The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-03-14

vania.
WASHINGTON, March 18th, 1876.
From our Regular Correspondent.
The air in Washington is so thick
with the Belknap and kindred scandals,
that even such important legislation as
the conclusion of the long Pinchback
serial is passed by, almost without notice.
and yet its Importance as a precedent
and principle, in this final settlement, ad-
versely to the claimant, can hardly be
overestimated. For three long years this
now historic bronze sdventurer, with his
bogus credentials, has been hanging on
the ticklish verge OF the highest legisla-
tive body on the planet. and he was pre-
vented from effecting an entrance only
through a coalition Of handful OF Re
publican Senators with the Democratic
minority, most prominent among whom
was Zach. Chambers worthy successor,
Senator Chrlstiancy, of Michigan. This
State, by the way, seems anything but
friendly to the notorious claimant His
fate had no sooner been decided by an
adverse vote than Senator Ferry, of
Michigan, the Vice-Presldent, gave orders
to the door-keepers that he should no
longer be admitted on the floor.
In taking final leave Of Pinchback we
see depart, perhaps, the smartest mulat-
to that has ever appeared in American
politics, Fred Douglas not excepted.
He NAV not have been in any sense q
great man, probably would never have
developed into statesman, but he had
the talent, energy, courage and sublime
ecotism which elicit the admiration OF
men, and half blind them to his faults
and the barrenness Of his cause. be
left making threats to appear again with
new papers and more powerful back
ing; but it is too late, he will have to
confine his ambition to local State poll
tics, or retire upon his fortune, which is
at least quarter of Il million.
Apropos of Senator Christiancy, you
will remember that be very recently
married u young wife, countess (money
counter, as the punsters said. in the
Treasury Department. Well, our aus
tere alabaster society, composed OF a
pucleus of Cabinet ladies and others,
whose lineage can be traced to obscure
ty or chaos, by memory and without
the aid of book, were in long and doubt
full elaboration as to whether they would
recognize her in their charmed circle.
The ugly and moralesque feature Of the
deliberation WAS the urgent demand of
the fallen Mrs. Belknsp for an edct of
exclusion against the audacious little
parvenu But the young wife OF the
rugged cd Michigander, has been called
upon by Mrs. Fish, and the other Cabi
net ladies, and now she, since her social
e1altation, has cut her former acquaint-
ances. Are We after all rs the cynIc
said vase of writhing serpents each
striving to lift his head above the other?
Rumor is loud in reference to the eX-
posures of fraud and corruption in the
different departments and your CORES
pondent has the best of authority for
saving that tie investigations, now pend
ing. are every day bringing to light
theft, population and every species of
official malfeasance; these will all be bu!-
letined that the wrrld may know them,
in good time. The Democrats feel that
their policy of secret investigation has
been triumphantly indicated in the sue
cess of Mr.. Clymer's committees The
criminals they are after have not COM
mitted their dark deeds IN daylight or
on hill tops, and there could be no more
absurd farce than to investigate them
with banners and tom-toms. 1t Is not
possible that any future discovery will
possess the unique enormity, and
GenOuemeHt that made the
Belknap horror so conspicuous. 1t is to
be regretted that the incessant
waste and petty larceny through
out all the Government depart
ments, amounting TO concrete millions
yearly, and patent to every man who
brings his eyes to Washington, but unre-
buked because of its intanglbllity or
pettiness of detail, cannot by some pro-
cess OF chemistry or legislation, be massed
and made to appear in its aggregate i'm
mensity. The scape goat to bear away
this hsbitual daily theft OF the present
administration, would require shoulders
much broaCer than those even of the
colossal Belknap.
In the camp of the enemy every effort
is made to distract attention from the
resl trail. The real tactics of intimida-
ton that were employed by the whisky
ring are now employed here by what
was supposed to be the more respectable
portion of the press and statesmen of the
party of .'moral ideas" In their frantic
desperation they catch at such strsws as
the departure of the witness Marsh, and
invent baseless lies about gentlemen of
the investigating committee, and espe.
cisllv abont the chairman, Mr.. Clymer,
who has been the conspicuous aad
able leader of this Investigation.
There has been powerful effort
i d ipfipnidata him