The daily gazette., 1878-04-16
Our Washington Letter.
our Lazy COngress-A Duel that
Did not Come off.


HOW BUTLER CoRNERED BLACKBURN
THE DEATH OF BOSS sTwEED-CONCERN-
ING BALAAM's ASS; HIS EARS
CROPPING OUT SOMEWHERE
MRS. HAYES FoNDNEss
FOR SALMON, &C., &c.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, April 13.
Congress, never over-active, seems to
have been overcome by the warm spring
weather, and has shown a disposition for
rest by closing its doors and adjourning
over until Friday next. Several of its
members are indisposed; among others
| Senator Cockrell, of Missouri, who was
taken quite Ill yesterday morning with
an attack of malignant type of malarial
fever. During his three years term of
| service, he has never missed roll call or
committee meeting, and never made a
| report from the committee on claims, of
which he is member, which did not
pass. Hon. G. H. Brogden, of N. c., is
also Ill at his residence, and quite num-
Der OF other members were indisposed
last week and did not appear in their
seats after the all important election
of new doorkeeper had been settled.
For it is notable fact, that nothing is
more striking in the proceedings of both
Houses than the keenness of the interest
with which anything bearing ON patron.
age Is disscused, as compared with the
languor and indifference with which
nearly all other subjects are treated. The
aforesaid great question of the appoint
ment of a doorkeeper in the House gave
rise to most animated bate, occupy.
ling two enere days; the eclat of the Oc.
lcasion being heightened by ingenious
and apparently carefully planned attempt
Of General Butler to "make point on
the Democrats" by nominating General
Shields for the place, Shields being al
once democrat and Unicn soldier, Sc
that II the democrats voted against him
they would have the air of rejecting him
simply because he had worn the blue
This movement was, however, flanked
by the democrats by putting Genera
Shields on the "retired list" as aBrigadiel
General, drawing pension of "a 900 pei
annum, which doubtless suits the old
warrior better than to be doorkeeper.
An amusing story is told of an inter
view between General Butler and Mr
Blackburn, of Kentucky, between whom
sion of this question. When Joe Black
burn got through his reply to Butler the
latter went over to Blackburn's seat anC
in rather q sharp tone, said: "Can set
you, sir?" Mr.. Blackburn: eyes sir, yol
can" Mr.. Butler: 'sWhen?" Mr.. Black
burn: "Now, or at any other time."-
Mr.. Butler: "Follow me then"
Mr.. Blackburn followed the Massachu
setts gentleman, who, striding befor,
him, led the way to the District OF Colum
tia committee room. After they hat
entered, General Butler locked the door
and without changing the stern expires
sion OF his countenance, put his hand il
his hip pocket, drew therefrom bundle
of papers, and quietly proceeded tC
argue with Mr.. Blackburn on the merits
of the Washington Market Company
case.
Blackburn is member of the Distric,
Company and is the author of the bill tC
| re-convey the market buildings to the
District authorities for non-payment ei
taxes. Butler on the other hand, is tbs
Attorney for the market company
| Blackburn told me himself, that he ex
pected by Buffers stern demeanor that
he took him into the committee room to
meet him in sanginary encounter, and
that Butler choose the time he did be.
cause his (Blackburns) arm was done up
/ in sling.
The news of the death of Boss Tweed
in New York, created considerable of q
| sensation here where he was well known
having been member of Congress in
the years 1853, 1866, and after visiting the
city in 1870 and 1871, when he was a
State Senator. While all admit his
criminality, there was few who do moi
! conceed that he had many good qualities
| and that it was the force of circumstances
rather than an evil heart, which caused
him to trespass. His trials are ended
ReQuiescat in pace.
As there are two personages in the
Pentateuch who have cost the commen-
tators no end of labor and proftless ex-
penditure of ngenuity-Melchize
| and Ballaam-so there are two individu-
ais i'll the Democratic party with equally
unsatisfactory and unsolvable proclivi-
| ties; refer to Senator Davis and the
Hon. Montgomery Blair. The former
| because, Notwithstanding his ponderous
presence, he is continually sitting ON the
"fence," and no one knows to what side
he will ultimately flop over; and the
latter because his recent resolution pro-
| viding for reopening of the Presiden
| tial qHestion suggests appendageS to his
person not unlike those which graced
the animal for the possession of which
Balaam has become immortal. Mr..
Blair's resolution which was presented
in the Senate by Senator Dennis, OF
Maryland, was received with a very cold
shoulder and referred to the judiciary
Committee, where it will in all probabili-
ties be entombed in a pigeon hole, to be
known no more for ever.
Mrs. Hayes has returned from Ohio, as
brown as berry, and yesterday visited
the Smithsonian Institution in company
with the President, Secretaries Thomp-
son, and McCrary, and the Hon. Peter
Parker, for the purpose of witnessing
the interesting process of taking plaster
casts Of two enormous salmon weighing
thirty pounds each. These fish were re-
Gently caught in the Delaware river,
which, some years ago, was stocked by
the q. s. Fish Commission with young
salmon, and are magnificent specimens.
This commission has recently placed 25O,-
900 young shad in the waters Of North
Carolina, and a like number in the
waters OF Maryland and Virginia; and
as fish, owing to the quantity of phos-
phorous it contains, is said to be pro-
ductive of brain, we may look forward
to splendid results in the coming delega-