Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-12-14
CORRESPONDENCE.
Letter From Washington.

Dear IVilrert:
Hon. Thad. Stevens once said that "eyery
man had n Constitutional right TO make n
fool of himself" but whether the Hon.
Charles Sumner has accepted that right, or
only acted to please the rebels, leave it
for Others to judge. Mr.. Sumner. on the
first day of the meeting of Congress offered
the following
Whereas the national unity and good
will among fellow-citizens can be assured
only through oblivion of past Differences.
and it is contrary TO the usage of civilized
natians to perpetuate the memory of civil
war: Therefore.
he 1t enacted, &c, That the names of
battles with fellow citizens shall not be
continued in the Army Register or placed
on the regimcntal colors of the United
States.n
To add further dishonor to the dead. and
insult to the living soldier. Mr.. Summers
resolution should be amended SO as TO read.
in order to promote fratcrnal feelings be-
tween the two sections lately at variance.
oil resolutions Of thanks to officers or SOL
dlers for gallant conduct in the late war
shaIl be expunged from the Journals of
Congress. All medals awarded for distin-
guishcd services on the field of battle Shall
be recalled and destroyed, that the sight
brethren of the late $50 called Confederate
army, aud that national unity and good
will among fellow citizens may be promot
ed. All muster-rolls of the two millions of
men who fought our misguided brethren
of the South, and all the records of the
wounded, the malmed and the dead who
>iied thelr blood in defence of the stars and
| stripes shall De destroyed that the aforesaid
| unity and good will may be promoted.
Abolish the pension list. and sell the various
Soldiers Homes; throughout the country.
Plow up the three hundred thousand graves
OF those who died that The country might
/ i've and destroy the headboards. in order
that nothing may prevent the desired unity
and goodwill" Some of the obstacles TO
unity and goodwill that are not removed
| by the above bill are the vacant firesides.
the broken hearts, the poverty stricken
widows and orphans, and the disabled SOL
dlers hobbhng on crutches, OF with an
empty sleeve.
| Is this the same Charles Sumner who
once stood so nobly in the defence of our
"Boys in Blue" and the honor of his coun-
/ try Stricken in years, and disappointed
| in hopes, he has become So,sred against his
/ friends, and in charity, we say il too with
/ sorrow. we can only attribute such conduct
to softening Of the brain.
The House of Representatives evidently
means business. Oa Thursday last it pass
| ed an important bill providing for an addi-
! ton to tho Navy. 1t provides for the
! building OF six sleeps of war, three of which
are to be given to the lowest bidder. and to
be constructed in private ship yards. On
| Friday, after lively discussion, it passed
a bill, introduced by Mr.. dawes, from the
Committee Of Ways and Means, providing
tor reduction of the officers and expenses
or the internal revenue service The Dem
ocrats coneede saving Of 81, 700, 600 under
the operation of the bin. The change made
by the law Of last summer providing for a
reduction of the number of collectors docs
not meet the wishes Of the revenue depart
ment. This bill does away with all the
Assessors, and places the entire work in
the hands ofthe collectors.
mr Dawes made the important announce
ment, in the discussion relating to the re-
ductlon OF internal revenue expenses, that
! 1t was the purpose Of tho committee of
| Ways and Means to strike out all that re-
mains of the internal revenue tax, except
that on liquors and tobacco. This news
will be received with qualification by the
country. Such legislation shows the con-
tinued purpose Of the Republican majority
in Congress to do what is for the best in
terests of the people, and to fulfil pledges
heretofore made. "'.
1t is likely another Census will be taken
in 1875, as a bill has been introduced to
that effect, and referred to the Committee
on Centennial Anniversary.
Judge Mercur resigned his seat in Con-
gress few days ago, to enter upon his new
position OF AssOciatelJustce of the Sup
preme Court, an honor lately conferred on
him Inv his nunprpuc f,iap6c In
MIA. This resignation of the Judge leaves
a vacancy in the House from the 18th Dis
trict, and should be filed by one at least
equal to Mr. A1ercur. DR.. James ID. Straw
bridge having been elected to represent
that district in the 43d Congress. his friends
here hope he will be elected to fill the un-
expired term of the Judge, as he is pro-
per man, every way qualified, and this
short experience in parliamentary rules
would more ably fit him for the whole term
to which the people of that district have
but lately elected him.
During the vacation of Congress [ spent
considerable time in Sunbury, and while
there boarded with 'mine host,n f. II.
Drumheller, of the City Hotel. | found
his house Very desirable as stopping
, place fine rooms, good and clean beds
splendid parlors, and the table, prepared
y h'S SDoe h'ugs Spual " .lHc DcSl, duu
sufficiently tempting to please the taste o.
the most particular epicure. Mr.. ID. de
! serves the thanks of your people for beau
tiiying their town with so splendid a struc
. ture, and should receive a liberal patronage
from the public.
. The first of series Of four sociables wat
given last evening by the Pennsylvania Re
f publican Association at Masonic Temple
{ Two hundred couples, or more, were there
+ Douch's band furnished the music, and the
G hall was decorated to perfection. Presi
4 dent Grant, accompanied by Gen. Dent
b honored the affair with his presence as
/. also, did Senator Scott Representative
/ Myers, Mcclellan, ,Negley anda host of othe
: notables. A. A. Shissler, Esq, president
f delivered an interesting address Of welcome
e to which responses were made by Senate
: Scott and Messrs. Myers and Negley
5 Upon the close of the addresses those pre-
' sent were individually introduced to Presi
Q dent Gront. After which "A grand PRONE
II made to the sweet strains of Norma, - an,
h then the programmeofd dancing commenced
. a 2