The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-07-04
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
wAsurNeroS, D. c., june 9th, 1874

calm observers to kindle anew any
deep interest in Congressional pro-
ceedings, but the announcement that
Gen. Butler would pay his respects to
certain people on Friday evening,
drew full house of wide-awake and
jolly listeners. Butler is never guilty
of being dull, whatever other sins he
may be charged with, and on this
occasion he was in his liyeliest mood,
and made it warm for opponents in
and out of Congress. The feeling of
the House has been decidedly enlisted
in behalf of the great firm of Phelps,
Dodge 81 Co., of N. Y, and it is the
supposed hardship of their case which
has mainly caused the abolition of
moieties. To the dealings of this firm,
Butler gave special attention, and
charged; L. That they made nu-
merous..under- valuations i'll invoices,
keeping set of books with the true
and false invoice entered side by
side, but making oath at the Custom
House to the false one and selling by
the other. 2. That under the advice
of four eminent lawyers, they made a
voluntary offer to compromise with
Secretary Boutwell, and pay 1921 900
which he refused to accept, unless
they made confession that the false
hood was intentional, which confession
they made. 3. That the firm cheated
the government by having their
metals cast into statues which they
imported free, and sold as metals,
melting them as soon as imported.
4. That q member of the firm secur-
ed, fraudulently, a change of a COM
ma in revenue act, by which they
Melted several millions of duties
which were included in the act as
passed. The most singular thing in
this whole debate, was the fact that
Mr.. Roberts, Mr.. Dawes, Mr.. Trem-
aine and the other gentlemen who
replied to Butler did not deny the
truth of these allegations, in single
particular. This glaring defect in the
defence was patent to the galleries,
and despite the illusions to spoon
stealing, and being counsel to infor-
mers which were made against But
Ter, it told so heavily in his favor that
his triumph was decided and ac-
knowledged by applause. If these
heavy charges cannot be denied, it is
of very little use to say much about
the exalted reputation of Phelps
& Dodge, for the case of Facts VS..
/ Reputation always ends in favor of
the plaintiff.
In the course of the debate, Butler
read letter of Fosters which showed
a desire on his part to crap" the
member. from Massachusetts,, which
was not only supplementary, but
inconsistent with proper notions of
public duty and motives for legisla-
tive action. To "twit" any man for
a natural misfortune or defeat is SIM
| ply contemplate, and that case must
be weak indeed which needs that
kind of assistance. The inveetive
hurled at Butler was bitter, but vain,
unless his charges are false. If they
are false, then his speech was bra
zen lie, but if true the invective was
ridiculously impotent, and sadly out
of place.
| Our District bill by which a Gov
ernor, Legislature, Board of Public
Works and other paraphernalia of
| rulership were squelched, was signed
by the President on Saturday, and on
| Sunday we were free people-save
them bonds.
On Monday Congress remained in
session until past midnight fixing up
measures, compromising, and arrang-
ing details, while anxious claimants
in scores and hundreds hung around
with anxious hearts and faces, all
uncertain whether their various little
paintings, SO carefully nursed all
winter, would get through safely or
die in the last throes of the expiring
session. Tuesday came and all was
over, but what was done and what
left undone can not at the present
writing be definitely ascertained in
full.
THE CLOSING ACTS OF CONGRESS.