The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-01-17
S. AFFAIRS IN. N n WASHINGTON.
ro,.. our Regular Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, Jan..l1, 1878.

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$; WASHINGTON, Jan.:l1, 1878.
On Thursday. the 10th inst, contrary
to general expectation, there was quo
rum of both houses of Congress, and the
stars and stripes were unfurled to the
dripping hearers at both ends of the
Capitol. Debate was resumed, without
the least ado, precisely where it had left
off before the holiday recess, and both
Members and-Senators appeared to be
crammed full of speeches. In the House
the question was upon Mr.. Growers reso-
luton for sweeping investigations in the
Departments, and Messrs. Hale of Me-,
Cox and Garfield of Ohio, Banks of
Mass, Clymer of Pa, Tucker of Va, and
Conger of Mich, made short and oppo-
site arguments on the subject, taking
grounds, with the exception of Mr.. Cox,
of Ohio, with their respective political
parties. Mr., Cox. who, it will be remenl-
,bered, was Secretary of the Interior, du-
ring the earlier days of Glant's.frst term,
assumed the position that no Republican
should oppose investigation, but, allow.
ing the majority the. greatest latitude in
this respect, throw upon the Democrats
the approbrium of frivolous and expen-
'sive inquiries.
The debate was spirited and interest
ing. Gen. Banks spoke with his wonted
pointlessness and impressiveness, insist
ing that the measure was unconstitu-
tional, comforting upon the committees
unwarranted powers to search, compel,
and imprison. His remarks were an op-
iportunity for the legal pedant of the
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
staggered himself with his knowledge Of
the Constitution. Mr.. Conger, of Michi.
gan, made, as usual, funny speech, the
point of which seemed. to be that this
century could notrendure repetition Of
the theatric farce of Mr.. Clymer''s ex.
posure Of the supposed Belknap crook.
O.
edness-that the new. Democratic mem.
bers were painting to emulate Mr.. ely.
.mer,j but that they mistook their age, as
well as the endurance Of human nature
since such gigantic fascos must be dis.
tributed equitably through history, and
not monopolized by one generation.
Mr.. Wood is bitterly reproached by his
party for his management Of this resolu.
ton; he, as Chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee, and leader Of the
Democrats on the floor, allowed the
question to come to vote when he knew
the members ofhis party present were in
a minority. It is charged that he se'
cretly desired the defeat of the resolu.
ton, but, he can, at least, plead that he
is not ansWerable for absenteeism in his
party, and that if every Democrat had
been in his place and had voted as he
did, the motion would not have been
lost. Mr.. Hale, of Maine, is credited by
his friends with having foreseen thai
there would be but small attendance. .ol
Democrats, and with quietly advising the
Republicans to be present ready to take
advantage Of any weakness. Both par
ties made strenuous effort to. rally every
man for the struggle on the following
day; kilograms were sent to all alb.
sentees, and arrivals were anxiously
watched and, counted. The result OF
the following day proved that the. Demo
Gratis had profted by the delay, and the
resolution to investigate was passed by 9
very small majority. s IS:
The lobby has been called the third
House, and, unless the Woman's Rights
Convention is a branch Of the lobby, il
may be called the. fourth House. Al
any rate the women suffrage agitaton
were in convention in the lobbyiof the
Senate on Thursday, and such a conven.
ton 1t was chiefly a mob of men, boys
and a few women of discordant views
trying to conduct a debating society
prayer meeting and a political campaign
in one breath. Their efforts here during
the last week have been farcicalin 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 its
weak illogical advocates get an opportu.
nifty. to make themselves heard. Iwould
not have believed that convention Of
women could, do and say so many fan;
tastic things, without the true avouch Of
my own eyes and ears. :. Many yageries
of quack, chronological, spiritualistic,
and spurious, non-science were applaud
ed to the echo by some. iunwholesome
looking women on the stage and in the
audience. I. don't think there can be q
doubt that every woman's suffrage con.
yention makes more enemies than friends
for the cause, and materially postpones
the attainment of the ballot by the sex.
Thoughtful and. philanthropic men con-
cede that woman's 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, physical and
mental, from which no.law or sentiment
can absolve woman. Moreover, thought
full men have not unlimited faith in the
ballot as q nenacea for human ills. Thew