Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-05-22
81 lFrOm Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON. May Is.

Nesllpalc the election lrauus IN flOIlui'
and Louisiana. 1t was a long and bitter
fight between the two parties; but it is
over and the battle is won; what it will
ultimately lead to, no one can foretell. As
am merely a chronicer of events. and
not here to appear in the role Of editor, l
shall abstain from all criticisms, pro or
con, merely promising that the action of
General Butler in voting with the demo-
Gratis throughout has created no little Won
der and excitement in The republican
ranks. Whether the general carries, as
the saying is, 4" a fox behind his ear" or
whether he has acted strictly on the square
and really means to stand by the demo-
Gratis in this thing, is also matter of con-
lecture!
Besides the excitement caused by this
affair, our city has been enlivened for n
week past by the annual meeting of SUI
perintdndents of insane asylums. In view
of the fact that the finest and largest in
sane asylum in the United States is located
right here in our midst, Il do not refer to
the capitol,) it would seem that this is
about rs good place rs could be selected
for them to meet in, Their time was oc-
cupied in debating the best treatment OF
lunatics, and the methods of determining
the existence and the several grades of
lunacy; visiting the government insane
asylum and the beautiful surroundings of
Washington, passing resolutions on the
death of Professor Henry of the Smithso-
MAN Institution, and eating good dinners.
Altogether, they seemed to have a jolly
good time. ua. ,t! r.
The successor to the late Professor Hen
ry was elected by the regents of the
Smithsonian yesterday. and resulted in the
unanimous nomination of Professor Baird.
Among those present (of the board of re-
gents) were Chief Justice Waite, Senators
Hamln. Sargent and Withers, Represent
atives Clvmer and Garfield, Gen, Sher
man, Hon P. Parker, Rev. DR.. Maclean,
DR.. Asa Grey, and President N. Porter
Representative A. IL. Stephens drove up to
the steps of the building, but did not feel
well enough to leave the carriage. APP
propriate resolutions Of sympathy for the
family, granting the salary for the remain
der of the year to the widow, and The use
of the rooms in the Smithsonian Institute
us long as the family wish 10 occupy them,
and appointing a committee to provide for
Il future memorial service, at which APP
propriate euloges should be delivered
&C., were adopted. The expression was
general, that the eulogies should be deliy
cred in the house Of representatives next
winter. Gen. Sherman was elected to fill
the vacancy in the executive committee,
occasioned by the resignation of Hon.
George Bancroft. The subject of the Sc
lection of secretary of the institution was
then considered, and it was decided 10
proceed to the election by ballot. Eleven
votes were cast, and Professor Spencer
fuIIpIlUH l)tlIu WIS uGClNlGN
elected.
The newly-elected secretary was born
at Reading, Pa, in 1925 and is II distn-
guished naturalist, lie has written several
valuable works connected with natural
history, and has contributed articles to the
publications of the Smithsonian Institution
and to the "Journal of the Academy of
Natural Sciences, Of Philadelphia" He
is member of the national academy of
sciences, and the head of the fish commits
sion. His long service as assistant secre-
tary of the institution has given him a
thorough knowledge of its plan and all the
details nf its workings, and he is, perhaps,
better fitted, rs Professor Henry's success
or, to direct the operations of the jnstitu-
ton in conformity with its established
policy, than any other man in America.
Yesterday, while voting on the Potter
resolution in the house, II cheerful scene
was enacted in the reporters gallery
which is located just over the speakers
desk. One correspondent accused a brother
qnildriver of having called him hard
names, and slapped him in the face.
Whereupon quilldriver No. 2 " went for ="
Q. d. No. |, and a lively row ensued,
which might, perhaps, have resulted in
the spilling of human gore, if the cores
pondent of the New York Sun. who was
present, had not interfered, and taking
each by the collar, marched them both out
into the lobby, where they were cooled
down by plentiful applications of lemon
AIDE and ice water. l have not heard of
any challenge having been passed yet.
Vice President Wheeler left for New
York last night, in company with Mrs.
Hayes and Miss Fanny Hayes, to be absent
about week. During his absence Senator
Ferry of Michigan is temporary president
of the senate.
The German Minister, Baron Kurd Won
Schlozer, has obtained leave of absence,
and leaves for Europe this morning. He
is one of the most popular Of the corps
dipiomatique here, and will be greatly
missed by all who know him.
Elaborate preparations are being made
for the observance of Decoration day on
the 30th instant, when impressive and in
teresting services will be held at Airing
ton, Soldiers Home and Congressional
cemeteries, under charge of appropriate
committees. The monuments throughout
the city, and the graves in Oak Hill and
Battle cemeteries will also be decorated
Arlington, of course, will be the central
point of interest, and the exercises imme-
diately preceding the decoration of the
graves will be held in the large ampli-
theatre, which will be entirely covered
by in immense canvas. A national salute
is to be fired by the district artillery, and
the services of II choir have been secured,
which will render dirges and patriotic Sc
lections at intervals during the services.
The Marine band will also be in attend.
anco. Hon. Charles G. Williams of Wis
I