Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-12-28
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

WASHINGTON, ID. T.. Dec. Il, II.
There is no day more interesting, in
some respects, in Congress than that on
which adjournment takes place, and
Saturday last was no exception. Though
many of the members had left for their
homes, yet enough remained to conduct
the closing proceedings after the same
manner of preceding adjournment days.
In the House Mr.. Wood endeavored to
secure adoption of the resolutions to
investigate the workings of the Execu-
tive Department. But as he had not a
majority, in consequence Of the absence
of so many of his political brethren, the
Republicans interposed dilatory motions
and then refused to vote upon them,
thus showing the lack Of quorum. 1t
was queer spectacle; a legislative body
constructively without quorum, and
yet nearly one-half it's members were
sitting mutely in their seats. From II
to after 3 o'clock this dumb show con-
tinued, and then the Democrats conced-
ed themselves beaten by agreeing to let
the resolutions go over till January 10,
This brought the rush for passage of
private bills. But the House was not in
the temper for transacting business, as a
motion TO adjourn soon carried, though
a score of members were on their feet
trying to secure action on their little
matters" 1t is not till the day of final
adjournment that such little matters
can be put through, as then everybody is
too sleepy from the protracted sessions
preceding, or too much discomposed
from other causes to pay sufficient at
tention to what is going on, to even en-
ter an objection, which would bar the
passage Of any bill, no matter how i'm
portant. The Senate had so completely
subsidized that it reached an adjournment
without delay or debate. Mon
day found our city in all it's accus-
toned quiet of the recess, for hardly a
legislator was left to disturb our peace
The mild and beautiful weather of this
week has been improved by our people
in busted preparation for the holidays,
now that all national matters have been
settled by the Solons at the Capitol
prior to adjournment Our shops have
put on their gayest attire, and anxious
parents and expectant Young America
throng our streets from early morning
till late at night, seeking after Santa
Claus knick-nacks and means for Christ
mas enjoyments. We are not far enough
removed, as yet, from old slavery times
to forget or lose that peculiar sanctity
which attached to Christmas in the
Southern States. TO the slave Christ
mas week was the one great epoch of
his life, to which he looked forward as
his only Elysium. He could endure the
stripes and hardships of 81 weeks with
out murmur, providing the Sind week
brought him the usual round of festivi-
ties which always characterized the end
of the year among the slaves. Old and
young, freed and bondman, universally
devoted Christmas week to pleasure
seeking, and he was hard master in
deed who dared exact work from his
slaves during this period. Master and
mistress, save in the rarest exceptions,
laid aside their customary dignity and
became witnesses, and often sharers, of
the negroes pleasures, which were I'M
interruptedly pursued day and night by
all on the plantation, until New Years
day came, bringing with it the infexible
rule that the slave must begin his work
on the first day of the new year. Then
his fun was over, though the Northerner
claims it as a holiday. While campaign
ing in the South during the war, we
were struck with the deep hold which
Christmas week and it's jollities had up
on the mind of the slave, and how he
seemingly forgot the hardships of to-
day, or of weeks, or months, provided
he was his own master during Christ
mas week. The whole week was Christ
mas to him, as he knew neither day or
night during its continuance. For sew
eral years after the war we were thrown
in official contact with the freedmen in
the South, and everywhere we found
these Christmas customs, and in them
saw one bright spot, at least, in the in
stitution of slavery. In them all hard
ness was lost, and the slave stood to his
master precisely as the child Of the
North does to his parents. Custom gave
the bondman full release from his bond
age, and the master removed every bur-
den, assisting with his means that the
slave might have no bar to that equisite
enjoyment which only a slave can expe-
rience He could impose the cruelest
tasks upon the slave at other seasons,
but he had to face strong public senti-
ment when he attempted to curtail the
slaves holiday.
The new specimen silver dollars, of
which Senator Jones presented two to
President Hayes the other day, are ex-
ceedingly perfect and beautiful pieces
of workmanship, SURPRISING in sharpness
and finish any coins ever struck in this
or in any other country. Two speci-
mems have been made, both Of the same
size and weight, 4l29 grains, and con-
forming in device and inscription to le-
gal requirements. The next marked
change from the old dollar is the repre-.
sentation Of Liberty, which, instead Of
q sitting figure, is large, shapely-cut
. female head, in one wearing the hair