Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-12-22
F,cffrr from Richmond,

The Deserted Legislature UdUS-1 Sateat
House Tile 7ulhers and the Non Takers -
The Simon PweS and their Opponents
Notes about the CtpitGi.
Correspondence of the Alexandra Gazette !
RICHMOND. December 81, 1877
TIE capitol looks deserted ard the lcgsa
tive halls are empty now Ex Speaker Marsha |
Hanger and Mr.. Bohannon arc the ouIj W.
remaioing Legislators iu the city. believe thcy
purpose spending their Christmas here. Now
that the members arc absent | may take the
liberty of remalking that it is WOE darfu body.
Aud it is such new body, AID composed Of
such Dew ma crial that it will be difficult to say
what it. will do There are so many strangers
10 the House that the officers Gnd it difficult to
koow their names One Of the oldest clerks 10
the House who has known every legislator for
the last twenty years, remarked that be only
knew five o! the members OF the present House.
Such has been the great revolution that time
and politics have made. The casual observer at
first sight will be impressed With QUO thing III
particulsr-ihe silence Of mnet OF the members,
particularly III The House. Ia the course Of Z
days session, so far, the plumber OF speakers
has not averaged live. | mean that during the
entire day cot an average OF live members have
opened their lips to make even simple motion.
When business begins to langulsh the members
are not even able to move an ADJOURNMENT. SO
far there has not been much talking and what
has been done has been the work OF three or
four members So far the debt. payers-of
those who arc opposed 10 the simon pure read
justers-have had slight advantage 10 the
takers. Mcssrs. Coghi, Hanger, Echols
Anderson and Bthannoa on their side, have
been heard more frequently, whlc on the other
Al tnf{ n nj is.
roy. But no one cln predict what time may
bring forth, and from this now silent mass Of
rough and unhewcd timber no one can tell
who will bo built full hadged orator and
statesman. 10 many Of the members 1t 10
their first entrance into political life. 10
such it will BE- II stormy and rough road 10
travel. Perhaps no house slDca the war
has had to rely SO entirely IN its lead.
crs and the question arises whether the
House will not instead of wrangling-each mem.
Der with the othcr-luow the leaders oil each
side. My opinion is that the majority Of the
members will do little or 20 speaking, but will
follow as those gentlemen, who are now the
leaders OF the opposing factions, may dictate. d
This may be said of the (louso but not Of the
Senate. There each member strikes out on
his own hook with greater freedom. AS achronlc
complainant remarked yesterday, There is
moro talking to the square iuch done 10 the
Senate than in any other body Of its size in the
world" While the members there arc not
afraid to open their mouths and talk, still they
have their leaders, who have shown that they
will be most conspicuous 10 debate. % tho
anti simon pure rcaduster side may be found
Senators Johnson, eff Richmond; Hurt, Of Hall.
fax; Hurt, of Pntsylvania; DauieI, of Lynch.
burg aud lee from Fairfax.
OF the simon pure rcadjusters are Senators
Fukcrson, of Washington; Massic, Of Abe
marie; Sherrarl. from Rockbridge; Phleagar,
from Montgomery; and Paul, from Rocking
ham.
1t is said that the amount OF the distracted
bonds has been discovered to be over SlOO,OOO
50 far, and yet the end has not been reached.
A stranger was in the capitol square to day
looking st the bronze stature OF StoneWall Jack.
son. liz turned around and asked gentleman
standing by, "Slranger that's good statue. but
Jackson want that col1r was he y
ilavcrlpys Ministries arc nlayiog here to good
houses The "CAliornia Quartette' attached
to the company sang in ST. Pauls Church,
Petersburg, last Sunday. They siog. we'll, but
Grace, Episcopal Church has now a full or
yanizad boy choir. TIL" Rev. IL. Melville
J Jackson is the pastor.
eas- THE MOST USEFUL AS WE'LL AS
ornamental article for ladies wear is pair