Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1873-12-11
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec 6. 1873.
The Forty third Congress has become a
reality. fairly started. with bright pros
poets Of success. The opening day, Mon
day, was forlorn a. to weather. but at the
Capitol, all was bright and CHEEKY, even to
1.-THE shining morning faces OF the mem
beIs, AS they met and greeted each other.
AT an early hour the corridors and Hobbies
leading To the Hall of Representatives
were crowded with people. for the most
part sightseeing strangers, eager aud so
licitous to witness the first hours OF the
new Conregss; the vast galleries were nm
ell TO overlooking. and the throng sur.-d
in at the door-ways. pushed continually
forward by the other crowd vainly irving
for entrance; all pushed and all struggled.
but the mass Of humanity bore its III, pa
tiently, and endured sercnely its trials.
joking whenever the opportunity could be
found, and rejoicing when seat was dis
covered by any chance.
Attention was presently fixed upos the
body of the House. where the member,
were arriving evidently well pleased to
welcome old and nes Fl lends. and ready
- inaugurate the era of good feeling, sup
posed to prevail hcnceforth indeed. the
wonder was audiblv expressed hv many
that there should be 81 much peace and
harmony among men from all parts Of the
country. and Of all shades of opinion.
Roth II,n-.1 IL
N, but the senate having no new arrange
menis To make soon adjourned. nd the in
tere-t was centred in the lower House,
where nearly one-third OF the members
were To be- daily sworn into Office. As the
more prominent members came In. one af-
ter another was pointed OUT, and hi, career
discussed n length sy those In the gallery.
who sometime. knew more than the Hon
member himself of hi, doings. General
Butler restless and uneasy a. ever wander
ed about chatting with each one. but with
eyes on the alert to seize whatever might
do the most good" catch him mapping.
II you can shrewd. sharp aud keen. the
party. 10 which he gives allegiance, has a
man in is ranks. who does It honor and
knows how TO win.
But time would fail to name the noted
men present, only one must be mentioned
who was the centre OF attraction-iion. A.
II. Stephens, eX-Vice-President OF the
southern Conference.-The a man. who
had stepped from his GOTTA for few
moments, the little being sat in a front
seat, seemingly shadow OF humanity
with only the sharp, bright eyes still alive;
very small in stature. crippled by age and
sickness, with snowy hair and face like
parchment, he looked a wizard Of the olden
time. and ones thoughts involuntarily
see him vanish In n cloud OF smoke after
the fashion of such folk. He was greeted
with great cordially by the members. who
seemed entirely willing to forget, or at
least TO overlook, the little episode in his
career since last he sat in the national
councils. and he received their Kindness
and courtesy in an equally gracious man
ner. Is this not reconciliation and stretch
ing Of hands across the bloody chasm in .
neighborly way; The first thing In order
was the choice OF Speaker. which was q
fore ordained conclusion, and Mr.. Blaine
being declared elected, was escorted 10 the
chair BY Hon. Fernando Wood, straighter
and taller than ever, and Hon. Horsce
Maynard, the rival candidates, whe the
oath of Office was administered bv Mr..
Dawes the senior member OF the House.
Mr.. Blaine delivered 4 short. pthy ad-
dress, which was received with marked
seats before him. The new members were
then sworn in, rst those from New Eng |
land. then from the middle States. the
South and West. Among those from the
South were seven colored men. who took
the oath with great gusto. and the iron |,
clad OATH" too-then came a large number |
who desired TO take the modified oath:
here was a strange anomaly. that to the |
Northern members. true and loyal as most |
of them were during the dark days, should |
be administered the more stringent oath, |
which they never violated. while the |
Southern men simply swore to behave well
in the future utterly regardless of the past
aud their part in it. Can anything be more
absurd than thisf Mr.. Stephens hobbled
forward with his crutch. supported by a
noble looking man from the South, 10 take
this softened oath. and give in his allegi-
ance TO the Constitution aud the Union. (
Some discussion arose concerning the Del
egate from Utah, and whether he should
be sworn in. but the result was In his favor,
and he was admitted, Notwithstanding the
four wives he is said to have In his Utah
nome.
Next came the drawing for seats. done
n this way-the names placed in a box,
Ire drawn out by a blindfolded page, and
Is each is read. the gentleman chooses the
seat he wishes to occupy during the ses-
lion, which is henceforth his place The
privilege of the first choice is given to the
enior member, and at the suggestion of
member from Virginia the same was also
extended to Mr.. Stephens-another in
lance OF courtesy toward "little Aleck"
rom the members which should be felt by
lin deeply and gratefully.
The House was not sufficiently organic !
d to receive the message until the next ,
ay, but is now in working order with COM
nttee's appointed, wherein Speaker Blaine
J said to have displayed great tack and 4
kill. The salary bill comes up in so many .
ifierent forms and amendments. that it !
ill be wonder if any pleases. 9
Wednesday evening "a serenade was Civ !,
n to Hon. Horace Maynard by his friends !,
ON Tennessee in the city to which he re- =
bonded in a speech Of not many words. .
ut the few had the ring of the whole
,uled, patriotic man, and made the impress
on that only such utterances can. 1t was Il
beautiful picture, with the full blaze of a
e lights from the illuminated and decor It
ed front of the '.Ebbitt' shining down II
BON the upturned faces Of the crowd lis ID
ming to the eloquent lnngaage of the q
euter whOsa racarI ,nuSt apt.a. him - | h