, through the generosity of the very
man whom he had just heard abused, while
the passion stamped face of Frank Blair ex-
pressed its satisfaction with significant leer.
Small men can sometimes see where great
men make mistakes and it is not hard to
discover that the apparent approval of
the Democratic fatterers of Mr.. Sumner
has in it more of exultation over his
downfall. Of course they are glad
to secure his aid but their rejoicing has
know that he has no love for them. They
are like thieves at a fire, who stand ready to
steal whatever is exposed to their depreda-
tiOns, and are at the same time more eager to
lynch the incendiary whose revengeful spirit
has furnished them with an opportunity for
plumber, than even those whose property is
being burned or stolen. t.
Personal. -
The absence of Senator Hamlin who was
suddenly called home few days ago, will pre-
vent his replying to the speeches of Sumner
and Schurz as was expected, unless he is
enabled to return to Washington before ad-
journment which is universally hoped. There
was never more need of a dose his down east
common sense than now, or better chance
to administer it, to good advantage-ju
from the effect of the prescription of Mr. Lo-
gan. MINOT.