Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
correspondence of the Bulletin.

4
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. IL, rs.
Our city has assumed it's wonted ap-
pearance, now that Congress is again
in session, and the hum of business on
our streets through increased move
ments of persons and vehicles is quite
noticeable in contrast with the uuiet
that has prevailed since adjournment,
Dec. Is. The rain which has been fall
ing for several days has ceased, and
again the bright rays of the unclouded
sun warm our people into life and put
them upon the streets. Both Houses of
Congress convened without formality Of
any kind, and proceeded as quietly as
had they been at work yesterday. Few
OF the Senators were absent, though ma
ny members of the House did not re-
spond to the roll call, or to vote of the
ayes and noes. The great event of the
Capital since New Years grand recep-
ton, has been the womans rights con
vention, and it's descent upon Congress.
The Sth and 9th were devoted to the
convention, at Lincoln Hall. by the del
egates, and In preparation for attack up
on the Capitol on the 1lth. The Hall
was crowded with spectators during
each day, and we never saw more inter
est manifested in the past in the pro-
ceedings than was unfaggingly exhibit
ed throughout by all in attendance
The stage was filled with delegates, and
among them were many faces rendered
familiar in the past, for year after year
they have unfailingly put in their ap-
pearance as the predecessors of the con
vention. Mesdames Hooker, Stanton.
Spencer, BoyntOn, Lockwood and others
were among these, while several others,
whom we have never before seen, took
places with them. For the first time in
the history of these conventions color
ed woman appeared on the stage. as a
delegate. Her entrance excited much
applause from the spectators. as did
that of Fred Douglas, who by special
invitation made vigorous speech favor
ing the movement. In fact, everything
done seemed to provoke applause, and
it is difficult to say whether it was a
telling point, or mere gallantry which
induced the applause. Whenever di-
versity OF opinion appeared among the
speakers, leading to debate, both views
We're Justify cheered, and a reporter
could not determine the real feelings of
the audience so impartial was it in com
mendation of everything and everybody.
The inevitable Dr. Mary Walker, with
her dainty little cane, and fashionably
cut pants, OF course was on hand, and as
usual did not agree with her sister add
vocates upon any question. But her
presence did not provoke such decided
opposition and disgust among the dele
gates, nor did she have to force herself
upon the stage as last year DR.. Mary
has way and will. of her own, and
while she sees fit to differ in opinion
from the whole world, yet she manages
to make the world let her alone in what
ever she undertakes to do. So her sis
ter champions have necessarily to toler-
ate her way of doing things. Did she
possess the intellectual ability of Mrs.
Stanton, or was she the mental equal of
a dozen ladies we saw there, she would
not be so much the subject of ridicule
she is. She seems simply an oddity. and
gives no character by her brains to her
doctrines. A Miss Croker seems to be
another one of the irrepressibles. She
is an able and vigorous talker and makes
the fur fly, no matter on what she
speaks, and seems fully the intellectual
equal OF Mrs. Stanton, or Hooker, whose
great abilities are indisputable Our
Mrs. Lockwood, of course, took prom
inent part in the proceedings. and was
accompanied by her legal associate, Mrs.
Kicker, whom she recently characterized
as being neither irresponsible nor shift
less, to the great merriment Of our dig
nifed District Court. Mrs. Kicker is a
fine looking lady, of full form, with
short cut dark hair which lies in crisp
girlish ringlets all over her head. In
accordance with their programme, the
delegates all appeared at the Senate,
but failed to take it by storm, as they
had proposed, as the Senator'S declined
not only to allow them the use of the
Senate Chamber, but to grant them a
hearing this week. Mr.. Thurman denied
! that these delegates were representa-
tives OF the women of the United States,
view that seemed to obtain with the
majority of Senator's. Senator Conkling
got captured by number of the dele
gates in one of the corridors, and seem
ed much nonplussed by the vigorous at
tacks made on him by them, much to
the amusement of the spectators. Al
together, the ladies' have made much
Roadway. They have not come up
to the point which Mrs. Hooker inform
ed us they would attain. When
the House convened, Mr.. Kelly, of Pa,
offered the woman suffrage resolutions,
but under the demand for the regular
order, Mr.. Woods investigation resolu-
tions, fillibustered over on Dec. 18th by
the Republicans, came up and occupied
the day, to the exclusion of other mat
tiers. Our colored citizens are much ex-
cited at the course pursued by the
whites who reside in the locality where
the Misses Wilson and Smith were out
ragged recently by negroes. The whites
charge virtual completely upon all col
ored people, which imputation of course
is Indignantly denied, and they claim
they would arrest and punish the perpe-
traitors as quickly as the whites, could
they find them. FELIX.