The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1872-05-20
Our Washington Letter.
THE VOORHEES, BoMsHELL.

WASHINGTON, May IA, 1872.
Greeleyism got another blow yesterday in
the House from Mr.. voorhees, of Indiana one
of the leading Democrats ofthe country. He
arose for a personal explanation and went for
the great dried apple planter in true Demo
cratic sledge-hammer style. VOORHEES, pre-
fers his Democracy straight without Greeley.
He recounted Horace's inconsistencies in a
scathing manner. His comparisons between
Grant and Greeley were strong points in
Grants favor, and during the whole speech he
said not one word against the President
His Democratic friends were fearfully pro-
voked and cried out to him snow go to the
White House and get your pay" &c. They
accuse him of having gone over to the Re
publicans. Isn't he ''leaving sinking ship" !?
He sees that the country will not fail to un-
derstand the position of the so-called "Liber-
al Republicans" is this: Out with
Grant who conquered JEFF Davis and the re-
bellion and in with Greeley who bailed him
from the penalty of his crimes. Well this IS
liberal.
The bill authorizing the inhabitants of the
town of Scarborough to build bridges over the
Dunstan River-passed the House yesterday
under the supervision of Mr.. Lynch. twas
laid before the Senate this morning when Mr..
Hamlin gave it his personal attention and it
has already passed that body and only wants
the name of u. S. Grant attached to It, to
carry joy to old Scaroorough-and summer
travel to the seaShore in that vicinity.
CLAIMS AND PETITIONS.
1t is interesting to see the character of the
various petitions and watch the progress of
different claims that come before Congress.
Yesterday petition was presented asking
aid to perfect an invention to secure perpetu-
al motion. The petitioner seriously and ear
nestly relates the immense advantages to be
derived from the perfection of his discovery,
in a manner truly amusing. .....
A bill was passed last evening, which has
twice passed each House, and as often failed
III the other. 1t is no doubt one OF the most
just claims that ever came before congress.
The claimant has pressed it for years and has
been reduced from affiuence to poverty by the
| original loss and the expenses OF his case
| and at last died. only the day before the pas
saoe Of the hill for his relief-a poor man
willie the act grants him one hundred and
| TWENTY-FIVE thousand dollars. There is no
| doubt that his death was caused by continu-
cd disappointment and Encouragement in the
progress ofhis claim. Such cases as this lat
ter one are frequent, with perhaps the excep-
| tion of the Justice of the claims, but there is
| every reason to believe that the unfortunate
parties think them just, as fraudulent one
would hardly be pressed so persistently.
SOMETHING MORE ABOUT THE ARMS BUsI-
NESS.
The report of the arms committee has been
before the country for several days and the
readers of the PRESS are as familiar with its
points as any one here so Ineed not enlarge
upon its merits 1t will be discussed when It
comes before the Senate again, and the little
| passage between the various members OF the
| committee I'd Senator Sumner on Saturday
over the motion to print the report, indicates