, 1876-11-05
TEE CAPITAL,
TIE DESTRUCTION OF suITLAND.

house at Suitland. Few persons who visit
Washington know of the existence OF the Town
Of Suitland. It is smnll rural hamlet, situated
upon the Maryland plateau, overlooking the
Upper Potomac country and the Anacostia,
about two miles and half east Of the Navy
Yard. It is but one mile beyond the District
line. It comprises about 1000 acres of land,
and is populated by some 300 souls. The little
hamlet is na1ned after the plantation Of Mr..
Suit, which, indeed, constitutes nearly all OF the
place. Mr. Suit, whose name is known to the
drinkers Of Kentucky whisky, has for long
time lived at this suburban retreat near Wash
ington, leading the Life Of an English landed
Baron. His farm contained large orchards,
fine grain fields, costly hot-houses, and q
stock Of blood and breed that would
be the envy OF any Kentucky gentleman.
His orchard is five miles in circumference, con-
tanning every ynriety OF fruit that can be raised
in this region. In his vineyard there are $4,000
vines, with an average annual crop Of 300 TONS
Attached to the farm is a hunting park, two
miles in circumference, with fine oaks and
cypress groves, i'll which deer, elk, and al sorts
OF rare animals are found. Ope hundred hands
arc required annually to gatker the fruit crop.
The ordinary yield OF tobacco is 100 hogsheaas.
The plantation is worked by about 100 negroes,
mostly from the lower counties Of Maryland.
They are all provided with neat and comforta-
BILE houses. During the negotiation ofsthe
treaty with England, Earl Dc Grey aud Sir
Stafford Northcote were frequent visitors at this
country seat The residence itself, which was
destroyed, cost about ST., 600, and Was filed
with the choicest gems Ut art. Mr.. Suit has
been Republican III politics. and has, conse-
qucntly, been as much Of All anomaly in his
political opinions as his fine estate has been
exceptional IN the somewhat barren Maryland
plains. No clew to the incendiary has yet been
found, but there are reasonsto suspect that this
great calamity is in some way attributable to
political discussions.
ROBSON on HAz1Na.
Secretary Robeson has been severely criticised
for many acts of his administration. He de-
serves credit at least for one. Some months ago
at the Naval Academy, and was determined to
put an end to it. He is carrying out his deter
nination, in the face OF the most desperate ct.
forts on the part Of the parents and friends OF
the discharged cadets. lie intends to adhere to
the general order issued many months ago,
that iii cadets detected in PLAYING the bully, or
In doing acts which would disgrace q gentleman
anywhere, should be summarily dismissed the
Academy, after a fair trial by court OF in~
quiry or court-martial. Unless the political N,
carry out his determination. It will be well tor
the country if be docs SO. There are honorable
Young men enough in the United States to fill
the lew vacancies in the primary school
Of the American Navy without restoring n;1ae
for theft, after having been found guilty,
on their own written admissions, or to reinstatc
the fifteen who now take refuge under mawk-
ish, sentimental plea Of good fellowship, that
they may protect from punishment some OF
almost nameless in the English language, and
which could not be described to polite, ears.
The naval officers in time Of peace aspire to
leading social positions. It will be well Tor the
country to protect this school OF tue caaens 3:
from the practices Of the Turks o. the brutali-
ties Of barbarous tribes. The young gentlemen
who have been connected with the recent out
rageous proceedings at Annapolis should have
the opportunity to correct their mistaken no
tions as to manhood and honor IN d1sEracefu1 re-
tirement It will not be the fault Of the press
if the Senators and Congressman who are try
ing to secure the reinstatement Of these young
barbarians find their own names published here
after in connection with the infamy which they
are now seeking either to defend or to 1nst1y'
INDEX TO CONGRESSIONAL RECORD.
The Index to the Congressional Rcco1u, which
has Just been printed. is the best general aud
analytical index to the proceedings OF congress
which has ever been made. In the old days the
index was maze. It was almost as difficult to
find the thing wanted with the aid OF an index
as it was without it. The references to meul-
bcr's work gave no accurate key to the nature
OF that work. This year there is most ACCURATE
and careful classification OF the diiterenttopics,
1tAHAAV
topic is enterGd under the various s<heads which
it comprehcnds. To single bill lthere are often
four different references. lt/has been very
great labor, as 4 careful examination Of this
9uarto volume OF about 7D0 pages will show.
The work has been mainly performed by Mai.
Ben: Pcrley Poorc. Despite h1r. I1ldcnss let
ter, it appears that the number Of bills intro
duced for the payment OF Southern claims is
very large. At the first session Of the Forty,
third Congress. there were 3,6l7 bills introduced
in the House. At the last session the total
number introduced in Congress was 5000. OF
tlis. number only $50 became laws. owing
to the watchtul vigilance Of the Rcpub-
iSp sSnata seveptyx SuSxnef ls o whe
Two Two became laws. Vance, Of North Carolina,
introduced scvcnty-six bills, of which two be-
came laws. Morrison, Of Illinois, the leader OF
the House, presented twenty bills, Of which the
House passed two, neither of which passed thc
senate, This leadership evidently did not dis
NAV itself in the successful management Of
Bills. A{r. Andrew Hamilton, Of the Fort Wayne
District Ut Indiana, is the most conspicuous OF
ali Congressmen with rcgaEh to the introduc-
finn If bills. The Index Shows that lie intro
~ the 292 members on The rc1l, 224 obtained
1eove Of absence. It is Curious tact that the
mcmbers who are notoriously absent the most
are not recorded as having made any application
for leave.
MENT.
The wife of ex-senator Henderson, OF Mis-
eonri is rcported to nave book III press on
practical cooking and dinner-g1Flng. me tltle
uf this book is not without slSSniheancc 10 those
VIM arc sro,ainted with the political history Of
the Henderson family. Mr.. Henderson, it will
hf. remembered, vas elected to tine on1ted
Sto.es Senate from Missouri lie was man ol
MARKED ability, and was at one time very Popu-
lar in his State. His decline ana 1ali n Pontf -
dates from his vote against the impeachment OF
e@S1s 1S.- Iahrcoo THAT vote can probably be