Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1876-08-03
Our Washington Letter

the daily arrival of numerous
strangers either going to OF
coming from Philadelphia lends
to our streets quite a lively APP
pearance. The Senate met yes
terday, when. after the journal
was read, the death of Senator
Allen t. Caperton, of West
Virginia, was announced by
Mr.. Bayard, a committee of
four were appointed to accom-
pany his remains to his late
home in West Virginia, and
then as a mark Of respect to his
memory, the Senate adjourned.
Later in the day the same ac-
ton was taken by the House of
Representatives, seven members
being appointed to act with the
four Senators. Mr.. Caperton
died suddenly at his residence
in this city. The immediate
cause of his death is understood
to have been "argeries pccto-
ries," a type Of heart disease.
The speeches (they can hard
ly be called arguments-atle least
those of his counseD having
ended, it is thought that the
Senate as a Court will to-day
announce its judgment in the
case. While there is little
doubt as to Belknap's guilt,
there is much doubt as to what
the Judgment will be. The de-
Tense was simply brazen in its
impudencc, though there was
something in Judge Blacks
point that the impeached Sec
rotary was only following the
example of his chief, who gave
his appointments to men who
made him presents. So, also,
Mr.. Carpenter resorted to the
role of the vulgarian, who when
called a liar, contents himself
with the retort "you're another"
Mr.. Carpenter reminded Sena-
tors that they took boxes Of
cigars from men who had bu-
siness before the Departments
and wanted their influence.
Senators who do such things
land it is a common practice)
deserve to be pointed out by
name and held up to public
scorn aud contempt. If their
income will not enable them to
purchase cigars, they should
give up smoking. The theory
of Belknap's defense was, that
he was no worse than his COM
panions. This may be true,
but two wrongs never yet made
a right. His misfortune was
that he was caught III the act
and frightened into confession.
Secretary Robson who has sto-
len industriously and systemat-
ically ever since he came into
office, defies the abundant proof
of his guilt, and keeps on in
Grants rotten cabinet. Tele-
graphic instructions were sent
on the 23d inst, to the COM
handing officer at Columbia,
S. c., ordering him to detail an
officer and twelve picked men
for duty at Hamburg, S. &.
Every one can understand what
is meant by picking the men.
1t only means to select such
as are willing to render
themselves obnoxious to the
white people of that locality.
The delay of Governor Til
den in writing his letter of ac-
ceptance has been very unfavor-
ably commented on by the Re-
publican press. Some of them
profess to see in the delay a sign
of antagonism between Mr..
Tilden and Mr.. Hendricks.
But the straightforward, down
right denial of Mr.. Hendricks
that such is the case, at once
extinguishes their most ingen-
ious conceptions. But the de-
Law of Gov. Tilden has been
fortunate on one account. 1t has
given him time to getthe full ac-
Count of the Hamburg affair, land
TO speak of it in his letter of &C
ceptance. He should speak on
This subject with the same clear
ness that marked the utterances
of Mr.. Lamar. No one can de-
nv that there are occasional out
breaks of violence in the South,
and that there are sometimes
Lloody riots between negroes
md whites. But it is equally
true that these have no political
and are no more to