Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-08-25
Letter from WASHINGTON.

Correspondence OF the AiCXaDQrla GEZette.
WASHINGTON, August 24.-Dullness is vlsl-
BILE everywhere-at The Capitol; at The White
House, at the Departments, on the Streets IN
the hotels, AID even the d,ilking saloons are
nearly empty The heat day is very oppres
sve, which makes the city lock unusually quiet.
The Administration, with its better halt, and
poor old Mr.. Key, on exhibition as repent
ant rebel, is junketing among The New E1g-
understanding mice" time. The sooner
the whole party, including Mr.. Evarts, who
don't make good show, come back, the better
it will be Tor them aud the country, Tor To use
a plain Anglo Saxon expression, they-always
excluding the female portion Of the party-are
making asses of themselves and bringing the
country into greater ridicule.
Poor old Mr. Key. who is exhibited as the
clown does The monkey, being overcome by the
exuberant hospitality OF the Yankees, who ar
Calculating" upon making something, aud
who have feasted the old gentleman upon pies
and things" to maze him perform more antics
Tor their amusement, gets down on his knees
three times day to do homage to those who
prosecuted and despitefully used him. Mr..
Key is not representative Southern mac-a
true SOutherner never bends the pregnant
hinges of tho knee that thrift may follow lawu
ing, and The blush Of shame must mantle the
cheeks Of true men everywhere who witness his
exhibitions Another attempt is being made
to prejudice tho public mind against the re,
claimed government OF South Carolina. Cham
berlain, Worthington and CordcZs, who have
had to leave the State for its good and With
carpet bag in hand wander forth in search Of
fresh pastures, have halted here 10 impose upon
the sympaties of the authorities by raising q
cry of persecution. The attempt will prove 8
miserable abortion and those worthless will DO
forced to resume the positions they occupied
before upheaved from tho bottom by the revo
lutionary storm.
Congress will assemble 10 extra session on
the 18th of October, and the sooner something
is done to relieve the necessities of the times
the better. The recent riots portend what may
be expected this winter unless relief OF some
sort is afforded. The fact that there is a great
accumulation of money at the centres, and
that rates" are low, is of no good to the null
titude who are impoverished from lack Of en-
ployment. and who, driven By dire necessity,
will demand bread when they cannot earn it.
Ihe finances of the country must be better ar.
ranged, confidence must be restored, and it
would be better for large appropriations than
that riot aud bloodshed should ensue. The
crops were never so abundant, yet amidst this
plenty there will be the utmost want. Some
thing must be done to prevent the locking up
of the capital of the country in the bonds Of The
government, whereby the rich Increase their
wealth, but the poor grow poorer. The national
banking system needs ovcrhauliOg, the ten per
cent clause must be repealed, and "resuup-
ton postponed, or the government must make
its legal tenders receivable for its dues A new
linapoisI policy must be iuauguratcd, aud MIR.
Sherman will have to wait for the irultlo1 .!
his pet scheme.
The illncss Of Mr.. Merton is spoken q, but
the expressions Of regret arc not hearty. lis
ultra course has not cndeared hluI TO the poo
pie, and his absence from Congress will be
rather relief. His successor will in all rroba-
bility be Mr. Dan Voorhees,.
EectioueeriDg for positions in the gilt OF tic
House is going Oh, aud new candidates arc
daily appearing. From present appearances
Dir. Randall will be re elected Speaker, and
the old officers reelected. A desperate fight
will be made for the position OF Do0Tkeepcr,
but Mr.. Patterson and his friends seem SAN
guine.
Capt. Steuart, the very popular Postmaster
Of the House, has been severely ludlspesod Tor
some days, but is recovering, and will 10 G lew
days be cut again. -
The Hall of the House has been reventiatcd,
and it is to be hoped that the improvements
viii improve the atmosphere, Which last year
was utmost unbearable y.