Middletown transcript., 1876-04-15
Letter from Washington.
Washington, D. c., april -, '76
PRESIDENTIAL spEcULATIoNs.


There arc many shades Of opinion; but
it is very evident that the statement in
favor Of some man who can certainly
draw the vote of disaffected Republi-
cans, and hold those Eastern States
that are now Democratic. is becoming
stronger every day That without
those States, the party cannot elect its
nominee, is admitted. The announce
ment that Horatio Seymour, together
with Charles o O'Connor. and men Of that
stamp, will head the New York dele
CATION in favor of Samuel j. Tilden,
has given Tilden more strength than
he has had st any time heretofore. A
warm friend of Gov. Hendricks said to
me, yesterday, that for the first time be
began to see the possible necessity for
taking up an Eastern man. There is
no disposition to abandon favorite can
didates anywhere; but there is an evil
dent determination to do whatever may
eventually appear to be for the best in
terest Of the party as whole. Success
is the watchword of the party, and if
the Republicans expect to see it split by
sectional differences, they are doomed to
disappointment.
BELKNAPS THE BETTER WAY.
Within a year or two, several fires
have occurred at the Navy Department
building, under peculiarly suspicious
circumstances and there are those who
are uncbaritable enough to believe that
they were lighted with view to the
destruction of certain documents which
the Secretary feared might reveal un-
pleasant things, if called for by Con-
gressional investigating committee. At
any rate, the fires destroyed large
number of records before they could be
extinguished. Belknap did the thing
better, by procuring the passage Of an
act permitting him to destroy such pa
pers and records as be might deem use
less Commenting on this, the wicked
but witty Dom Piatt says: "How
neatly and quietly William (Belknap)
went through. No midnight alarms !;
no fetching Of ofengines and brutal splash
ing Of water. Only a coal grate-a
stealthy search and an active hand.
Score one for William Shame on the
Rotund." It was Piatt who said of
Robeson's lack Of nautical experience,
that he always becomes sea sick when
looking at carpet of navy pattern.
But if Robson knows nothing about the
sea, it is believed that he is thoroughly
posted in jobbing and rascality; and
that, if be could be shown up. the Belk-
nap business would be dwarfed into
comparative insigni6cance. The pro-
per committee Of Congress is working
diligently in investigating his Depart
ment. and, it is to be hoped, will final
ly succeed in smoking out the willy
New Jersey pettifogger.
GEN. SHERMAN AS A TALKER.
1t seems to be settled thing that
General Sherman will soon remove his
headquarters from St Louis to Wash
ington, where they properly belong.
Notwithstanding statements to the con-
trary, be left Washington solely on ac-
count Of bis personal dislike 0: Secre-
tary Belknap. who took every occasion
to ignore him, and sent official commu-
nications directly to officers Of the army
without transmitting them through
General Sherman and the regular
military channels. General sherman
is queer combination Of the constitu-
ent elements of humanity. While ad-
mitted to be brave and skillful officer,
be fails to impress visitors with that
fact. He is as careless in dress as he
is brusque and fighty in manner. His
hair is thin and frousy, his beard short
and stubby, and his conversation earn
est but somewhat incoherent. He falls
an easy victim to newspaper men, and
is ready to answer, in his quick,
thoughtless way, any question put to
him. He seems to speak without re-
ference to unpleasant consequences, and
frequently finds spread out in the news
paper reports Of conversations which he
never dreamed would be made public
He is, at all times, easily accessible to
callers, and is certainly a striking con-
trast to General Scott who presided
with such an excess of dignity over the
army, before the war. General Sher-
man gave up bis Presidential aspirations
long ago, like sensible man, and is
content to remain the head of the army
for life, rather than run the risk Of
losing the stakes in race for the chief
Magistracy.
HOW UNCLE SANS MONEY GOES.
The Senate Committee on Education
and Labor is composed Of Messrs. Pat
terson, Morton, (Vt. Burnside, Bruce.
(darkey), Sharon, Gordon, Maxey and
Key. The distinguished chairman Of
the Committee Patterson, Of South
Carolina) had the honor Of being jailed
for perjury, or some other crime Of
equal gravity. just before coming to
the United States Senate. He was
fortunate enough to eyade trial, how
ever; and, in order to show their sym
pathy with him, his brother radicals Of
the Senate made him Chairman of the
important Committee referred to at the
special session Of the Senate, las,
Spring. Thus far, the Committee has
not held single session, and it is safe
to predict it never will, SO long as Pat
terson remains chairman. His asso.
ciates, even his radical brethren, re.
fuse to attend the meetings Of the Com.
mittee and the result is. that he con-
stitutes himself that body, and employ.
clerk who has nothing to do excep
to draw his pay-$7. 20 per day. Sun
days included. If this session of Con
press lasts through June, this Govern
ment "heat" will have drawn ovel
| 81, 500 for seven months Of idlepess
Under similar circumstances, however
it has always been understood in th'
Senate, since the prevalence there o
Grantism, that the chairman of th'
| L r =. c. -1..l.S