Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1876-02-12
Our Washington Letter.
From .pur Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Is, 1876.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. Is, 1876.
A grand battle, that reminds one of
the forensic displays that once made the
hall of The House of Representatives
so famous, occurred last week. As a
fit percusor of the proposition to appro-
pirate money to aid in the Centennial
Celebration, Sam Randall introduced a
bill granting amnesty to every one en-
gagged in the rebellion. 1t was sup
posed that no opposition would be made
but Blaine seems to have been enrap-
tured by gazing on Morton's bloody
shirt, and he moved to exclude Jeffer-
son Davis because he was responsible
for the Andersonville horror. To prove
this assertion, Mr.. Blaine quoted from
the partisan report cooked up in 1866,
and the Maine schoolmaster waived the
bloody undergarment in way that will
make Morton look to his laurals as the
champion in that occupation. Sunset
Cox responded in one of his inimitable
and indescribable speeches, which made
the rresident-hunting ex-speaker the
laughing stock of the listeners. To
Ben. Hill, of Georgia, was left The task
of showing how completely Mr.. Blaine,
Gin his wild hunt for office" had per-
verified the facts. He showed plainly
and from official records, quoting the
testimony of Wirz, that Davis was not
responsible for what occurred at Ander-
sonville, and further that in proportion
to numbers the mortality had been
greater in the Federal than in the Con.
federate prisons. Mr.. Hills speech, in
all its points, was not altogether pol
itic put it was magnificent defense of
the Confederate government from the
charge of wanton cruelty, brought
against it by the ex-speaker, and in its
eloquence and earnestness carried us
back to the days when the ablest men
of republic were chosen to be its law
makers. The theatrical Blaine was
dwarfed by the comparison. Garfield,
of Ohio, attempted reply, but failed
to make point. His readiness in par
limentary law enabled Blaine to secure
control of the bill by motion tn re-
consider, and he gagged it for the time
being, assuming the responsibility of
defeating amnesty for the present.
The House committees are rapidly
perfecting legislation, which will be re-
ported soon. The pension appropriation
will lie first in order, and in it there are
no reductions, the Democrats being de-
termined to give the lie to the ISLANDERS,
so often retailed by Republican papers
that they will cease to care for the SOL
diers should they attain power Large
savings will be made in consular army,
naval, civil and miscellaneous appropri-
atoms, aggregating together not less
than twenty millions of dollars, which,
amount will be saved to the tax-ridden
people. Much alarm is experienced in
the departments at the determination
shewn to Investigate previous transac-
tons; and when Senator Davis, of
West Virginia, introduced his bill in
regard to the Treasury Department,
Boutwell,, ex-treasurer, suuirmed in
his seat, and endeavored to reply to the
unanswerable figures arrayed by Sena-
tor Davis in his argument. But the
Republican Senate, on the eve OF a
Presidential election, cannot refuse to
adopt the resolution of Senator Davis,
and the investigation of the Treasury
will be thorough.
The sequence of President Grants
remarks upon Cuba, in his annual mes
sage, is about to come to light. 1t is
definitely ascertained that diplomatic
note on the Cuban question was sent to
the great powers of Europe. Spain
has promptly responded, and the tone
of Jovellar's note is decidedly hostile.
The violation of the traditions of the
Republic by inviting foreign interior
ence in American affairs is severely COM
mended on by all thinking men of both
parties. The answer of Spain in the
tone assumed was inevitable and fore
seen, and before it was received unus-
al activity in fitting out the navy for
actual service, and concentrating it
upon the southern seaboard was shown,
all pointing to the fact that war with
Spain is desired, as ono of The emer-
gencies which might arise, requiring
Grant to accept a denomination. A
Cuban message is now looked for daily.