The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-04-08
WASHINGTON LETTER.



Correspondence Of the Democratic Advocate,
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 5, 1876
There is feeling Of quiet satisfaction over
the result of the Connecticut election.
1t is evident that the power held by the
combination of corrupt men, who, with Grant
at their head, control the Republican party,
is not shaken by the disclosures Of maladmn.
istration recently made; and II becomes every
day more and more certain that the Cincn'
natl Convention will nominate any man this
ring shall choose. II is admitted here that
the State of New York with her thirty five
electoral votes will decide the next Presiden-
tial election il being certain that neither
party can win without the vote of that State.
The endorsement Of Roscoe Conkling, mem
Der Of the Grant ring from the first, by the
Republicans Of New York, was, therefore,
particularly grateful to the Ring, and may be
accepted as an evidence that the decent men
Of that party will have no voice in the nom.
nation. Conking has held absolute power
over the Office holders Of New York State,
and has controlled the patronage Of the New
York Custom House, for eight years; aud his
strength, derived from "the cohesive power Of
public plumber should not be under estima-
ted. The great issue Of the coming Presiden-
tial campaign will be honest government; and
the Democratic party is placing itself squarely
on that issue. While it is, as have said,
evident that the Republican nominee will
represent the existing corruption, it is equally
apparent that the nominee Of the Democratic
party must represent Administration reform.
Platforms the people have learned to distrust,
as being merely promises too often broken.
The character Of the candidates will weigh
more with the people than any pledges.
These questions are freely discussed among
leading men here, and there is a healthy tone
developed which bodies well for the party.
Henry II. Finley, of st. Paul, Mimi, who
was employed by the Interior Department AZ
an attorney to work up the frauds in the Land
Office, has discovered evidence of the most
startling character, duplicating ex-Secretary
Delano, ex-asSistant Secretary Cowen, and
two United States Senators. Upon reporting
these facts, few days ago, Finley was mott.
fled that his services were no longer required,
as the Government did not think IL necessary
to continue the Investigation any further.
A witness before a committee ofthe House,
several days since, stated that Trenor W.
Parke paid John Delano, son OF Secretary
Delano, $4,000 for the patent for the Emma
Mine tract, and that the patent was issued
upon fraudulent papers now on file in the
Department. John Deano has been sub
pGnaed, and further Developments may be
looked for.
Secretary Robson is also implicated in the
most gigantic as well az the most petty kinds
of frauds-from depositing 81, 900 of gov
eminent funds with the bankrupt house of
Jay Cook 4 Co., to bolster up their fallen
fortunes, to having articles of furniture for
his own use made in the Navy Yard shops, at
Government expense.
All the investigating committees are hard
at work, with every prospect of more work to
come.
A point in the Republican game, in both
Houses, is to provoke, by taunts and jeers,
tie members who were identified with the
late Confederate States Government, especi
ally those who served in the Southern army,
into unguarded utterances In the Senate,
their target for some time, has been General
Gordon, of Georgia, than whom more court
eous gentleman in debate does not occupy
seat in the Senate. Senator Gordon, US is
generally known, laid down his arms with
Lee, at Appomattox, and has never violated
his parole. And yet, Morton and his brother
Radicals have hurled their envenomed shafts
at him repeatedly, hoping to provoke him into
an angry and unguarded reply, "The devil on
WV nNNhof ~ thV WHY bOu lhlt blllth lit
senior Senator from Indiana, recently called
Gordon "a living monument of the magnan-
unity of the Republican party" fondly hoping
that the Georgia Senator, in reply, would say
something which he, Morton, and his follow
ers, could quote from the political stump, to
prove that the Southern people are still unre-
pentant and .unreconstructed. The Georgia
Senator was wise enough to treat Morton's
gibe as it deserved to be treated, with digni-
he'd silence.
Gen. Grant has been suspicously i'll of
late; but is now better. About this time, he
is beginning to east wistful eyes in the direc
ton of the sea-shore. The prospects Of his
getting away early this spring are not at all
hattering, as the session Of Congress may be
prolonged into the summer months. The
House has adopted resolution calling upon
him for information as TO whether the execu
tive functions Of the President have, at any
time since 1869, been exercised at any other
place than Washington, and il so, for what
length of time, and by what authority. The
reply Of the President is awaited with interest
by pensive public. That the executive
functions have been exercised at Long Branch,
and other points outside of Washington, is a
national fact. 1t is also conceded that there
is no authority for the exercise Of said .ttnc-
lions at any other place than the Capital
Ulysses, however, left a loop hole for escape
by dating from, although not at, Washington,
all official documents actually prepared and
signed at Long Branch. Postmasters, for
instance, received their commissions from the
White House in Washington, where they
were forwarded by the President, who signed
them at Long Branch. All of them, of
course, have the official legend, "Done at the
City of Washington, d. c., &c. &c, as wit
ness my hand" &c. Whether this loop hole
is sufficiently large to permit the escape Of
Ulysses from, at least, severe reprimand,
remains to be seen.
Hon. b. A. Willis, of New York, who in.
troduced the compromise financial bill
which has attracted such general attention, is
one of the most energetic and efficient MEM
bers of the House. Few men succeed, dur
ing their first term in Congress, in attaining
so prominent a position us Mr.. Willis has
already achieved. Whatever may be the final
action upon his bill, which is one of the most
important before Congress, there can be no
question as to the ability and thought dis.
played in its preparation; and, should it be
adopted as means Of compromise on the
money question, by both parties, as Mr..
Willis expects, it will confer an honorable
fame upon its author.