Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-05-30
Our Washington letter.
SENATE CHAMBEE,

w ASHINGION, u. -, May - lo'~.
Early in the week we were treated to
another exhibit Of the standing Ameri-
can puzzle-said puzzle being the fact
that, as the President has recommended
it, and as more than two-thirls Of the
Senate seize every opportunity to eX-
press the desire for it. and a the House
pass it without opposition, still, the Sen
ate asa body cannot get an amnesty
measure through its mysterious organ
ism. A majority also favor Summers
civil rights bill, still that cannot be pas
scd. Altogether is presented the anom-
ally of a legislative body being unable TO
do what nearly all want to DO. Mr..
Trumbull, on Tuesday. tried to engralt
the house amnesty bill upon the enforce
ment bill, but the latter being obnoxious
to many Of the friends Of amnesty. and
Mr.. T. being obnoxious to some who
favored both bills. the puzzle went over.
After nearly half a weeks working
through such harmless, non-cXplosive
matters as providing supervisors for cleo
tions, to be paid - per day in places Of
over twenty thousand Inhabitants and
nothing in little onc-horsc places Of loss
than twenty thousand: conference COM
mittec reports. involving the interest Of
the Morrill, amendment and hateful cot
ton claims; railroad bill; bills to faci'i-
tate the blowing up of steamboats,. or
the protection of life thereon: bills con-
tinuing the suspension Of the writ of
Ha5era corpuS in the discretion of the
President until next March. and various
other little matters " Thought proper
when met" Is the town clerk would
write 1T. the Senate on "Wednesday
came to one Of the most lively contests
of the season. This was the day set for
consideration of the Baltimore and Po-
tomac railroad depot bill. giving to that
road a million dollars worth of the CAPT
tol grounds, donated, by Washington.
with the express understanding that it
should always remain public grounds.)
for depot site. Some Senators had
the audacity to attempt to lay the bill
over in the press Of business incident 10
final adjournment, and fake up some Of
the many other matters Of national im-
portance that have long awaited action.
but noses had been counted long ago.
and with that deadly determination
which characterizas legislation for cor
poraiions generally. irrespective of right
or wrong, il fought its way before the
senate, endured for two days and one
night all attempts Of large portion of
the Senate to defeat. alter. amend. or to
throw any protection or safeguard about
the public interest, and finally passed aS
ii came from the house. 1T was al in
vain that Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont re-
counted the previous demands Of this
monopoly which has been conceded by
the government, and showed that other
sites equally good for all practical pur-
poses, and where no harm could arise
from its location, almost within stones
throw, were offered. In vain did he
plead that the name and gift of Wash
ingtOn should be respected bv his chill
dren. 1t was all in vain that Mr.. sum
ners elOquence rolled forth in behalf Of
within its borders, free and within reach
of the poor and feeble as well as the
man who rides in his carriage. II was
in vain that Messrs. Thurman. Uami-
ton and others of the democratic side
went solidly against the proposition in
addition to every other argument and
appeal, IN the name of that part Of the
democratic creed which declares that the
puDAc domain shall not be given TO pri-
Vate corporations. All of these and
much more were of no avail. Senator's
would listen to arguments, appeals. and
ehtreatles, clear enough to convince the
dullest, and powerful enough to move
mountains, and then would vote every
time Tor the road. The people of the
district were opposed to it, but what does
the people amount to, their choice would
never be taken into account anyhow
but Tor the fact that they have some
way OF enforcing it. This the people
o. the district have not. Governor
COOK was opposed to it for a long fine
and was sent to prevail upon the Presi,
dent OF the road to withdraw the de-
mand. lie went but he came back CON
yerted to the roads request.
In the Senate on Thursday nlgbt tbe
battle ragged furiously until MIDNIGHT
With all the previous preparations. com.
initials and nose-counting, men began to
vince under the effective opposition and
demands of justice as advanced Inv tha
Trends OF the public grounds. Some
Ihlng must be done. Friday morning
.ne war was resumed. 1t was soon whis2
pered about by the friends of the road
mat all was well-that Tom Scott Sras
IN the lobby and they were ready to bet