Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-08
FIRST EDITION.
WASHINGTON.
OUR REGULAR WEEKLY LETTER

TIM cIvIl. RIGHTS Bill AED Irs PASSAGE THROUGH
1uE PROBABLE FATE OF THE BiLI.--so-
cIE1Y dorsIr-rHE coNaREssIoNAI. LIBRAnY-
MYsTEhIOus MOVEMENTS OF A WANTED wIrNEas
DO
sprciH Corre' pontence Of the Commercial.
WAsHISaToN, d. O., Feb. G.
Interest continued to centre in the House of
Representatives until yesterday. To DO sure it
was the same well known and long discussed Ci-
vii Rights question, but then the "dead lock"
was over and instead of the interminable calling
of the yeas and nays there WAS lively debate in
which some of the leading members on either
side took prominent part 1t afforded par
ticularly good opportunity for the enemies OF
General Butler, as he was in charge of the BILL
to vent their long pent up Indignation upon him
and he was at various times during tho discus
sion handled in the most uncomplimentary man =
nor, to say the least, by the champions OF that
ante bellum spirit which still exists to II great
extent throughout the South. Mclean, OF Tex
es, and John Young Brown, of Kentucky, made
themselves noticeably conspicuous by their
reckless and abusive language, tho latter carry
ing it 10 such an extent as to draw upon himself
the censlire of the House. Amidst it all Butler
sat the calmeat of the calm retorting but once,
when he waa charged with being murderer for
hanging Mulford in New Orleans, by saying il
tiiub Nur He blOileu III IL anu iHOTeONtT
he was satisfied now had he done u little more
hanging in New Orleans ut that time it would
have been much better for the country.
Cain. from South Carolina, a genuine black
man, took the most active part in the debate of
any OF the colored members, and at times made
some very good points. His style was rather
dramatic and somewhat wordy. but the earnest
ness OF the appeal in behalf OF his race could not
fail to excite the interest OF his hearers Dur
ing the entire work the galleries were crowded
HwnyeI
along the corridors, the outs endeavoring to get
in and the ins trying to get out. The colored
population continued in possession of the gen
teman's gallery and all efforts to dislodge them
was futile. Whether they understood the pro-
ceedings or not, other than that it was the Civil
Rights Bill that was mp, mattered little. The
weather outside was raw and wintIy there it was
warm and.comfortable. They had no work and
plenty of time and 30 they enjoyed themselves
apparently much to the disgust of many of their
white brethren who hadn't a show, and who
compelled to kill time strolling up and
down the long corridors.
There is an end to all things. however, and 30
it has come to be with that discussion for the
present, so far as the House is concerned. As
is well known, on Friday the bill passed by large
majority. 1t IL by no means az radical a measure
AZ that which came over from the Senate last
session but is in the nature OF substitute The
school clause in the latter, which met with the
bitterest opposition, and which, if persisted in,
would have killed the bill, was left ont. AS
passed it relates to hotels, places Of amusement,
common carriers and juries. 1t also requires
United States Courts to act in cases where
State Courts fail to do OH account of local preju-
dice. After all it il very questionable whether
the bill will be Disposed of before adjournment.
unless the Senate agrce to pass it as it comes
from the House. The feeling in the Senate il
more radical than the House, shown by the
passage of the original bill. Should they, how
ever, make any amendments to 1t, thereby re-
quiring further legislation by the House, it is
scarcely possible, with the brief time remaining
and the large amount OF important business be-
fore them, that any satisfactory arrangement
can be arrived at.
THIS being the last week prior to tho Lenten
season, society has been making the most OF it
and il has been Il very gay one In addition to
the regular weekly receptions of the ladies' OF
the cabinet, the wives of Senators and Congress-
men and prominent citizens, there were several
germans, tea parties and balls all OF which were
fully attended and exceptionally attractive. The
Presidents levee OH Tuesday evening, and Mrs.
Grants reception this afternoon were both
crowded to exeess 30 that police had to be sta
toned at various points to prevent blockades
and keep the surging masses moving on. The
usual number of prominent personages and
beautiful ladies were present and many OF the
toettes were both elegant and elaborate.
Senator Howe, of the Library Committee, yes
terday, reported q bill for the erection OF fire
proof building. for the Congressional library;
1850 900 is asked for to commence the work and
it il to be erected under the superintendent OF
a commission consisting of the Supervising
Architect of the Treasury, the chairman OF the
Joint Committee on the Library, and the Chair
man OF the Senate Committee II Public Build
ings and Grounds, and the Librarian of Con-
gress. Judiciary Square, upon which the old
City Hall liz located Id mentioned as the site upon
which it il to be placed and, when completed,
all copy rights and all books and material OF the
library except such portion, not exceeding 5O =
600 volumes. shall DO designated by the
library committee to remain in the Capitol, shall
be removed thereto.
Tho Committee on Ways and Means OF the
House have been somewhat exercised over the
rumored presence of w. 5. King, OF Paclic Mail
notoriety. The EUeling Star published para
graph stating that he had been seen in this city
and had even conversed with the messengers to
the Investig eating committee, while tho commit
teei were examining other witnesses. 10 this
NJ g. Ordwuy Sergeant-at-Arms of the House
replied that he was positive MIR. King had not
been here. The statement was re-asserted by
the Star and, this morning, the committee at
tempted to CLEAN some light upon the subject
but appear to have Cleaned out liUtle satis-
faction. Most of the witnesses were newspaper
correspondence and each, with the exception OF
Geo w. Adams, of the New York World, testi.
fed to having been told by somebody else all
that they knew about it. The latter, however,
stated Mr. King had been here to his certain
| knowledge. The committee propose to look
| further into the matter.
General Butlor was presented, this morning,
with large and handsome boquet of azaas,
| fnchas with cala lilly center Hover. .Appen-
| ded thereto was card with the following
\ ..Justlce TO all is equality before the law. The
country owes you its gratitude. From the ladies'
| of New York"
Tho Misses DUPONT, of your city. are at pres
| eut in this city the guests of ID. w. Middleton,
/ . III Gitnr anna