Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-12-06
Our Washington Letter.

W ShlNGIoN, IL. u, ~ OE. -, a
The regular session of Con-
gross commences December Sd,
and it is not yet definitely set
lied whether or not both Houses
viii bc Democratic. 1t may be
said almost with certainty,
however, that the Senate is as
'lcarly evenly divided as any
legislative body ever was. The
great progress made by the De-
mocracy in that body, whether
or not it shall obtain full con-
troll Of it before March, 1879, is
a subject for congratulation.
Only Il few years ago the Re-
rubIicans were arrogant with a
two-thirds vote, and rs fast as
that maj oiity was threatened
new Senators were brought in
through the admission of new
States formed in the wilderness,
or in the division Of others. The
day of such disregard Of the
constitution and of right is over.
Sc far as is known Mr.. Hayes
has taken no part in the Ser
ale Struggle over the cases Of
Butler and Corbin of South
Carolina and kellogg and Spot
ford aud Pinchback and Eustis
Of Louisiana. His guide, phi
losophcr and friend, Stanley
Matthews, however, opposes
the seating of Kellogg. The
presiding officer of the Senate,
Wheeler, has taken no pains to
conceal the fact that his SYM
paihics were with the Republi-
can party in the contest.
Since Saturday when the
first report Of the wreck Of the
iIda%n was received here, pub
lie Interest in the subject of the
loss has been great. Many rel
atiycs aad friends Of the officers
haxe been constantly at the Ma
W Department during the day
time, and the survivors who
have reached the city have been
surrounded by anxious inqulr-
crs. There will be all inyesti-
cation by the Department. a
Congressional inquiry was pro-
posed in the House yesterday,
and Will sbe discussed to-day.
The loss of the vessel is not at
tributel to lack Of skill or vigi-
ance Of any of the officers or
crew.
The most destructive storm
Of the century visited the re-
gion of the Potomac river on
FriJay and Saturday, and the
rise of that river caused great
damage along its whole course.
Definite announcement is
made OF the proprietorship Of
The new Democratic daily here.
1t will be in good hands, both in
its editorial and business de-
pariments. The new Republi-
cantaily, the National Union,
does not present fhe appearance
OF a successful paper. There is
LOT patronage enough here for
Two Republican morning pa
pcrs, and the Republican, by
reason Of being an older and
better known sheet, seems to
get most of such advertising as
our limited business affords.
At last Assistant Secretary
Mccormick Of the Treasury,
than whom no man has been
more persistently written up in
ihc newspapers since newspa-
pcrs-were first published, is per-
united to leave his post and his
successor is named. 1t is not
important who the successor
may be, as the Assistant Secre-
tary's business was chiefly the
registering of appointments
ana,le by those higher in author
jsy. and the giving out of infor-
nation to reporters, but it is a
relief TO know that Mccormick
will no longer be compelled to
suffer in health by his devotion
to the interests of the Govern
mcmt, and that Sherman has
found a man who can be trus-
ted TO attempt to fill Mr.. Nc
Cormick's place. We shall have
10 take our daily papers without
any Mccormick in it hereafter.
Representative Scleicher, Of
Texas, wishes the Government
10 build railroad and tele-
graph line from San Antonio to
The Rio Grande near Fort Dun
can. Mr.. Scleicher's idea is that
The road would reduce the cost
of defending the Southwestern
boundary. The road is estima-
ted TO cost about five millions.
Mr.. Scleicher is very genial
gentleman, and believes thor