Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1877-12-31
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
wAsH1saroN. Dec. "a, 1877.

Princeton, at Philadelphia, 10 Dec. 1864,
he secured 48 hours leave of absence,
with permission to take with him one
Menenzie, prisoner confined on the
Princeton. aud becoming responsible for
his return. Menenzie was blockade
runner, had been an officer in the rebel
navy and was, presumably, a personal
friend of Draper. They went direct to
Baltimore where an ovation was tender
ed Menenzies at his sisters house. by
rebels and rebel sympathyzers, Draper
participating. The Publication was ex-
ceedingly boisterous and was SO offensive
to Unionists as have nearly provoked a
riot. The whole party was arrested.
including Draper. who was informed
Feb. 2 1865, by Secretary Wells, that
his commission was revoked. Draper
wrote requesting that he be allowed to
resign and his letter was treated as
formal resignation, the Secretary in
forming him that it had been accepted.
Draper tried to get reinstated, but Sec
rotary Robson declined to intefere
but he has been more successful with
the secretary who decides that he has
never been legally out of the service
and, it is said. has ordered his name
restored to the naval register. AS this
decision carries with it pay and allow
ance-about $25, 000-for the thirteen
years that he has been practicing medi-
cine here, rendering no service whatever
to the government, the case is exciting
a good deal of adverse criticism in naval
and political circles.
Since the political lull that has come
through the adjournment for the holt
days recess, public interest. which had
been largely absorbed In the struggle
for supremacy in the Senate between
the representatives of republicanism and
bourbonlsm, and by the issues that have
unhappily, been forced between the
former and the Administration, has been
recalled to several matters now pending
before Congress of such exceptional i'm
portance to the whole nation as to de-
mand much more attention than has yet
been accorded them. The case of the
Union Pacific R. R. is among these. and
it has come to strike many rejecting
people as very remarkable that Great
ure of congress can 60 on year after
year defying the power that called il
into existance, in open violation of its
charter, and in virtually refusing com,
pliance with its promise as to the re-
payment to the government of the money
borrowed to aid its constructions. Away
back in the extra session, the President
was requested by both Houses to inform
them what impediments existed to en-
forcing the original contract with thu
road. the Attorney General appears ;
long while in framing an answer. Th'
i interests of the Kansas Pacific and othe
roads, as branches, are indirectly in
: volved, as are also the relations of tn
government, to greater or less extent
J to the great railway system of the cOun
I try; and, Notwithstanding the fact tina
Q every influence is being brought to bear
likely to aid these gigantic monopolie
9 in defeating the governments effort t
8 establish its supremacy in the premise
g and to force them to a rigid accounta
/ bility in all times to come, in no pre-
vious congress has there been manifest
= ed such a general hostility to thei
% designs and such determined spiri
a. to establish the metes and bounds be
It yond which they may not 60 hereafter
n Every Establishment, every temporizin
,r expedient will undoubtedly be resorte
h to, by the formidable array of lawyer
"A here working to defer the blow, which
70 when given, will render then thereaftt
/. always amendable to law. The propc
il sition that the government accept som
70 million acres of worthless land at
:, valuation that would be ridiculous eve
in were the land of average growth to sa
a isfy the government claims will be cul
ne ningly and persistently urged; but 70
at bearance, has apparently been street.-the
70 to its utmost limit in behalf of the
in swindles. and the day of reckonir
he hastens apace.
III The reconciliation of Messrs Blail
he and Conkling appears to be regarded
he one of the most distasteful and unpror
no ising incidents that grew out of the CO
h test in the Senate over the nomination
a. of Roosevelt and Prince, by Democrat
of Mr.. Blaine had been counted on to a
d. tagonize every move made by Conklin
he and now, that hope failing them. thu
are laboring to renew the estrangeme
by detailing the incidents of the wore
ng encounter that separated them twel
IA years ago. But their amiable purpo
at seems likely to miscarry and they a
ia destined to severe punishment hereaft
he from the joint blows delivered by tho
we two great leaders of the party, that !
ce. joice to know they now stand should
his to shoulder, confronting common c
Mt, emy.