The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-04-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

EDITOR CHIEF:
How things change in the course of
a few years was made manifest in
Washington this week. It seems
hardly six months since the Presi-
dent of the United States in the per-
son of Andrew johnson on returning
from a little trip, was met at the
depot by calyacade, a band of mus
ic, Departmental Association, COM
posed of clerks whose tenure of Office
depended upon the will of the said
Andrew, and procession of citizens
with banners and beaming eountenan-
ces. This week the President in the
person of Gen. Grant returned from
trip, and not even a hungry and
lank Bohemian was at the depot to
sound a hurrah, in honor of the event.
Andy johnson, too, came in night
or two ago, and there was no music,
and no department clerks on hand to
greet him as the great statesman of
the day, or the future, but ike any
ordinary traveller he went to his hotel,
" alone in his glory" The contrast
must have been suggestive, and prob
ably wrought upon his feelings.
On Monday the Senate passed bill
fixing the greenback circulation at
800, 600, 900, and the National Bank
issue at the same amount. There re-
mains in the hands of the Secretary
of the Treasury sl8,OOO,0OO only to
be added to the circulation to make
up the $4OO, zoo, 600 greenbacks, and
SAC, OOO, 600 to make up the maximum
of the Bank Note circulation.
The passage of the bill was ardent
ly protested by some of the leading
men in the Senate. Mr.. Salisbury of
Delaware, democrat, said he was sor-
~ his party were to give q portion of
the votes to carry it. Mr.. Stockton
of New Jersey, democrat, pronounced
it dishonor to the nation, and an ex-
ample of reputation never before
known. Mr.. Thurman, democrat,
said the meaning of it all was that
men of his age were never again to
see q currency of solid worth, and
good for the amount expressed on its
face, and Mr.. Bayard of Delaware,
democrat, called it a dismal and sor-
ry day for his country. Conkling, Al
thony, Sargent, Schurz ard Stewart
of the Republican element, were very
solemn and emphatic in their denun-
Citations. Carpenter in the chair COM
planned that he and his imitation
friends had sat there and been basted
and roasted like so many chickens,
and now they were going to return
the compliment by q little voting
which they did. The vote on this
measure, which is the important
measure of the present Congress, in
dicated that the old division of party
lines is being rapidly obliterated. The
old Republican leaders united with
the old Democratic leaders, and Frel-
inghuysen and Stockton, Thurman
and Sherman, Bayard and Conklin,
found themselves together in unison,
while carpet-baggers, scalawags Pick
Wickian) radicals, secessionists, rebels,
and all other sorts and kinds were
found in the same bed, with no desire
to kick each other out. The lion and
the lamb laid down together on the
full bed of imitation, and with q COW
ering of greenbacks, were as happy
as the celebrated babes of the woods
under the protection of Autumn leaves.
The era of good feeling has come.
On Monday, Sanborn gave testi-
mony, and was understood to contra
dict Mr.. Richardson on some points.
He thought Richardson was well post
ed on the contracts, and signed them
after several conversations indicating
a fair amount of knowledge. The diff
ference between the two may be ex-
planned perhaps by the remark of
Simmons about Sanborn, as the "mys-
terious man." Itlooks now as though
Sanborn didn't let on I" very much
as to his intentions to Richardson or
any mothers son, but talked in gen.
eral way, got Boutwell, to agree to
give him a contract, impressed Bout
well with the idea that much publicity
would defeat his scheme, and Rich