The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-02-07
From Washington,
LOUISIANA.


Senator Carpenter concluded his speech IN
exposure and denunciation OF the Louisiana
swinde on Friday, and Morton's ire was so
tremendously stirred up by it that he jumped
to his feet Immediately and for ten minutes
fairly made Rome howl. Carpenter was ac'
cused of being in league with the murdcrers
of the 100 negroes at Colfay Court House, and
denounced as worse than a copperhead and
demagogue Morton retained the floor for
Monday, when it was expected Carpenter
would be entirely chawcd up. On Monday,
however, Morton had cooled down very cs-
sentially, and contented himself with dull
argument on the legal aspects Oft the question,
Stewart replied, denouncing the Kellogg gov.
ernmcnt as an organized fraud; and then the
whole subject was informally laid over, and
will probably not be touched again this scss.
ion. The republicans have evidently come
TO a quiet understanding that the more the
Louisiana stink is stirred the worse it is for
all of them, and they mean to drop it, Prcsi.
dent Grant has decided not to send the mes
sage to congress which he had so carefully
prepared; Senator Carpenter did not on Mon
day introduce his bill for new election, as
he had promised LII his speech and Morton
has been pacifed and consents 10 leave poor
Pinchback out in the cold. The heaviest suf
terer is Pinchback, who Insulating month
ago whether he should take seat in the SEN
ate or house is NOW rudcly thrust out of both
and compelled toFro back to the uncOngcnial
task of gaining an hcnest livelihood.
Boss SHEPHERD.
There had been a vast amount of under
surface nsneuverng at Washington for a
month past to prevent an open investigation
Of the robberies and scandals with which
the air was full, connected with the district
management of Boss Shepherd, whom Grant
had lately made governor. The expenditures
of the District ring during the last year reach
ed some $15, 100000, while there is nothing
to a third of that amount to show for it, Mr.
Wilson, of Iowa, who is noted for his etlici
ency as an Investigation, made up his mind
that the District ring needed an investigation
and prepared Il resolution to raise the neces
sary committee; but most strangely and un
accountably, he was batiicd for over two
weeks in every attempt to introduce it il
the house. Somebody always got the hool
ahead of him, or if he happened to get the
floor, the speaker was sure first to see some
body else. Meantime Shepherd and the rinl
were besieging Wilson indirectly day anC
night to let the thing drop. But Wilson wa
memorable, and on Monday he was allowed t.
present his resolution, which no one had thu
courage to oppose. The resolution, the sen
ate having agreed to it, raises joint com
mittee, and the investigation is to commence
forthwith
The general impression is that a large mum
Der of members of congress arc involved on
way or another in these District steals, bu
thus far the name of Starkweathcr, of Conn
and Eldridgc, of Wis, are alone mentioned
When he was a candidate for reelection las
spring, he appealed TO the former ring 70
help saying, "Could my friends aid me with
out giving publicity to it, it would place N
under renewed obligations to you" Stark
weather was reelected, and at the next session
was made chairman Of the committee on tn
District of Columbia, and a few months late
conducted an "iavestigatiOn" into the abuse
OF the District Government reporting every
thing to be all right. On this committee W.
Mr. Eldrdge, of Wisconsin, who, in the lie
tiers published, is spoken of as "a splendl
fellow" and who, in one Of his own letter
asks the ring to pay certain notes of his
NEWSPAR POSTAGE
The bill reported by Representative TYNE
in the house on Monday, amendatory OF IL
postal laws provides that on newspapers an
other periodicals not exceeding four ounce
in weight, sent from the Office of publcatic
to regular and iona tide subscribers posta.
shall be charged at the following rates p
Quarter pound, namely: On publications
sued ono week, cents; issuedtwiC wee
6 cents; three times week, 9 cents; six tim,
week IS cents; and daily 81 cents-and {
additional rate shall be charged for each ado
tional four ounces weight; provided that ol
copy of weekly newspapers may be sent
eacn subscriber thereof in the county whe
they are printed and published, free of POI
age, and that publishers of newspapers al
periodicals may mutually exchange the
publications not exceeding one copy in ca,
exchange, free of postage
THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS" GRAB.
The court of inquiry on Geo o. o. Howal
Is at last ordered The senate on Mondi
adopted the house resolution requesting q