The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-12-30
Correspondence of the Democratic Advocate.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9th, 1876.
II General Grant would only go to Long
Branch during the Christmas Holidays, there
would be scarcely any thing, but hot weather,
wanting to remind us of summer, for many
members and senators haye returned for q
brief season to the bosom of their constituent
cies; thousands Of government clerks. male
and female, have gone to their homes in the
different States, which they have not seen
since they had forty days leave of absence,
without reduction of pay, to go home and
vote for Hayes and Wheeler or be discharged,
without intimidation (?) Washington is as
dull as summer during this season. A sprink-
ling OF cadets from Annapolis and West Point,
mo city has so many scions educated at gov
ernment expense as Washington a few
balls, tableaux, and church festivals, coming
Immediately after Legislative turmoil, and in
the midst OF incipient revolution, has an effect
to make us indifferent TO the vicissitudes of
life and mediate rashness, matrimony, or at
least to give us that nal ddmirdndunl air, so
charmingly affected by Miss Shoddy when
she says, "yes this reminds me when went
to 'Venus" on the "Aderatic'' and saw the
pyramid of Chops" A fewmembers of Con.
gress, however, remain, working during the
holidays on the various committees; among
them the interchangeable Holman, chairman Of
the committee on appropriations. Almost
every week results in disclosures which Justify
the economy of which he has so long been the
exponent and for which he has been the best
abused Democrat on the floor. The latest
disco very is that the pay roll Of the Patent
Office contains large number of fictitious
names, and that favorites represented by these
names have been drawing pay for which they
rendered no equivalent in work. These
frauds occasion no sensation in Washington,
we are used to them; nil ddmirdndum is our
motto, they have become monotonous, have
no originality, and are no longer effective
even in pointing q moral. Indeed there are
excuses for these frauds. Mr.. Chandler cannot
be expected to see to every thing; before the
election he was directing the campaign, or
levying and disbursing clerical assessments,
since then he has been engrossed with the
Returning Boards, and it would be recurring
too mnch of mortal cabinet minister to ask
him to give his entire attention to the side
show called the Interior Department of which
the Patent Office forms part. Nor should
the Hon. Mr.. Duell, Commissioner of Pat.
ents, be too severely blamed. He also has
done the party good service-notably in at.
taching an illuminated supplement to an off.
cial circular through which thousands of ap.
plicants for patents were informed, that owing
to the reduction of force made by the last
Congress their cases could not be attended to
with the usual promptness. Under cover of
this circular, the employees of the Patent
Office were enabled to leave for forty DAYS
and render valuable assistance in the cam.
paign. Now it is feared that Judge Holman
will insist upon further reduction of Mr..
Duelrs force, and cripple still further the
efficiency OF the Department as a political
machine. But worst of all, there is a wide
spread impression that Mr.. Tilden will offer
Judge Holman the Secretaryship of the In.
terror Department where his penchdnt for
meddiing with expenses, Gripping machinery,
and saving money to taxpayers would pro.
duce contrast uncomplmentary to its pres.
ent administration, and prove more effective
than illuminated circulars, or even than money
wrung from government clerks in keeping the
bloody economical Democrats in power.
Those with whom have conyersed are not
very hopeful that the joint committee will
effect solution Of the Presidential difficulty.
The Senator whose influence the advocates
OF constitutional methods most fear is Mr..
Morton, of Indiana; and yet he has placed
himself more squarely on record than other
Senator, 70 the effect that the Vice President
has no right TO count the vote, and that the
inability of both houses to agree upon o State
presenting two returns must deprive that State
Of its voice in the electoral college. He is
the author of a bill embodyibg these theories
which passed the Senate no later than last
session, Mr.. Morton has, however, been on
both sides OF SO many questions that it will
surprise everybody il he should be consistent
in this. But as he turns this time he will turn
under the scrutiny of 100000 of people,
aided by the magnifying power of 1000 news.
papers; for, although the journals edited by
Postmasters, which compose so large a pro.
portion of these, hope to profit by his tergiv.
ersation, and will doubtless attempt its pal
liation, in recording his vote, they will re.
cord the fact.
Democratic members are in daily receipt
Of letters which give assurance Of the largest
and most unanimous political demonstrations,
on the sth q January, in recognition Of the
election OF Tildsp, that baye eyer been known
in this country. They are assured hat Re.
publieans will very generally participate, and
in many localities take the lead in urging
compliance with the verdict of the majority.