The New Orleans Democrat. (New Orleans, La.) 1875-1876, 1876-01-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
THE UNITED STATES JUDgEsHIP - OPPOst-
Tfos TO BILLINGS AMNESTY BILL
THE HOUSE POSTMASTER GAME
THAT FAILED.

THE HOUSE POSTMASTER GAME
THAT FAILED.
WASHINGTON, Jan. IL.
Especial Correspondence Of the N. 0. Democrat
AZ / predicted in my last letter, the
House has appointed q special commit
tee to investigate the affairs and admin
istration OF the Freedmen's Savings
Bank Company. Col. Hooker, Of Mis-
sissippi, Is member, and the others
are gentlemen who will leave nothing
undone to expose the rottenness OF this
gigantic fraud upon the negroes OF the
country. The Hon y. b. Douglas. OF
Virginia, is chairman, and Major We'd
derburn Is secretary. From these two
interchangeable workers you will hear q
good report.
THE NOMINATION. OF BILLINGS
causes no surprise here, as 1t has been
known all the time that Grant was so
committed to West that the appoint
ment was inevitable. The confirmation,
however, Is another thing. Already the
press Of the country have opened their
columns upon Billings and his appoint
ment, and their Recommendations are loud
and deep. The Baltimore Gazette says:
AN APPOINTMENT THE SENATE oueHL TO REJECT.
Especial dispatch to the Gazettel
mated to-day The notorious 4. 9. Billings to TIL,
lmation one John b., barrett win be appointed
N ssset sa WI E es deeds not sre BY
mn honest Congressional Investgating Commit
tee could fathom. senator West Is billings
who are now on tho search for records said To
have been lnallcionsiy destroyed while West was
y office aTe able e rspe ters w na gs r he
programme Is IN Interesting ono.
Another Northern paper characterizes
1t as "tbc worst appointment Grant has
over made" When 1t is generally
known that Billings was the author Of
the famous midnight order" Issued
by Judge Durcll, that he enticed to his
own private rooms the ex-Judge, and
after plying him freely with wine, OBJ
tanned his signature to u document
whereby the legitimate Legislature Of
Louisiana was dispersed and Packard's
crowd Of negroes and carpet baggers in
stalled by company OF Federal soldiers,
1t is not surprising that there should
spring up a storm Of Indignation against
such an outrage upon the people OF
Louisiana. Billings and Hughes, too,
were the attorneys Of Norton, the noto-
rious Assignee in Bankruptcy, and what
with their connection with Packard, the
Marshal, Norton, the Assignee, and Du-
rell, tho Judge Of the United States
Court, there can be no doubt that
the object of both West and Grant is to
cover up the whole administration Of
that court for the past six years the
completely of its officers in the swindling
Of tho Government through whisky
rings and the Legitimate use OF Gov
eminent funds for political purposes.
To make sure against any accident Of
exposure, the lips of Barrett, who Is be-
lieved to know u good deal not healthy
to tell, are to be sealed by giving him
the appointment Of clerk. With such
an organization Of the United States
District Court, the people Of Louisiana
have nothing to expect in future ex-
cept q continuance Of the same iniqui-
tious practices which have obtained in
that judicial tribunal since the regime
Of Durell began. A strong effort, how
ever, will be made to induce the Jul
dietary Committee to report against this
appointment The Republican Senators
are 10th to assume tho responsibility Of
indorsing the extra judicial conduct of
Durell by ratifying the appointment Of
his prime minister in all the troubles
that led to the present Kellogg usurpa-
ton Of the government Of Louisiana.
The debate on Mr.. Randall's
AMNESTY BILL
is now progressing in the House. Yes
terday the Hon. Ben Hill, OF Georgia,
replied to ex-Speaker Blaine i'm one OF
the most powerful speeches ever heard
in the House. He completely annihi-
lated Mr.. Blaine, scarcely leaving d
grease spot" Of the Presidential aspi-
rant. IT Is generally conceded that the
Republican leaders have committed %
great blunder in agitating the war ques-
ton, and Mr.. Blaine, i'm attempting to
exclude Mr.. Davis from the amnesty
bill, has injured himself moro in the
estimation OF tho people than he has in
suited the South by thus arralgning its
late President. The people OF the coun-
try, particularly ut the North, are dis
gusted with this. constant and unending
clamor about the rebellion, the rebels,
and the "bloody shirt" The object OF
1t all has become so transparent that it
fails in its effect, and now only returns
to torment it's instigators. The Repub-
lican party must resort to some other
dodge" for the old ono Is played
out"
THE POSTMASTER OF THE HOUSE
is Mr.. Stuart, Of Alexandria, Va. He Is
q modest, unpretending, warIn-hearted
and generous man, honest and high
toned, and ever ready to serve his |
friends. He has been subjected to some |
adverse criticism because OF his having
appointed so many OF his clerks from
Virginia. The truth Of 1t Is, however,
he Is not to blame, for all except two Of |
his appointments were made at the re-
quest and upon the recommendation Of
Congressman. In one instance q New
York member procured tho appoint
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