New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-01-08
Especial Correspondence of the Republican. !
FROM WASHINGTON.

- ono VINO uaS D60u aD6cuU IrOM w 6eu-
ington some three or four years, the i'm
provements made in that time seem almost
incredible. 1t is no longer city of mud
and magnificent distances. Well paved
streets, neatly arranged parks and palatial
residences greet you everywhere. The
District ring" about which SO much has
been said and written Of late years, may
have abused their trust, but tina. they have
accomplished vast deal of good is evident
to the most casual observer.
Congress meets on Wednesday, Mem
bers are coming in slowly. The Republi-
cans appears sullen and defiant, while the
Democrats hint vaguely at reform, retrench-
ment and investigating committees. Alto
gether the session promises to be the most
exciting of any held since the memorable
days of lS6O-6l. As yet none of the Louis
lana members have put in their appearance.
Senator Morton said TO me this morning
that the question Of Governor Pinchback
admission or rejection would be definitely
settled before the close of the present
month. He seems determined to press it
to an issue, and is confident of success. Ii
all the Republicans are in their seats when
the vota is taken Pinchback will be ad-
mitted.
You have heard of Stewart. lie is the
new postmaster of the House, and who, to
use the language accredited him by the
agent of the Associated Press, "bounced"
the old employees Of His department. OF
the fourteen appointments within his gilt,
Stewart gave nine to men from his native
heath, Virginia, and seven of the nine to
men from his native town-AleXandcia. Of
the remainder one was given to gentle
man from Connecticut. There is an old
adage, frequently used in speaking Of gov
ernment employees, that ''tew die and none
resign There proved to be an exception
to this rule, for in a few days the gen
tleman from the Nutmeg State rendered his
resignation. Stewart rubbed his eyes in
utter amazement. 1t seemed incredible that
a man who had just stepped into ''soft'
position should be willing to relinquish
it in SO short a time. and, when
pressed for a reason, he gave it in
rather an emphatic manner. Il am" he
said, "a Democrat; expect to de Demo.
| crat; but l am also Nolthern man, and
| in the general acceptaticn of the term, q
! Yankee, and may Satan take me for fool,
| dolt and an idiot it l can stay here and
allow set of ragamuffins, who haven't a
| decent shirt to their backs. to derounce all
did l would have knock down on my
| hands every hour in the day; SO the best
| thing can do is t. go home, which I pro-
pose to do; and, as for you-well. you can
all go to the devil"
This is only an isolated case. The actions
and language Of some of the employees of
| the House just before the recess became so
| extensively conspicuous that the matter was
brought up in Democratic caucus by a
| Pennsylvania member, with the emphatic
continued to conduct themselves in such a
reprehensible manner, their Northern
| brethren would not be responsible for the
consequences.
Another individual. hailing from the
Hoosier State. was appointed to a position
under the Clerk of the House. When in
formed that he would be obliged to take the
iron-clad oath, he exclaimed, rather d u bious
ly: 81 don't know about that. ! published
paper IN Indiana during the war, and my
sympathies were with the South. But" he
added refectively, II don't suppose il
makes id bit of difference; go spin your
jimmy, old fellow, and trot out your oath
I'll take it." And he did.
The bitter feeling manifested upon the
announcement Of the House committees i:
any thing but allayed, and Kerr's action i;
still freely criticised. That he will fail al
q Speaker, and Morrison fail as leader, art
predictions heard on every side 1t SCENE
to be forgotten that the chairman of ths
Ways and Means Committee has not alway'
been regarded as the leader OF the House
When the Committee on Appropriation
was formed, some fourteen years ago, anC
Thad Stevens appointed its chairman, thu
head of the Ways and Means Cornmitte,
lost its prestige. No one disputed the "Olt
Commoner's" claim to the leadership of tn,
House. As it proved in Stevens time, e,
it will prove during the coming session. Ii
caucus and committee room Morrison may
to great extent, shape the course of hi
party, but, on the floor Of the House, th
Democracy will look to Randall. Cox
Lamar, ETC., for the assistance necessary t.
extricate them from the pitfalls into whicl
the sharp tactics of Blaine, Garfield, ant
other Republicans will lead them.
Five out of six Democrats on the Way
and Means Committee, viz: Morrison
Wood. Hancock, Hill and Tucker, and on'
Republican, Burchard, are free traders
while four out Of five Republicans, viz
Blaine, Garfield, Kelley, and Chaplin, ans
one Democrat, Thomas, are protectionists
Nine of the committee are hard money men
and two, Hill and Kelley, are inflationists
Evidently Kerr intended the committe,
should be in favor of hard money and fre,
trade.
have the authority of a prominent mem
ber of the Cabinet Whose name figures con
spicuously in connection with the presi
dency), for stating that the administration
will not attempt to control, nor even taxi
part in the election of delegates to the mex
national convention. 1.-The President" h,
said, "has assured me that it was his earn
est desire to have q Republican successor
There are now some ten or twelve gentle
men spoken of in connection with the presi
dency. Between all of these aspirants ant