Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1875-01-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
w AsuINGTON. ID C. IAN II lS

WASHINGTON, ID. c., JAN II, 1875.
The case of Louisiana has engrossed the
attention of Congress since the recess, and
while other business has been formally on
the docket it has not excited any interest,
the thoughts of members being on the
serious aspect of affairs in New Orleans.
There has been no such excitement since
the Impeachment days when 1t was sup
posed that Andy Johnson was contemplate
ing the use Of the army to put down Con-
gress. The cases are similar rs respects
the use of force, against Il legislative body,
but the situation is rather reversed. When
Johnson was on the rampage the Demo
Gratis were holding meetings to urge him
to exhaust his powers in sustaining the
Constitution even to using the military,
and the Republicans tried to impcach him
for squirting that way. Now however it
is the Republican administration that
uses the military, and the Democrats find
very substantial objections to that kind OF
medicine. The cases are not precisely
parallel, it is true, but sufficiently SO to
provoke the comparison. Senator Gordon
Of Georgia made n fierce personal attack
upon Edmunds of Vermont, and some OF
his more pointed spears pleased the
galleries so that there was a round OF APP
plause, and then there was a discussion
on the breach Of order and the pr0priety
Of clearing the galleries. Applause won
the day us it usually does, for it will be
extremely dull times in the Senate when
"A sharp retort doesn't find appreciation.
No doubt it is great improperly i'll the
galleri les to show any sign of knowledge
n ~ hat t,xo al in a
debate, and the Senators always take the
precaution to scoId little, but it usually
ends with scolling, with a few cross looks
from the victim side, countered by APP
proving smiles from the other. a rap from
the presiding officer, and a Pickwickian
call for the Sergeant alarms to keep his
eyes peeled, and if he sees the man that
makes the noise to seize him. and there
the matter ends.
The next day Gordon thinking better
of it came in and apologized to the Yer
inonter i'll a very graceful manner, and the
era of good feeling was completely restor-
ed. The discussion was continued on the
Democratic side by Hamilton Of Maryland
Thurman, Bayard of Delaware, and on
the part of the Republicans, by ConklIng,
Howe, West, and Morton. The speech OF
most ability as campaign effort was that
Of Bayard perhaps. There did not seem
| to be so much difference on the general
principles bearing on the case as on the
facts, and on the application of the prn-
| cipics 10 the particular case. The Repub-
| licAus do not claim that there is any
authority vested in the President to 90
into State and clean out the Legislature
nor do the Democrats deny the duty OF
the Government to put down q revolution
by force. But the Republicans say that
they were doing the last, and tie Demo
Gratis say that they were doing the first.
Who shall decide II is proper To say
that the Republicans are not unanimous.
as 10 their action, for Vice President " IL
son and many others denounce Sheridan
and Belknap in unmeasured terms, and
Wilson has been greatly exasperated over
the action ofthe Lieutenant General. The
Cabinet have had several meetings, and at
last have authorized the announcement,
that they have in preparation statement
Of the facts which will show that they
were justified in the facts and the law, and
the Constitution. in proceeding as they
have. This document win not get out in
season for comment in this letter, and it
may WHtlis NLs rs ptCls bI the case.
II is sincerely to be hoped that there will
be no further occasion Tor the use OF force,
and if both parties will consent to do what
is just, and act according to the precepts
Of Gov. Tilden's message. there ought 10
be no further apprehensions OF bloodshed.
The House passed the Currency Bill by
a large majority, and without any consi-
| deraOie talk. The great financial gcuiusses
lie: the opportunity slip of putting them
selves OF. the record, and posterity will
probably never know how much wisdom
Was smothsred by taking the question, in
such haste.
The House supposed ii had got the
| Pacific Mail witness Irwin into Jail, but
| he was too many for them. He got sick,
or what is the same thing so tar IS going
70 Jail IS concerned. he got some good
certificates from some good doctors that
| he was sick. and SO escapes Jail, for if he
| is As smart as he is represented TO be, h
can keep sick till tn end of the session
without much effort. Congress will hard
| ly take the responsibility of putting his
| life in peril for the sake of finding out
what he did with the money, and especial
| " as he will not be likeN to tell any one
after he is dead but Robert Dale Owen
and owing to late circumstances he might
treat il as confidential.
But after all, Irwin was sent to Jail, and
is now asking for q writ Of habeas corpus.