The daily gazette., 1878-01-15
Our Washington Letter,

Uur washington LcIl6r.
The ye-dssemtihio Of Cbyress-xn ezcttmo
struggle on he first day. Hayes Temporary
Triumph and final Juiisire-- " hoiesals ts-
sesftgdtton- Tne Jot.rM House-- Honon's
iSis0raes Shrtekers, etc, sfc. 'i isv .ss}
20 ~ 7 ai WAsHrNGroN, Jan. II.
fFrom our, regular correspondents ] g q
On Thursday the 10th. inst. contrary to
general expectation. there was quorum
Of both houses of Congress, and the
stars and stripes were esunfurled to the
dripping heavens at both ends of the
capitol, Debate was resumed, without
the least ado, precisely where II had left
OF before the holiday recess and both
members and Sc natorsi appeared to be
crammed full of speeches. In the House
ths, question was upon Mr.. growers re-
solution for sweeping Investigations in
the, departments and Msssrs. Hale of
Me-, Cox, and Garfield of Ohio, Banks Of
Mass, Clymer Pa, Tucker OF Va, and
Conger Of Mich made short and opposite
arguments on the sui ject taking grounds.
with the exception of Mr. Cox Of Ohio,
with their respective political parties.
Mr.. Cox who, it will be remembered,
was Secretary OF the Interior, during the
earlier days of Grants first term, assum-
ed the position that no Republican
should oppose investig CATION, but, allowing
the majority the greatest latitude Ia this
respect, throw upon the ID Democrats the
opprobrium of frivalous and expensive
inquiries. et4 paanN ,i4alH hlu7ai
The debate was spirited and interest
ing. Gen. Banks spoke with his wonted
pointlsssness and Impressivenessin insistihx
that the measure was unconstitutio onal,
confsring upon the committees unwar-
ranted powers to search, compel, and
iihprison, His remarks were an eppor-
|tunity for the legal pedant of the IA House
Mr.. Tucker of va, who was once
Attorney General for his state, and also
professor of law in Washington and Lee
University. He quite overwhelmed Gen.
Banks, and the House, and almost stag
gered himself with his knowledge of the
Constitution. Mr.. UoDger of Michigan
made, as usual, fanny speech, the point
could not endure a repetition OF the
theatric force OF M. Clymer's exposure
Of the supposed Belspap crooksuness---
that the new Democratic mem bers were
painting 10 emulate Mr.. Clymer, but that
they misto0k their age, rs well as the
endurance of human nature, since snch
gigantic nasco's must be distributed
|squtably through history, and nos
monopolized by one generation. ia %
l. Ia. IA haA kx,
his party for his management of this 70.
Solution; he, as chairman Of the ways
and means committee aud leader of the
Democrats on the floor, allowed the
question TO some to vote when he knew
Ine members OF his party present were
in q minority. 1t is charged that he
sucfetIy desired the defeat Vt the resolU-
ton, but he can, at least, plead that lie
is not nswerable for absenteeism In his
party, and that If every Democrat had
been in his place and had voted a. he
did, the motion would not have been
lost. lMr. Hale of Maine Is credited by
his fffeuds with having fOrseen that
there would be but small attendance of
Democrats and with quietly advising the
Republicans to be present ready to take
advantage of any weakness. Both parties
fnade strenuous effort TO rally every man
for the struggle OH the following day;
kilograms We're sent to all absentees, anu
arrivals were anxiously watched and
counted. The result on the following
day proved that the Democrats had pro-
htou BY the delay, aud The resolution to
investigate was passed by q very small
majority.
. The lobby has been called the third
House, and, unless the Womans Rights
Convention is branch of the lobby, it
may be called the fourth House. At any
rate the Women Suffrage agitators were
in convention in the lobby of the Senate
on Thursday. And such a convention
1t was chiefly mob OF men, boys and
few women of discordant views trying to
conduct a debating society, prayer meet
ing, and political campaign in one breath
Their efforts here during the last week
have been farcical in the extreme.
Whatever of good or right there may be
in female suffrage as an abstraction, the
whole subject is turned into derision and
puerility, whenever itsweakil logical advo-
Gates get opportunity to make themselves
heard. / would not have believed that q
convention of women could do and say
so many fantastic things, without the
true, avpuch of my own eyes and ears.
One session of their convention, in Lin
coin Hall, was occupied by oratorical
doctressesina "A protest against maternity or
ratheriin urging the right of women to
control the conception and progeny bust
ness, so that only such numbers and such
characters Of babes and suckhngs might
be born into the world as they desired
These and other vageries Of fquack, phren-
illogical, spiritualistic, and spurious non
science were applauded to the echo of
some .unwholesome looking women ON the
stage and in the audience. don't think
there can be a doubt that every womens
suffrage convention makes more enemies
than friends for the cause, and materially
postpones the attainment of the ballot by |
the sex. Il sE.5.fsfs -4I- n f1l5 - rls q
Thoughtful and philanthropic men
coneede that womens lot, like mans, is |
hard, and the tendency of public senti-.
ment as well as of legislation Is to give
her the fairest possible chance in life |
But there are disabilities primarily SEX
ual and consequently physical and men-
tai, from which no law or sentiment can |
her. Moreover, Thoughtful men
have not unlimited faith in the ballot as
a panacea for human ills. They have
been trying it right extensively for the
last hundred years, and they have found
that, in spite of it, the depravity OF hu-
man nature will crop out in legislation
and government Dretty much as it has al