Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-05-07
Correspondence.
Letter from Washington

ings. There was considerable sameness of
thought in the several discourses. but the
tributes while just aud complimentary, and
eulogistic, were wanting in warmth and depth
OF feeling. They sounded too much like a sort
Oh owning up to Summers greatness, with ment.
al reservations Of considerable size. Thurman
and Anthony delivered the most symetrical ora
lions, and the most sympathetic. except in the
latter quality, perhaps Mr. Pratt's was equal.
Thurman endeavorcd to be just TO Summers
opinions, but evidently regarded him as a very
unsound constitutional lawyer. and an unsafe
guide in law or politics. For ability. purity,
tenaety. kindness, and all gentlcmany qualities.
he was generous in praise, candid in statement,
and did himself honor, as he usually does.
Boutwell, was sepulchral, and somewhat bit.
ter on the enemies Of the dead Senator Nor
rill Of Vermont, was ornate. lengthy. and tire
some, Sargent poetical. Spencer very good.
The new Senator from New Hampshire.
Wadleigh, made brief speech, but he is by no
means 10 be compared with the late Senator
Patterson in oratorical ability. Anthony Of
Rhode Island. was the only Senator who spoke
without notes.
There were present on the floor, Minister
schenck. Ben Wade. and Nice-President VIII
son, and in the members families gallery,
was the Senatorial form. and dignified presence
of Fred. Douglass, a. Senatorial in bearing, as
the best Of them. and more truly an orator,
than any man who brought his eloquence to
trial on this occasion.
The liberal party which received such an
impetus at the hands Of Mr. Sumner. did not
take part in the exercises. Schurz had gone
10 Boston. and Fenton and Upton sat and
listened. Conkling and Morton were not pres
ent. On the whole, the scene was not so
grandly impressive as II would have been. had
the Senate still retained two or three men Of
the Sumner pattern, or had Schurz and Conk-
ling been there 10 do their part, in what was
intended to be an august occasion. During the
exercises, the marble bust Of sumner stood on
a pedestal near the door TO the right Of the
chair. draped in mourning 1t is an excellent
representation of the features Of Charles sum
ncr.
In the House, the principal speech was made
by l.. X. Hoar. and was finer effort than any
made IN the Senate tits said. due partly no
doubt 10 the fact that Mr.. Hoar was more
nearly and norc persistently in sympathy with
the ideas Of the dead statesman. Mr. Nesmi;h
OF Oregon, and Mr.. Lamar Of Miss, spoke OF
Mr.. Sumner a. could have been expected from
such intense opponents. giving him credit for
courage. and moral principle Of the highest
order. The House speeches seem 10 be better
whole than the Senate.
The horse and carriage question has been up
again on proposition OF the committee on ap-
Preparations, TO allow Baker Of the Pension
Office one hundred dollars per month for keep
ing one horse. By polite fiction. such A.
committees understand. the carriage was called
wagon" though the rcformatorv Baker
ana ms family were ever riding about
Washington in a wagon. Mr. KillinScr Of
Penn, was under the impression that horse
could be boarded for twenty-five dollars per
month. and made the motion to allow that sum
Then Gen. Garfield announced that last year
II cost more than 500 per month under the
economical management Of the Commissioner
10 Keep that horse. and he seemed to think the
committee had taken n step in the direction Of
reform by cutting it down; but the House took
longer step. by abolishing the horse alto
gether. leaving Baker 10 keep step to the music
OF reform on foot, instead OF riding in govern
ment carriage.
During the discussion Of this horse question
The case Of Attorney Gen. Williams came up.
and lockwood Hoar put the question whether
they wanted TO see the great Attorney General
riding down Pennsylvania avenue on a D.ule.
Al hrst, this seemed good deal like poser
but Nesnith proved equal to the occasion. and
declared the feasibility Of the thing as he had
seen that disnitary thus mounted in Oregon.
and nobody thought very strange Of il.
The principal interest Of the week in the
House proceedings, centred in the general sT,-
preparation bill, brought in by Mr. Garfield.
and fought for BY him and Mr. Dawes. They
failed however upon scyeeal important points
One subject Of contention. was the clause APP
propriating $4,000 to pay for printing the
backs Of the circulating notes in New York. the
faces being done by McCartee al the Treasury
for 100000. This action Of McCartee. has
been regarded indefensible. and mos,
audacious proceeding-aciually TO perform
more than half the work at two-thiris Of what
it costs 10 do the other half-but there were the
figures in the bill-SIJo.0c for New York
companies-S50o.0 900 for poor McCzrtee. To
meet this unwarrantable conduct, the note
companies have employed the strongest lobby
hereabouts 10 make points against him-and
the lobby grows 10 its full strength here on
questions Of half milion-and the lobby ae-
eused McC. Of all sorts Of things, in order 10
break him down, and published an indecent
pamphlet, which however had the one merit
Of lying so badly that no one believed its state
ant hn ta1.t. 81 s,.i-
man must be extravagant, that he was thief,
and last, if not least, a counterfeter. Well
they investigated him, and the little rascal was
quite polished up by the operation. and made
some people think that his cheap and saving
way OF printing, was not an utter abomination.
Notwithstanding the pamphlets.
The lobby were in despair, and hardly knew
which way to turn-which is a bad condition
fo- lobby TO I've in-when Dawes came TO the
rescue. lie didn't know any Of the Note Com
pany men-nobody knows them-but it was so
unsafe TO have the backs aud faces Of the circu-
lating notes, printed nearer together than two
hundred miles, that really he could not consent
TO have the printing all done in Washington.
There might be collision between McCartee,
and company in the city, but with two hum
dred miles between them, it would be SO very
safe, that the difference in cost, was not worth
regarding. Strange to say, not one Of the mem-
bers. supposed to be under pay by the lobby,
supported Mr. Dawes, and alone he fought the
battle for the unknown stockholders, willing
to be "slain in the field" Only fifty members
were found when the vote was taken, who &C
cepted the patriotic views Of Mr.. Dawes, and
that left him in q bad predicament as leader.
Such slaughter Of Chairman of Ways and
Means is not often witnessed.
On Thursday, Mr.. Norwood Of Georgia, made
speech in the Senate, on the civil rights bill,
which was very amusing. He made some keen
thrusts at the republicans; and vice-President
Wilson and Upton, sat next to him, seemingly
enjoying the fun Is heartily Is the democrats
did.