Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-02-03
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., !
Jan. 2Stb. 1876 {

reioFmers who promised so much, Assem-
bIcd in the east end of the Capitol, have
done nothing except introduce bills auG
talk nonscnce. Yes, they have done
something, for they have repudiated {
part of the public debt by refusing tc
introduce an appropriation bill to pay the
interest on the 3.65 bonds of the Distric,
of Columbia, due on the lst of February
and which the Supreme Court has de,
c'ared to be a part of the public debt
The law on the subject of the interest Of
these bonds reads as follows, and was ap
proved on the 2Oth of February, 1875:
"And proCii.d JurtIer, That the in,
terest on said 3.6j bonds shall be hereafter
regularly paid when due by the Svcrctar,
OF the Treasury in the same manner a,
now or may be provided by law for the
payment o. the interest on the bonded
debt of the United States. The sum thu,
paid on account of said interest to be con
sldered and adjusted as part of the
proper proportional sum to be paid by the
United States towards the expenses of the
District of Columbia, the payment of the
interest, and the creating of a sinking
fund for the payment of the principal Of
SAID bonds at maturity, as contemplated
by the act eotitlcd An act for the govern
ment Of the District of Columbia and for
other purposes, approved June 20, 1874
Whether this is stock jvbbing scheme
ia which Sam Randall and other member,
of the Appropriation Committee are in.
terestcd, is not known; but these are the
plain facts. The interest, to the amount
S222 ,7G7, is due on the lst February
and the Confederate House refuses tc
appropriate money to pay 1t. What will
the honest people of the country think oil
this, and how does it comport with the
Democratic platform, which declares, in
the most solemn terms, that ali the obi,
cations Of the Government MuH be
promptly met?
Both the first and second members Of
the Ways and Means Committee, Nor
rison and Fernando Wood, have intro
duced finance bills which are on par will
this reputation measure. Some of the
same men who do this refuse to give
Sl,jOO,OO0 to guarantee the success of the
Centennial, because, they say, 'phere i.
no warrant in the Constitution for the
appropriation The debate on this sub.
jcct has been extended through the entire
week, the only break being that made by
the eulogies pronounced on Vice Presi.
dent Wilson on Friday. In the Senate {
number of important bills have been SEN
to the committees. One by Senator
Dorsey, of Arkansas, forming Territory
to be called Oklahoma, ont of tie Indiar
Territory. 1t gives all the land in the
Territory to the Indiaas, and meets will
favor from all except the railroad com,
panlcs. Another, making State of New
Mexico. and several upon the finances
On Friday Senator Boutwell, gave forma
notice of the death of Vice Presden
Wilson, and delivered a splendid eulogy
upon bis life and character. He wa.
followed by Senators Anthony, Dawes
Hamlin, Cragin, Cameron, of Pennsyl
vania, Morriil of Vermont, Stevenson
ingalls,, BOgy, and Morton. Senator
Morton has been two days speaking upor
his Mississippi resolution, and has not yC
concluded. lie reviews the whole ground
and contends that the Republican part,
is bound to protect the Republicans o
Mississippi in their rights, which hav,
been tramplcd upon by the Democrats
Two hundred Indiana editors have beer
here. They visited the Centennia
grounds and New York before coming t,
the Capitol, and were treated with coutes,
and consideration by all the only exception
being an article in the New York Worl,
while they wero in that city. Will
here they visited the President. and wer
cordially received. The politicians ar
busy as bees--the Democrats espsciall
There are SO many discorGant element
to be harmOnized in that party, that th
work is more onerous than the labors q
Hercules. and there is no Hercules in tn
Democratic party to cleanse their Augea
stable Of its accumulated filth. Th
Confederate element is determined an
insolent in its demands. TIE hard none
and soft money men are clamoring fc
their respective views. The fuw Unio
men in the party seem to be ashamed {
the company in which they are found, an
the cOPperheads and doughfaces bo
down to the Confedarates and worshi
them. The New York TriLune is
great tribulatiOn. 1t reminds one of
stlIdent Of soma nstrnlon.r - L.