The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1873-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WAsHIssToS, d. G., April i, 1873

in the past ten days, from winter has
robbed us Of our accustomed genial
spring. The mercury rose to 60 to-
day. The oldest inhabitants here say
that the past two seasons have been
colder in the winter and warner in
the summer than any two successive
seasons in their time. Not until within
the past two days have winter clothes
been uncomfortable to wear, over
coats even being in their demand.
About six o'clock yesterday morn
ing the CORY face and scalp Of a man
was found near the Capitol. No trace
of the body has yet been found. The
city is Mortified. So frequent are most
foul murders committed here, that the
people have become thoroughly
aroused to the Importance of speedy
trials, and, it the parties charged with
such crimes are found guilty, a certain
and speedy execution. The commu-
tation of O'Brien to imprisonment for
life by the President is exceedingly
unfavorably received, although OBJ.
was intoxicated and in passion at the
time of the murder.
The jury in the Tom Wriglt's trial
for the murder of Rogerski last De-
cember, only took ten minutes last
evening to conclude on a verdict Of
guilty. The trial lasted four days,
and attracted 50 much attention from
the people that Judge Macarthur, pre-
siding, was compelled to order a guard
to be placed around the courtroom
to see that no one was admitted except
lawyers, witnesses and doctors. Not
withstanding, however, the courtroom
was densely packed.
1t will be remembered that this
murder was most brutal, the face of
the deceased when found being so
disfigured by the numerous cuts that
it was with difficulty that he was rec
ognized by the acquaintances. He
was a peddler and it appeared, in
this evidence, that he had with him,
forwlicl he was murdered, only about
five dollars in money, and n small
quantity of dry goods.
Wright has been intirely Indifferent
to his fate. He laughs, makes faces,
and insults ladies' going to and fro
from the Jail to the courtroom.
Treasury still withstands the pres
sure for increase Of currency, and the
state Of the country is one Of contrac-
ton. Men have the same money each
year to serve for an increasing trade.
The railroads have declined to take
issue with the government on the pos
tai car matter the present difficulties
by high freights. The Western pro-
duce now in store, if sent 30 market
would soon relieve the stringency by,
its increased circulation Of money,
Stagnation in one leading brauch
here makes trouble all around.
The visit of the Secretary of War,
accompanied by General Sheridan, to
the Mexican frontier suggests grave
complication with our neighbo,ing re-
public growing out of causes which
neither government can control. The
occupation of the Rio Grande in force
to arrest the depredations from Mexi-
co will lead to collisions. A proud
and naughty, but foolish and weak
people, will be equally unable to keep
out Of difficulty or to fight it out when
once involved. Another slice of Mex
lean territory will probably, within
the next ten years, enlarge the area of
freedom.
Senator Wright of Iowa, whose
efforts to incorporate into the rules Of
the Senate something like the "pre-
vious question" during the extra ses-
sion have already attracted public
attention. The subject will doubtless
recur again at the next session, to
which the consideration of Senator
Wright's suggestions appears to have
been remitted-of course there is a
good deal to be said both for and
against the innovation thus proposed.
1t is argued that in body so numer-
Gus as the Senate has become with
seventy-two members, some rule of
the kind is absolutely necessary to
facilitate the dispatch of business.
When John p. Hale was q member of