Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1875-03-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 6, '75.
Especial to the Chronicle.l
Congress adjourned at II NJ, on the
4th. The same confusion and excite
ment accompanied its last hours which
have characterized the close of all its
predecessors. The final session began
at III A. NJ, on the Sd, and was continu-
GUS, with the exception of two short re-
cesSes in the House, and in that twen-
ty-five hours the great bulk of the laws
enacted since assembling in December
last were perfected. Appropriations in
volvlng many millions were made
Debate was barred. Excitement ruled
and were it not that such ending of two
years legislation did not differ from the
past, unless 1t was in the greater mod
GRAFTON of the members one would feel
warranted in reducing the days of Con-
gress to few in number, thus avoiding
the interminabie debates, and heavy
expenses of prolonged sessions. At
day light on the morning of the 4th, the
House OF Representatives presented a
lsingular appearance. A few members
only were transacting business; the
balance were either absent or asleep;
scores of them were stretched out on
rthe floor, others in their chairs seeking
rest in every possible position, and
there was little indication indeed that
this was one of the highest legislative
bodies of our country. But after the
short morning recess each member was
alive to business and each was striving
in every practicable manner to procure
recognition of the Speaker as this re-
cognition was the virtual passage of
the bill in the members hands. No
enc knew what his neighbor was striv-
ing to have passed, being intent only
in advancing his own measure. No
votes were taken as rule as the state
ment of the Speaker that there was no
objection was equivalent to passage,
hence the indeScribable scene of con-
fusion and excitement up to the hour
of II NJ, when Mr.. Blaine raped the
House to order. About IL A. NJ. the
ladies were admitted to the floor, and
so great were their numb bers that every
vacant space outside the members desks
was occupied. The galleries also were
densely packed. When the Speaker
raped the quiet restored was perfect,
and the few eloquent and most felicit-
Gus remarks made by him were listen
led to with breathlesS attention. He
renewed his thanks and gratitude to
he. majority for the great honOrs con-
ferred on him by three successive elec-
tlOns as Speaker, an honor surpassed
in length by but two of his predecessors
and equalled by only two others, and
rendered his acknowledgements to the
minority for the generous courtesy
with which they had treated him, say
ing in conclusions: "Thanking you once
more, and thanking you most cordially
for the honorable testimonial you have
placed on record to m? credit perform
my only remaining duty in declaring
the FortyIhird Congress has reached
its constitutional limit, and that the
House of Representatives stands ad-
Ijourned without day" With his last
words the hammer fell, he left his chair
and took seat at the Clerks desk.
The scene that followed has never be-
fore been witnessed in the House. The
widest enthusiasm prevailed. On the
/ floor and in the galleries, the ladies
waved their handkerchiefs, and the
men clapped their hands and cheered
with heartinesS that made the walls
ring with their applause. Mr.. Blaine
was sensibly affected by the spOntane-
Gus and generous compliment given
him, but made no response beyond
bowlng his Acknowledgements. Mr..
Blaine, as a speaker, has never had a
superior; possessed of clearest intellect,
rare knowledge of parliamentary
law, quickest perception of knottiest
points, of astonish powers of endurance
by which he was able always to sit
throughout the most protracted ses-
sions, he has proved himself unsur.
passed as presiding officer He will
undoubtedly be the leader of the Oppo-
sition or Republicans in the next House
as he is not only the best parliamenta-
rian but is aggressive, shirking no con-
test, and the confidence of his party to
sustain him in whatever he may under
take to carry through.
The Equalization Bounty bill failed
to becomea law through the adverse ac-
tion of the Senate. The bill passed the
House, was amended in the Senate, and
returned to the House, which refused
to concur in the amendments. The
bill was then sent to Committee of
Conference which reported that the
Senate and House do concur in the
Senate amendments. This report was
accepted by the House but was tabled
by the Senate by 80 yeas and "A nays.
Senators Thurman and Sherman were
absent. Under impression that the
action of the Conference Committee
was final the bill had been engrossed
and signed by the Speaker of the House
and Vlce-President, but the President
would not approve, as it was not con-
stitutionally law, lacking only his
signature. An endeavor has been made
to throw the responsibility of failure
upon him, but it is by those who ignore
the fact that each body must concur in
in the recommendations of the Con-
ference COnmiItee before the bill re-
ported upon becomes a law. 1t is II
claimed, however, that the President
would have vetoed it even if all re-
quirements had been complied with;
of this we lave no evidence. But wei
do know that the Bounty bill would |
not have been law had he approved,
for the Senate had refused to complete
the constitutional requirements upon
the act. -i-H els -i-'t-- "1-
Under the Presidents Proclamation
calling an extra session, the Senate
has organized and the new smembers
elect have been sworn in. There was
an intense desire to see Andrew John
son. A large bouquet was laid upon
his table, and when he made his
appearance in the Senate Chamber he
was greeted by general applause. 1t
seems singular indeed that he who was
so unpopular years ago, should now
have regained so much of popular fa-
vor. When, however, we look at the
great body of confederate soldiery in
our Halls of Congress we can appreci-
ate the reason why Johnson is welcom-
ed back with feelings of thankfulness,
for we know that with all his vagaries
he is as intense lover of the Uniou as
in 1861, and can be trusted as implicit
~ to oppose secession now as then.
We heard Old Ben Wade, in 1867, tell !
General Forrest in Memphis, that he !
would rather meet the Confederacy on
the battle field than in Congress. and |