New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-08-06
Especial Correspondence of the Republican
AFFAIRS AT THE CAPITAL.


WASHINGTON, d. c., August 2, 1876.
EDITOR REPUBLICANS:
The long Belknap agony is over at last,
and has ended as so often predicted, in his
acquittal, by vote of thirty-six for and
twenty-five against verdict of guilty.
Those not voting were Alcorn, Barnum:
Bogy, Burnside, Clayton, Goldthwaite,
Johnston, Jones, of Florida, and Sharon.
Some of the Senators voting mot guilty
or who refrained from voting at ALL stated
in explanation of their votes that they did
not consider the question of the guilt or in
nocence of the accused, but conscientiously
believing that the Senate had no jurisdic-
ton in the case. they could not consistently
authoritively pass upon the guilt or inno-
cence of the ex-Secretary. l believe their
views we're held by large majority OF the
residents and visitors here at the capital.
The remedy proposed by such as believed
in Belknaps guilt was by indictment and
trial before q court. The announcement of
the final result created hardly a ripple of
excitement. The subject was extensively
discussed and dismissed weeks ago by the
public, and, as before stated, by far the
larger proportion of this community be-
lieve that the two Mrs. Belknaps knew
more Of the "true inwardness" Of the mat
| ter than did Belknap; and that the ex-
posure came at last, "a many others have
| and will, through woman's envy and jeai-
ousy. Now that this business has been dis
posed of, vigorous effort will be made to
reach an adjournment. Four appropriation
bills yet remain to be harmoniz I'D in some
way and passed, or some portion of the
public service must suffer.
| The Indian bill is so far compromised
| that 1t could be disposed of in a very short
| time. The consular and diplomatic bill
presents many difficulties; but the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial bill, under
the provisions Of which nearly all United
States ticials are paid, is the real stumbl-
ing block to an early adjournment. For
weeks it has been the subject of a very de-
termined struggle, and Notwithstanding the
many reports that an agreement has been,
or was about to be reached, the members
of the last conference committee appears to
be as far apart as any two of their prede
cessors. BANDS bill, from the Committee
on Mines and Mining, has been much dis
cussed during the week both in and out o.
Congress. It's aims, the utilization of the
products of our gold and SILVER mines, have
become pretty familiar wherever mail facili
| - 10 nd
response, 80 far as it is reflected by mem
5ers of Congress, appear rather favorable
than otherwise. A vote has up to the pres
emit time been defeated through the till
clustering tactics Of its opponents.
President Grant has, in compliance witt
a quest from the Senate transmitted t
that body copy of all papers in his pos
session relating to the brutal massacre q
Hamburg, South Carolina including lei
ter from him to Governor Chamberlain 9
that Ku-Klux-atflicted State. The Pres
dent characterize the outrage in fttin
y terms, and leaves no one in doubt as to hi
= intentions to protect every citizen in b;
lawful rights, and to punish murderers an
other criminals when leg Sly requested b
the proper authorities, after dam0nstra tin
their own inability to execute the law
| The sentiments are wise, manly and ou
= spoken, and show that the executive vi
. not be deferred from his duty by any Den
4 ocratic howl of invasion of State rights.
1t is the general verdict here among RI
publicans and better informed Democra,
41o luSc boa nnt
: poor case against the President, and tia
he has thus far failed to show one goo
reason for the insinuations and outspoke
} charges relative to the Presidents attem{
to shield the whisky ring, inspired and pg
!. out by his personal and political enemie
u A disposition is also manifested by Gel
II eral Plaisted, tie Republican mem Der
the committee which heard Wilson's test
- mony, to probe the matter or the whsb
!, prosecutions to it's uttermost depths, ths
every man concerned, from the Presidel
down, may be made to occupy the positio,
they deserve. His ability as a lawyer an
his known perseverance and bulldog tenac
ty in following up trail. leads to the hoI
that the conspilators against the Presiden
u if there are such, may be strip ed of the
). masks and the light turned fully on then
~ Fitzhugh testified to his friends that
u was "a bigger man than old Grant," an
) the developments of the past six or eigl
months make it evident that there is
goodly sprinkling OF officials, great ar
~ small, who labor under like halluc ination
% and perhaps it is deemed only fair reco
x milton CT merit to give such an opportuni
Is to prove it to admi1ing fellow citizens.
l. A careful count OF the presen employ
U reveals the fact that since last Decembt
when the ex Confederates seized the Hou
3 of Representatives, there have been d
IL missed about lis subordinate Office
10 around the House. Nearly one-half
81 these served in the Union arm Y, some
10 teen of whom were disabled in the servie
IL Among those appointed to replace the
o. are forty seven Confederates. So mu
= for rebel repentance and love of civil 81
Is vice reform. MAXWELL.
"a Tho Chinese Question.
Ia Whatever may be thought of the procee
ings of the late Democratic nOmina ting co
~ vention in other respects, we beg to pol
r. out that in the Chinese question they p
il, their foot in it quite up to the knee. !
y, consciously dishonest profession ever J
~ carried an election in these United State
l. nor has such profession ever yet failed
10 repel more voters than it served to attrat
10 We are reminded of the old story touchil
~ the making of a Democratic ticket once