Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1878-12-09
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON,
ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MoNIToR.]
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1878.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 3, 1878.
Upon no people under the sun, per-
haps, is the rapidity with which the
earth makes her circuit about the centre
of the solar universe, more deeply I'M
pressed than upon the Washingtonian
and the crowds that regularly come and
60 with congress. 1t is but yesterday
that the members of the first session of
the 45th congress convened, organized,
struggled and intrigued during the day
and dissipated (many of them) the
nights till the heat of summer drove
them forth. With them went the hang
ers-on, male and female, who make the
joint occupation of Washington during
the congressional season more or less
profitable or SO pleasant as to insure
their annual return with the (for the
time being honorable members. To-day
the second session meets with few
short weeks in which to do their work.
With very many of the Representatives
it is likely their last session as such,
and the term of service of an unusually
large number of Senators expires with
the ringing down of the curtain on the
Sd of March. Senator Hamlin of Maine,
is of the number. 1t is understood that
he positively declines denomination,
but will follow the bent of inclination to
live private citizen the balance of his
life. He is senior member of both
Houses as regards length of COMPRESSION
services; and of all the men of the post
who have grown famous during their
congressional careers, and have died
with the harness on or have retired on
their we'll earned laurels, not one left a
more exemplary character for the imita.
ton and guidance of their successors
than Senator Hamlin will have done
should he continue yet a few more weeks
IN the straightforward course that has
left the impress of his craftsmanship ant
his incorruptible honesty on many o
our most cherished Institutions Their,
was never a measure introduced into tn,
Senate, looking to the perfection of Re
publican Government, to the advance
ment of the interests of the great mas
of his fellowmen, that his aid was count
ed on in vain. With not one Of tn
innumerable scandals that have brough
shipwreck and ruin to other men emf
nent in their public services, has tn
name of Hamlin ever been coupled. Hi
/; honesty is as undoubted here amonI
i. those who have had opportunities to sea-
Y his life, as when he first entered the Sen
: ate quite third of a century ago. 1
order to fully appreciate the kind of in
}. tegrlty requisite to preserve one spo'
: less in this maelstrom of corruption
}. where men are alleged to be bougt
!, and sold like sheep in the shan
,. bles, it must be remembered that th
j. vote of one occupying the position (
:, Mr.. Hamlin, is not frequently worth
,. fortune-could probably command i
J. Yet Mr.. Hamlin will 60 out of service
n comparatively poor man. though his lii
:. here and at home has always been eel
81 nomical and radically Republican in i
/. simplicity. All in all, no man ever
a, the Senate has worn better than ii
8. veteran of Maine, and very few ha,
S. succeeded in retaining such full mea
ure of the respect of all parties. Ma
g. be yet have many years vouchsafed hiI
l. is the almost universal wish that wi
r follow him into his retlracy.
ut The fight between army officers al
&C. the Indian Bureau is likely to be tax,
be up very early in the session. N
no Schurz has, Of course, cspoused the si'