Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1876-04-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON d. c., April 10, 1876.
The river and harbor appropriation
bill recently rushed through the House,
many of the members, it is alleged, vo-
ting Tor it who were entirely guiltles-
of any knowledge of itS provisions, is
the most brazan Job that has so FAR sig
naliZsd the benincent swag OF non
partisan and economical Congress. The
bill appropriates something over So
0N,OU OF this sum Michigan absOrb-
S525. .0UO. With her long stretch ot
lake frontier and her numerous and
busy harbOrs, she could justly claim a
right To be literally remembered, and
as the figures show, has no cause for
dissatisfaction; but it should not be for.
gotten by citizens Of other sections,
that many other localities with quite
as large commercial interests, and
quite Is needy and quite as mach enti-
tied to Government aid, have been al.
most or quite ignored in this partial
distribution of the 'swag.' Next in the
list of the fortunate benetciaries comes
West Virginia, the home of Mr.. Her
ford, chairman of the com mittee on ap-
propriati1us. Her bequest amounts to
The paltry sum OF S495, 900, for the in-
provement of her mud puddleS and
brooks, lying and running in the inter
SticeS of her mountain sides and tops.
Most of these are a. innocent of any
prPtenSe to commerce as the goose or
frog pond where the boy with marine
tastes sails his miniature ships during
his play hours. The Empire State
with all her immense lakes, rivers,
cOastwise and ocean commerce ana
trade stands third on the list: and
com paratively little, insignificant Gal
weston with her beggariy showing OF
trade, receives more favor at the hands
Of our wise legislators in the House
than New York City. the point CT ey-
port and import and distribution OF q
large share of the commodities of com
meFce of the North American couti-
nent. Many little water courses of the
South known 10 exist only to those in
their immediate vi ,iaity, and to close
geographical students, are magnificent
ly provided for. This wanton and
pr0tiigate waste and misappropriation
of public funds, and that too at a time
when the Government is staggering
under its burden ofdebt with business
of ali kinds in a state of paralysis, and
almost an unprecedented prOstrstion,
is little less than a crime, although it,
promoters and abettOrS are protected
oy the legal methods observed in its
preparation. 4 hope is cherished that
the Senate, moved by the storm OF dis
appreciation and Indignation sure to be
provoked Oy the bold attempt to rob
and still further increase the burdens
of many taX-ridden constituencies,
will interpOse and defeat this iniqui-
tOus measure, when it comes before
that body for its endorsement or reiec-
ton. y plea Of ignorance on the part
of any member guilty OF an affirmative
vote on this bill ought not 10 be held
as valid excuse for his lack of judg-
IN nj and di, i,cernment in the matter.
" tn many people, at least, it will be
construed as an evidence of incompe
tcncy on the part of any one making
it. Ben Hill came near creating d
Democratic panic and stampede as he
arose the otDer evening to give eX-
preston to some views and pldtitu'!es
on the subject matter Of discussion b =
fore the House. Benjamin is an object
of painful interest and solicitude to hi,
party associates here. He is regarded
as being feariuily and wonderfully en-
dow ed; and his capacity for mischief
in his eva household has become so
strongly impressed on the conscious
ness of MS eX-COnfederate ard Copper.
head brethren that his slightest move
ment is regarded with apprehensiors
Of trouble and positive alarm. Hence
many Democratic ski were reeking
with a c a nmy reIspiratIon when he
took the floor, and many heart was
thrObhing with a wild and tUmultuCus
force as he proceeded with his remarks;
and his resumption Of the sitting pos
ture without another effort at vindica-
ting the South, relieved many faces of
the look of deep-seated detection and
ritulation which rested on them like
cloud during his short speech.
The j ury III the Ottman case has dis
agreed, and il is probable that he viii
be released on bail. Hallett KilIhOurn
is 70 appear before Chief Justice Carter
on a writ of ha6eds corpus for hear
ing. The House has ca led for a com
mittee Of conference on son of their
appropriation bills which Fage failed to
receive the concurrence of the Senate.
The silver bill has passed both Hols-
es of Congress, and we shall prObibly
soon hnve an abundance OF that ne tai
in circulation.
Yesterday was the anniversary Of
Mr.. LincOIn's assassination by a drunk
en- tool OF d haffled and defeated conspi-
racy against the liberties of the world,
and in the interests of medieval super
stitious feudalism, barbarism, and lhe
spirit of universal darkness that has
deluged the earth with blood, and af-
fiicted iC with untold miseries and IN
numbered woes. The establishment
of the perfect equality before the law !.
enc of the many benifcent result
ttat fiercely- contested Struggle; and if
the admOnljious Oi our history for the
last - years are duly needed, the
political party that precipitated upon
the nation the late war Tor the perpet-
uation of human slavery, it will never
have the power TO infiict upon the citi-
zenS Of this country again its reactiCua-
~ policy.
Rev. Mr.. Hammond is still preach
ing to crowded houses in this city,
AID an immense revival has followed
his efforts. 1t is estimated that nearly
or quite four thousand people have
prOfessed conversion under his minis
tratiOnS. MAXWELL.
0HER FEEE&EkFERV1