Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-17
(From our.regular correspondent,)
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Jan. -.

WASHINGTON, Jan. II.
| doubt if we can with propriety b
called serious and rejecting people
French leVily, rather than Anglo Saxol
thoughtfulness, seems TO be orr bent. Blu
yesterday we we're absorbed in the oscil
lating chances of the rival presidents
candidates. and specializing upon tn,
grave and far-reaching possibilities of re
suits. To-day. men and women, on thu
streets and in drawing-rooms, are excited
about II personal affair, which concerns
only the parties engaged, the crimina
courts and the penitentiary- street tgh
and duel between Two swell snobs. Ii
Washington we have safety of sensl-
tions. Democratic mass meetings, will
their frantic oratory; scandalous dlsclos
ures in the working Of the police board
grave charges of conspiracy limited against
the secretary of the navy; advent OF The
gigantic Russian Grand Duke and the Of
licers of the Russian navy;a prospective
Republican grand torch-light procession
and French masquerade ball. This
whirl of things is calculated to make a
man, who signs for lodge in some vast
wilderness, disguised. Those who will
not be diverted from politics are looking
(but without the widest hope) 10 the joint
committee of the House and Senate, APP
pointed to agree upon plan for counting
the electoral vote. Frequent rumors OF IL
possible agreement are in the air. but the
impression among the better informed is
that there is little probability of the sug-
geslion Of any plan to which both the
House and the Senate will accede. Mel
tier party has majority in the joint com
mittee, and since no agreement Is possible
without concession or detection, and since
concession or detection in either party
would be equivalent TO II yielding to the
extent of its influence, the entire question,
it may be considered pretty certain that
that there will be no method proposed that
will meet the concurrence OF both the
Senate and the House.
Just now IL number Of Senators ana
some members are absent ut their respect
i've stale capitals, looking after their
chances for election or reelection to the
Senate. MAJ ked changes in he personnel
Of the upper house viii take place alter
the fourth of March. There will be new
Senators from Texas, Arkansas, Alabama
Mississippi, Kentucky, and probably from
Massachusetts Illinois, New Jersey, Geor-
gia and West Virginia. Whetter amy OF
lhc Senators elect from Louisi Tia, South
Carolina and Mississippi will be allowed to
take their seas is very questionable. The
Republican Senators elect from the TWO
former states will most probably be denied
II seat in the Senate upon Tue same grounds
hat defeated Pnchbtck's claim; and 1t Is
sand thlt MIR Lamar will be opposed by
he powerful influence OF Senator Morton
ON grounds of intimidation VI Republican
volels in Mis- rissippi. The Impression
among their friends is, that Mr.. Faulkner
Will succeed Senator Davis from West
Virginia, and that Senators Boutwell, and
oHan will be reelected in Massachusetts,
ANA Illinois.
The Tcxls Pacific Railroad Lobby has
taken advantage Of the cnfusion of pres
ldrn,ial politics, AMI is working night and
day TO secure an appropriation. The two
gival lobbies that were cutting each others
throals last year have combined their In
llurncc and interests, and added various
lines or rather branches to the original
plan, which branches top and penetrate
congressional districts in II most seduct-
i've way for woes. Without great watch
ulnrsS and prayer for our frail represen-
tatives we may hear soon OF the biggest
Job that has been put up since the days Of
Credit Moblier. A bill! for the consruc-
ton Of this road will be reported in II few
days. 1t provides for Union line from
Fort Worth, the present western Iermin-
us OF tn, Texas and Pacific road, viz Ell
Paso, to San Diego, Cal The Govern
ment is to guarantee the interest on the
five per cent fifty year gold bonds of the
main lines from Forts Worth and Yuma
II distance of 1850 miles. The branche;
provided for in the bill are: First ont
fom Shreveport or Marshall, to New
Orleans, second, one from Jefferson, Tex
us, to Memphis, Tennessee, third, brancL
from Shreveport la., to Nickoburg Miss.
fourth, one from Vrnetia, Indian Territory
to intersect the Texas Pacific at some point
east of l03d meridian. The Government
is expected TO guarantee the interest upoI
the bonds of the companies constructing
the main lines, at il rate not to exceed S35,
600 per mile, and upon the branches ~
S3O, 900 per mile, but bonds only TO the
amount of the actual cost Of construction
are to be issued. so, if the road can b.
built for less than the above amounts pei
mile, bonds only to the required amount
will be drawn. c.