Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-03-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Eds. Tel.-To person just from the
''whey district" to be set down in the Cap
itol city is something of a change-espe-
cially to one who never before beheld the
city in its glory. Having desire to see
the many public men and buildings, set
out from your county last week, reaching
here Friday night, by the Baltimore &
Ohio railroad. l need not tell YOU of the
magnificent scenery along the route; this
has been so often remarked, that l will not
dwell upon it. At Harper's Ferry, it being
so dark, could not see anything worth
mentioning. 1t was 8 o'clock when l reach
ed the city of Washington. The dome and
capitol was brilliantly lit up, and in few
minutes was tresding within its magnif-
cent walls. Through the courtesy of Hon.
D. C. Dennison of Vermont, I was invited
to take seat-one made temporarily va
cant by Mr.. Abbott of Massachusetts-he
who was member of the Commission.
This, Mr.. Editor, is the nearest 1 ever
came to going to Congress; and in years to
come, 1 can tell my grandchildren all
about ''the year was in CUngressl"
On Sunday 1 witnessed the last dying
agony of the 45th Congress. The eonfu-
sion attending the last hours was decided
ly rough-and-tumble Speaker Randall
spoke his little piece, and at the same time
made bid for another term; but Samuel
lost all the respect in this little farewell be
had won in his rulings during the recent
electoral count. By the way, Randall
looks very much like your respected fellow
citizen, Geo. Willard; say this with all
due respect for Mr. Willard.
Proctor Knott, should say, was not a
convert in the Murphey movement-not at
all. He carries the highest colored meer-
schaum of any member in the Housel-
When in the Senate gallery, looking down
on the bald-headed audience, reminded me
of gazing on cohble-stene pavement.
Here is where the fur flies. Every day for
a week the galleries have been filled and
every available space below to witness the
sparring between Mr.. Blaine and the De-
mocracy. During Blsine's reply to Bayard,
yesterday, he said that himself and the
Senator from Delaware represented differ
ent schools of politics, and did so before
the war, during the war, and since the
war. He said that he cared not what DO
sition others occupied, so long as he oceu-
pied a seat on this floor he would always,
on every occasion, here and elsewhere,
stand up for the Union men of the South,
and when he neglected to do so, he hoped
his tongue would cleave to the roof of his
mouth, and his right hand forget its cum
ming. During his speech the galleries
broke out two or three times in applause,
when Mr.. Anthony gave notice if it was
continued, he would insist upon having
them cleared.
The crowd at the inaugural is said by
good judges 20 have been the largest since
1861. The Republican estimated that near
ly 100000 persons were present. Inever
saw such a display of bunting before as
there was along Pennsylvania Avenue.
Ohio delegation was assigned prominent
position in the procession, though not so
well represented as some other States.
What crowd of negroes, and what large
smile each one bore, as this vast throng
passed along-not such grin of approval
since Lincoln entered the city of Rich
mond in the spring of 1866.
cannot enter into detail of what can he
seen here in one weeks visit. proper de-
scription of the Smithsonian Institute alone
would occupy one whole letter; then the
Patent Office, Treasury, Geological Gar
dens, Navy Yard and Army Medical Mu-
scum, in the old Ford Theatre, where Lin
coin was killed, would fill many pages.
The city is full of people with dull axes,
and believe they will return home with
the same old dull ax-''No Irish need ap-
ply"
During my stay here l have met several
Ashtabula county men-all bent on the
same errand-to see Governor Hayes in
stalled President of the United States.
There seems to be a feeling of satisfaction
resting upon the minds of the average
American citizen over the Cabinet; but to
the extremist of each party a sort of dis
satisfaction exists.
leave the city of magnificent distances
at 8: 10 a. m. for a more southern cline,
where the bulldozer thrives and the alliga-
tor shines the year round. Adieu.
Washington, March 8,'77. HANK.