The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-06-17
Letter from Washington.


Speaker Kerr has been unanimously
acquitted ofthe malicious charges preferred
against him by an INSCRIPTIONS tool Of
the New York custom house ring; and
though the Republican members Of the
committee that investigated the matter
were obliged by the facts to join in the
verdict of acquittal, one of them { Danford)
did not neglect the opportunity to indeavor
to make point against the House major.
ity by disingenuous arraignment Of il,
because of its disagreeable habit Of inYes-
tigating the dishonest officials of the ad-
ministration. TWAS so characteristic of the
party that it only provoked the good,na-
tured contempt Of the Democrats. The
report must prove gratifying to the friends
of fair play and honest government every
where; and especially grateful to Mr.. Kerr,
and his immediate friends and relatives.
He has been so i'll for the past few days as
to excite the gravest apprehensions as to
the result, and widespread sympathy
for him and detestation Of the spirit inspir-
ing such attacks; but during the past forty
eight hours the marked Improvement in
his case has revived hopes of his ultimate
recovery.
The sudden and dangerous illness of
Mr.. Blaine last Sunday occasioned some
excitement here aud the atmosphere Of
our streets was heavy with the most exag-
gerated aud sensational rumors from the
time of his removal from the church, were
first attacked, up to the hour that he gave
the first sign Of returning consciousness.
The absence of all the specific symptoms
of apoplexy or paralysis excluded them
from the list of probable causes in the es-
timation of his physicians from the first,
and after consultation it was agreed that
his almost superhuman efforts last week,
to meet the damaging accusations against
him had left him in state of nervous
collapse which peculiarly invited and were
actually followed by sun stroke. His
medical attendants announce their faith
in his speedy convalescence. The Blaine
investigation business consumed so much
of the time of the House last week that
not much progress was made with the or
binary work of the session. Saturday
Blaine appeared before the subcommittee
and demand was made on him to pro-
duce the letters taken from the witness
Mulligan. He declined to do so and the
matter rests there and will, until he is
able to again appear before the committee.
The army bill has been reported by the
House appropriation committee. 1t ap-
propriated about 81 900, 900 less than last
year, and about SO, 900, 900 less than was
asked for by the virtuous Belknap in his
estimate for the next fiscal year, and re-
duces the present military force two regi-
mentS N infantry and two Of cavalry.
The maximum force allowed by the bill is
$4,000 mcn-privates and non-commis-
! stoned officers.
The legislative, executive aud judicial
appropriation bill, as prepared in the House,
has been so amended by the Senate as to
be unrecognizable; and in most cases the
appropriations have been restored to the
old figures, thus indicating determine
ton to resist the reform aud economical
measures advocated by the House. 1t is
believed that the House will refuse to
concede in the action Of the Senate, both
on account of economy and because it is
clearly beyond the province Of that body
to dictate to the House its action relative to
the appropriations; and to yield would be
a seeming acquiescence in the Senate s
diseourteous treatment. The House has
also passed the two Silver bills pending
before it for the purpose of providing a
greater abundance of change, lack Of
which is proving very embarrassing to
business interests 1t is not probable that
much business will be transacted this week.
The Cincinnati convention has drawn large
numbers of Representatives and some
Senators, and the Senate on Monday ad-
journed over until Thursday. Friday is
the day designated to hear the pleadings
in the Belknap case; and that is about all
that will be accomplished before next week,
The unexpected prostratiou of Mr.. Blaine,
who largely leads any of the other aspirants
for the Cincinnati nomination in pledged
delegates, came near creating panic
among his followers when the intelligence
reached them at Cincinnati. But they
soon recovered their courage as the reas-
surfing kilograms reached them that the
danger was over; and at this time he seems
the most probable nominee. The friends
of rival candidates seized the prospect that
Blaine was thus providentally out of the
way to advance the interest Of their favor.
ties The Conkling sycophants were es-
peeially active and did not scruple at any
means to promote the success Of this Radi-
cal aristocrat The Republicans have saved
the Democrats great deal of labor in ex-
posing the weak points of the various
candidates. The fight has been charac-
terised by the use Of the most vindictiye
and disreputable means. But it Is sub
iect of general remark that the contest
between different Democratic candidates
has thus far been marked by the utmost
courtesy and good feeling and nothing has
occurred to mar the pleasant relations ex-
isting between the friendly rivals. The
work of active investigation has been
nearly closed for the present session that
the backward work may be pushed to an
early adjournment But few reports have
vet been submitted and the country is
hardly prepared to hear the startling evil
dences of corruption which perinates the
whole structure of the government, and
which the various committees have been
industriously working since last December
to obtain that Radicalism may be judged
/