Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1876-03-22
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
IFRox THE %sENTISEL's REGULAR COR
REsPoNDENT.]
w o~nh 10
WASHINGTON, March Is.

WASHINGTON, March Is.
One of the most miserable attempts
to Justify thievery is now being made
by Republican Congressman, and the
Republican press, in comparing Bel
knap's bribe-taking with Secretary
Floyd's covert act" in 1850. On the
eve of secession John B. Floyd was
Secretary of War. When he Joined
the Confederate forces he transferred
all the available war material to the
Rebel Government, together with
about 81, 0OO, 900 in Indian War bonds,
which further furnished the sinews OF
war for the new. The South, by the
payment of taxes, had a common in
terest in all of this material and money,
and though she got more than her in
teresi in this instance, the account was
more than balanced by her r~elinquish-
ment of title to other Tower nment
property, and money in the Treasury.
Secretary tioyd's offsnse was a poiit-
icai me he did not appropriate one
ceut for his private use; ana was not
brib-d. Belknap, b soldier without
honor, robbed the Government and
pocketed the money; accepted brides
that he and his wife might shine III that
society for which they were not fitted
by culture, intelligence or wealth.
Floyd's act is regarded as political
treason, which has been obiiterated by
amnesty. Belknap's crime has not
~~t., l.-c.xl l,,r, ~ozsaflu hnf him.
self and wife are oversbadowed by the
~penitentiary. Like y Their women. when
they lake She first step in crime, this
modern Delilah dissolved herself in
tears and plead for pity. Now she has
overcome that spirit of coutrition. and
attempts to justify the crime of bribery
by saving that il s'she is gully, others
high in office are doubly guilty." and
that it has been the common practice
years; which We all know; and
that is just what the Democratic House
proposes to stop. Right upon the heels
Of this defiance hurled forth by this
fallen star is revived the old story thai
shortly after Assistant Quartemaster
General ingalls,, of New York, pre-
Mrs. "Pre>ident" Grant n
SI,sO0 watch, he was transferred TO
this city As Acting Quarternia>ter Gen
eral, and General Meigs was Sent to
Europe, against his will. During his
absence many crooked were
through tho QuarterInasier
office. These facts are in the
of the Democratic lnvesti-
COMMITTEES. and the House has
a resolution authorizing Boss
to recall Meigs so that he can
explain things. Mei-s has been re-
but he will no. he able to throw
any light upon these thieving con-
tracts, as he was purposely sent away
that another and a more pliable man
could be placed in his office who would
audit these thieving contracts.
OF course a Presidents wife could
not be bought with a 81. 800 watch? He
her the watch. Through her in
fluence with her husband, the Primes
OF Gift-takers, ingalls, was appointed
Acting Quartermas,er General. and
Meigs was exiied. Any little dubious
that Ingalls, may have audited
at the instigation of Mrs. Grant, Mrs.
Robeson, or Mrs. Reiknap, was "a
mere interchange Of official courte-
sies."
The Boss Swearer.
While rushing through the Capitol
the other day, / noticed Orville Grant,
brother to the President, psnsively
sitting at the door of the House Conn
mittee on Expenditures in the War
Department. He looked as meek and
iowly as did Morhecai, the Jew. sitting
at the Kings highway. He was wait
ing his turn I q tell what he knew
about post trsderships. But he swore
as strong a. Beecher and Colfax. i.
II. Casseiberry and Orville Grant run
the Standing Rock Agency. Cassel.
berry furnished the S25. 900; Orville
furnished the ~'.inhuence," which q
cured the appointment. but put up no
n Orvilie now swears he lost
money by the transaction. Just how
he arrives at that conclusion is kno w
only Il his " con~cience-if he has
any. Probably hs lost his little hatch
ell, also.
Lightning Las struck all around the
White House. IL is said lightning
never strikes twice in the same plare.
1t may hit the Sphynx next.
General Matters.
Congress has done nothing this
week in the way Of legislation. The
Senate has been chiefly engaged in ge.-
ting rid of Pinchback, ami the House
ia more inters ted in investigation
than anything else. The Republican
side seems disposed TO make capital
out of the escape of Marsh. the witness
in the Belknap case, and has been ag-
~grava.ing discussion alithe week. In a
short while they Will have fresh mate
rial by the explosion of another bomb.
shell.
Political vs.. Social Equality.
The highly colored body.servant,
bottle washer, ten-cent barber, and
chuck.a-luck dealer. P~inchback. has
been returned to his NANCY haunts in
the Creole negro quarter of New Or
leans. Common decency is indebted
to the Democratic Senators, and those
Republican Senator's hailing from New
England, for the rejection of tho spuri-
Gus claims of this mulatto adventurer.
Senator Edmunds, of Vermont, led the
New England delegation, and made AN
able constitutional argument, showing
that the Legislature which elsc,ed
u,aa an illapal holv and