The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-10
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Period of Intrigues--Inves igations-
slow Work In Congress-Reform In the
Internal Revenue Bureau-The Belknap
Seusationl

From Our Own Correspondent
WASHINGTON, March 3, 1875.
The winter weather of this latitude is
always in February and March, the
worst OF it in March usually. 1 think
the ugliness of the weather has ten
dency to make men "ugly ;" to generate
"bad BLOOD" and draw out bad dis
positions all around. At any rate L have
often observed that "the winter of our
discomfort" among our politicians, has
often been contemporaneous with our
annual nasty weather.
And the centennial year of grace 1876
is no exception to the rule. The Repub-
cans have been having plenty of trouble
within their own lines, and so have
the Democrats. 1t may be truthfully
said as To either side that at Washington
everything has been unlovely and the
goose has been stretched out low. The
terrific snow storm of the first of March
found the political elements here in
sympathetic hurly-burly. The trial of
Gen. Babcock was made the occasion Of
powerful effort to get Bristow ont of
the Cabinet and Solicitor Wilson re-
moved This amounted to q political
conspiracy, or at all events to an intrigue,
so adroitly arranged and conducted that
it was cousin german to conspiracy.
Many men were so far imposed upon by
the conversations, acts, and boast
ings of the conspirators as to believe
that Grant and Bristow had actually
quarreled. They mistook outside clamor
for inside fact. Nevertheless, / believe
the intrigue would have succeeded in
driving both Bristow and Wilson from
Office but for the tremendous protest
which came in here in tones of thunder
from the country. This frightened the
conspirators, and they retired from the
fight. They still keep up a desultory
firing on Wilson, but / greatly doubt
whether they will be able to bring him
down. III they do, score one more vic
tory for the infamous whisky ring.
The Democrats have been in trouble,
too. 1t has looked as though they
thought they had drawn an elephant and
didn't know what to do with him. Just
how many caucuses they have held dur
ing this wintry weather it would be diff
cult to tell. Most of them have been
stormy, and not one decisive of any line
of policy. The friends of different gen.
tlemen who have been named for the
Presidency have been uncommonly act
i've. Then there has been angry discus
sion on the currency question, and on
other topics in respect TO which the
authoritative creed has not yet been pro-
mulgated.
All this shows that the main business
in hand is President-making. This is
the principal thing with either party.
Cine is no more to be blamed about it
than the other. But meantime Congress
fails to give that large attention TO the
material interests of the country which
they onght at this time of business dull
ness to receive. No candid man, /
think, could observe the situation here
without concluding that it would be bet
ter to have a Presidential election only
once in six years.
INVESTIGATIONS.
/ believe there are now between sixty
and seventy investigation committees az
work. There must, of course, be gen
eral overhauling. Whatever has oc-
Cured of late years that has been bad or
suspicious will be found out. Unfor-
tunately most of the testimony given in
these cases is altogether &c Darte, and is
to be received with many grains of allow
ance. 1t is now stated by persons whose
opinions are entitled to weight that it
will be impossible to complete the in
vestigations OF several matters be-
fore autumn, and that Congress will take
recess during the summer, authorizing
the committee to sit. L do not think
this will be done. Reports spread be-
fore the country just before the elections
would have no influence with the people
whatever. They ought to have time to
examine the testimony and to hear what
"the other side" has to say. This idea
of recess, though now entertained by
many, will most likely be abandoned.
SLOW WORK IN CONGRESS.
The House adjourned on Wednesday
few minutes after the expiration of the
morning hour, because there was not
single committee which had any pusi-
ness to report This is due to the fact
that so much time is occupied with in
vestigations. These are necessarily
slow. After while reports of investi-
eating committees will begin to
come in, and then look ont
for lively times and exciting de-
bates. Then the main business of the
session, namely, President-making will
move on the lightning express train, in
comparison of which Col. Bangs famous
" fast mail" will be an old-fashioned
slow coach.
About the only Legislative event of
note of the week is the passage, by the
Senate, of the Military Academy Appro-
priation bill, with number of amend
ments. Among these is an item for the
pay of the West Point band. l beg
leave to hope the House will agree to
this item. / am sure the cadets would
go into decline and die but for the
music of the band and the sublime
struttings of the drum major. Every
boy OF EN- would say /: II know not
what others may think, but as for me
give me the drum-major or give me
DEATH" Here is the very embodiment
of military fuss and feathers. Abolish
him2 Perish the thought! L am
bound to say, in all seriousness,
however, that the West Point
band is the best in the country, that
music ia necessary in the army. and that