, 1876-09-02
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, D. C., August 18th, 1876.
EDITOR STATESMAN The first session of
the Forty fourth Congress finished its labors
at half past seven o'clock last evening In
the senate Mr.. MeCreery offered a resolution
returning the thanks of the Senate TO Mr.
Ferry, Its presiding officer, fer the able and
impartial manner in which he had presided
over their deliberations. The question was
put by Mr. Anthony, who temporarily occu-
pied the chair, and was unanimously adopted
Mr.. Ferry, on resuming the chair, returned
his thanks for the confidence that had been
placed in him, and the courtesies extended
during session lasting over eight months,
and for tbeir firm support during the i'm
peaehment trial and his first occupancy of
the chair. He feelingly referred TO the death
of Nj. Carpenter and the departure OF Mr.
Morrill,, which had taken place during the
session, and closed with the expression of the
wish that heaven would guide end care for
them during the recess and return them with
renewed health and vigor TO the labors of
another session. lie was about 10 pronounce
the session closed without date, when the
clerk arrived almost breathless and announced
the passage of the bill for the sale Of Otoe
Indian reservation over the vetoe Of the Pres
dent. The hammer fell, however, and the
first session Of the Forty fourth Congress was
declared adjourned without date.
In the House Mr. Garfield offered very
complimentary and deserved resolution thank
ing Mr.. SIyler for the able and impar-
tial manner in which ke had discharged
the duties of his office as Speaker pro tan of
The House, and Mr.. Ciymer, who was in the
char, was about 10 put the motion when Mr..
Blackburn, of Kentucky, moved to add the
name of N. Cox, which, af'er some dLay
and sligh, excitement, WIS agreed TO- Mr..
Sayier then resumed the chair, and at half
mast seven declared the first session OF the
Forty-fOur;h Congress adjourned sire die.
Thus has ended one nmong the most event
full sessions in the history Of the American
Congress.
The united impeachment of high official
for actual dishonesty, and the unveiling of
unrivaled corruption and unblu-hiug crime.
in the conduct of parties in high places is
without a parallel.
The death of the Hon. NJ. C. Kerr, Speaker
Of the House Of Representatives, vas an
nounced here last evening and cast gloom
over the city. The melancholy event Oc-
Cured at Rock Alum Springs. in Virginia,
where the poor gentleman had been staying
for some time, in the vain attempt to recruit
his exhausted energies. His demise was
known before the House adjourned, but not be-
ing officially announced, Of course no action
corld be taken. Had the announcement
been made it mnst have prolonged the session
at least week or ten days, and perhaps
longer, as il would have necessi.ared the
election Of another Speaker, aud so many
members of :he House are absent it would
have been difficult to get them together.
Col. John S. Mosby has spread his ideas in
the \. Y. Rerala of the l4fh inst. His com
npnication purports to be in reply TO letter
he claims TO have received from former
comrade. asking him why he supports Hayes.
but if the truth were known would be fonnd
NOT in fact written by himself, al least com
posed at his dictation, and perhaps written
IN his own Office. No ex-cOnfederate whose
oninious were worth noticing would have
advanced such foolish ideas as those that
Mosby so sagely combats. The fair presump-
ton is that the willy ex-chiefiain has put up
a man Of straw and is only showing how he
couId fight If 1t were real. The argument
he advances in reply TO this imaginary letter
mock loudly of the suggestions OF Morton,
Coukling or Logan, and are about as well
exuressed a. if the last bad written them.
Nosby. in his letter, takes his stand upon
simply selfish platform. and Ignoring all
sense Of duty slOne, cOnsuits his personal IN
forests and sagely counsels submission on the
,,r, of the South because the North Il the
stro- ger. aud like the girl who threatened 10
,slI her mother when she came home, be pre-
diets incalculable evils to the SJuth IN the
event of Hayes election, If she persists IN
her present course IN supporting iHden-
This imaginary letter be received | fear has
induced Col. Mosby to unmanly disclose the
secret of his confederate patriotism, which
s.an,s 70 have been based simply upon the con-
xietion that he South would win A more
p-rfect Dulgald Dalgetty than ne eFlnces
b;,,ssIf 10 be in that letter II Is dIihcult 10
conceive. An intense Southern man as long
.s he thought the South would Be successful
bnt as soon as be found she had lost, clothing
himself at the earliest Opportunity IN North-
ern habiliments. he is the frs, 10 see and The
l,udesr 10 proclaim the errors aDd injustice OF
her policy. If Col. Mosby really dld receive
a letter from 8 former oomrade, would not
the conrentiousIities of society Indicate the
course 10 pursue in reply: Where ~As the
necessity OF spreading it broadcast to the
xorld. unless il was TO take advantage OF the
opportunity 70 give expression 10 sentiments;
thst is no credit 20 the mind that conceived
DEM