Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-02-05
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
w AsHINGToS. ID. c.. Feb. 3. lSI

On Saturday evening, week, the Repub-
licans of the House had IA caucus to deter
mine upon some method for exploiting
the public business, so that important
measures may be reached and acted upon |
before the present Congress expires. AS
the next Congress is to be Democratic, the
feel that all they Can accom-
plish for their party in the way of legisla-
ton must be done quickly, for in the sue
ceedng two years nothing can pass which
does not meet Democratic concurrence.
On the other hand the Democrats, aware
of their coming power, propose to stave
off as much legislation as possible, fully
convinced that what is defeated now Will
be defeated forever. The purpose OF the
caucus therefore was to devise some method
for depriying the Democrats of their power
to delay the passage of certain bills. They
resolved therefore t. get a suspension OF
the rules, so that on tAs call Of a majority
simply, ard not two-thirds, as now, mca-
sures may be taken up and passed. 10
get a suspension of the rules requires a
two-thirds vote and the Republicans have
the two-thirds, but on trying it on they
failed, as some of the party, including Hale
of Maine, Hoar of Massachusetts,. Burchard
of Illinois, and Hale of New York, all able
men, would not train in the party traces,
and voting with the Democrats the caucus
measure fell through. This has enabled
the Democrats to tiilibustcr on the Civil
Rights bill with effect. and SO all day We'd
-nes,tr.ry--! ---ana -Ilurslay all day.
the House was occupied lnGtaKlnI VDrc-
on dilatory motions. and in wranSles upon
points of order. Such proceedings are the
most tircsome. wearing and ag%raVatlng
in their nature that can he imagined. and
ii takes very strong constitutions to go
through with one of their performances
of twenty four hours duration without the
aid of very strong stimulants. but ven
ture to say there is no reason To believe
that the severe drought VIII oh has afflicted
some portions of the country for many
months. has diminished the liquid supplies
to such an extent that any member failed
lin his duty for want OF the rec uisite a
mount to take him through the ordeal.
The important matter ct Louisiana has
occupied the attention Of the Senate, and
the debate which had begun to flag after
the Message WAS received. revived in in
tcrest upon the speech of Mr.. Pease, the
new Senator of Mississippi. who showed
himself able. earnest and an effective
speaker. He sustained the action of the
President. and gave many highly interest
ing facts concerning the condition OF
things in Mi>si,s ippi and Louisiana. which
DO not accord with the representations OF
Gordon. Hamilton and Schurz. Then came
"a ringing speech from Thurman. who, as
m aspirant for the Democratic nomination
+ for the Presidency, and the leader of his
lao. f.l+ COL ~ Il "A
his best on that side. and prove himself
worthy OF the position he occupies in the
party. As il stood before. Schurz. who
does not belong to the party, had made
the most brilliant speech against the
course of the President. and SO Thurman
was by force OF circumstances, compelled
/ to step TO the front and free the Democra-
tie heart. lie drew Il large audience, and
spoke with much ppNer for four hours,
giving Grant. Sheridan and Kellogg many
sharp thrusts under their jackets, holding
/ his hearers Ia the end.
! On Thursday Conkling of New York
entered the lists and Was received with
/ the greetings Of the largest audience of the
season. Members Of the House came IN
and took seats. the chairs of Senators wert
occupied. members of the Cabinet, ex-
/ Seaat--- R~re-vtr johnson and Edwin ID
! Morgan. Judge Swayne of the Supreme
[ Court. Fred. Douglass and many promi-
ncnt men from various quarters were in
/ attendance. The speech was ii fine one
! nratnr.oalIy, and hy far the ahlest defence
/ Of the President that has been made. MOI
| ijl he remain on the defensive, but CARR
/ Ed the war vigorously into Africa in way
/ that made 1hugm and Schurz FESTIVE
and produced Il marked sensation in the
audience. Cunkiing spoke over four hours
and left no doubt as u his title To the
! leadership Of his party in toe Senate. On
I Friday Mr.. c. again took the floor. and
spoke nearly three hours more. The day
was wet and the walking bad. but the at
/ tendance WAS about the same as before
/ The speech as a specimen of Congressional
cloquence has not been surpassed for 4
/ long time. Some portions Of it were
| specimens of measured defamation not
often seen in the Senate. When ConklinC
concluded Gordon of Georgia took tn,
hoor and commenced a set speech sustain
| ing his previous views. Gordon is one o
the best debaiers of the Senate, but ha:
hardly the weight OF Thurman, or Conk
ling.
Sartors and wife reached here on Thurs
day much To- the JOY Of Gen. and Mrs
Grant, who idolize their pretty daughter
Nellie. Well we are all glad to have he
back, think.
1t was reported that VIM. 5. King tn,
man that the Committee of Ways ant
Means are looking for, came in on Thurs