, 1878-08-01
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, d. c., July IL, 1873.

Outside the snail circle OF the PreSi-
dents confidential friends and advisers.
no two acts ot his administration have ta-
ken residents and temporary sojourners
here more completely by supriSe-cut us
of at as it wer-than the removal
of Arthur and Cornell 1t seems a reilcc-
tion upon the vigilance Of the newspaper
man and detective, that they had been
able to give us no intimation of such a
very important movement. OF course
professional pride would prompt them to
insist that the determination to
make the change must have been taken
very suddenly and acted upon ut once
That seems the prevalent opinion, and
Secretary Shcrn ms somewhat mySteri-
Gus movements during The past few days.
have been connected with the matter in
the relation of cause and effect. Except
ing that class Ol sycophanlS who endorse
through motives Of sell-interest every
thing done by the object of their flat
terry, without "A question as to its wisdom.
there is heard but one voice as to the lack
of wisdom aud the impropricty OF the re-
moval in question. The verdict is dead
against tie President. Administration
attempt no Justification. generally and
admit that it can only have the effect un-
der the circumstances to make the Presi-
dent unpopular with his party. The
"stalwarts' openly denOunce the re-
mOval rs yindictive and as justfyng the
belief that the President Is not above the
Use of his position to CRAFTY his desire
for revenge. Democrats have hardly vet
had time to decide just what position to
take, rirhrTi clIuckles ARE audible. how
ever; and we may be certain they will
not scrupe to use the circumstance to di-
vide the president and his party still wider
asunder The Senate can hardly regard
IL other than rs an net OF defiance and
contempt for its opinion. The old mar
plot Davis, has again set his party by the
ears. His disposition to indulge himself
in SpiteIlIl and incendiary hHrrangues. Of
ten dismayS the leaders. though II portion
-6fthem are only restrained from cheering
and taking oil their hats to him by prli-
dental reasons which are evidently re-
gardCd rs Irrelevant and frivolous by the
rank and file of the party south of the
Potomac river. Even here there Is
large element which cannot restrain the
enthusiasm their OntDursts of their "Presi-
dent always inspire; and his latest Is
heartily approved by most "old Wash
iugtOnians.'
Interest increases in the Fitz John Por-
ter case as we get further along. Judging
ham what Is heard here he will have to
justify himself by witnesses regarded as
much more disinterestcd and competent
in the premises than eX-rebel officers, to
convince those who sympathized with the
Union cause that he ought not to have
been put to death, for what they believe
was his deliberate trcachery TO the cause
he proteSSeh TO have so much at heart. In
their OpinioT it is the least punishment
that he should bear for the part he played
on that disastrous August 'lay and tor the
lives that were required as the penalty for
his disobedience, that he should remain
forever barred from all pa ticipation in
the rights. privileges and immunities OF
American citzanship.
Mr.. Sherman's announcement that he
contemplates no COUP ID ET AT against
the rag money men, he was accused of do
ing few days ago, has completely under
mined the reputation Of good many
newspaper prophets, particularly OF those
llrge organs which are under the constant
deuson that the world couldn't get Oh
made up thcir mind to immediate resump-
tion on the strength of the assurances Of
the secrs In question, and were setting
their houses in order accordingly. But il
seems we are to wait the appointed time
Meanwhile it is believed the knowledge
Of the large amount OF coin in the Treas
ury win materially contribute to the con-
Iideuce needed in mercantile and business
circles generally. will stimulate private
resumption and will reduce to its mini
mum tho shock of Government resumption
when il finally comes.
The dispatches received announcing
Howard's victory over the h0sti'es, though
Containing very few details. have had the
vet 10 make the officials about the War
De jartment much more buoyaut and hope
f. than. tlry have been before since the
first Intelligence OF the outbreak No
one doubts thar had il been a defeat in
stead, We should have had to contend with
abput every tribe Of the Northwest before
me close of the Supmcr. 1t is ielt onr
frontier people have escaped great peril
through tie victory Howard and his men
achieved, and everyone seems correspond
ingly thankful. KNOX.