Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1878-12-04
Washington Letter.
WAsnLNGroN. Nox. Solh. 1s7

WASHINGTON, Nov. S0th, 1873,
Washington has, during the present
week, reassumed its society smile and
political panoply. Congress with its nu-
merous nondescript train has arrived.
The executive and his cabinet have at
length settled down in their homes. For
eign ministers, attaches of legation, mill:
tary and naval officers may be again seen
driving or promenading on the great bou
levard that stretches from the treasury de-
p9rtment to the capitol. Pretty govern
ment clerks, and aristocratc daughters of
bankrupt old Westinghouse vie in the
display of French costumes and American
manners on Pennsylvania Avenue. In
short, the political mill, Vanity Fair, and
Mammons court, have been brought
again in proximity at the only place where
they can be seen in such development on
this side the globe. What are these to us
or we to them that we should read about
them or write about them? Cannot every
ShihNl iNsth NlAlHGh llut ouliClCub BOllAiSti
| excitement or annoyance in the affairs
of his township, municipality, county, or
state? And, rs for the other sex, have
they not social realms of their own-little
pent up Uticas of fashion, narrow and pro-
yincial, we may call them, but containing
the germ and elements of all that we see
in Washington, Boston, or the proudest
courts of Europe? Still it is we'll for one,
either bodily or mentally, to get out of his
accustomed environment for little while
sometimes, and rs investigators of the
greatest distinction have not thought it be-
meath them to study the lowliest forms Of
human life, livelihood. and polity-the
American citizen and citigCnne will find
their horizon broadened, their pleasure
and usefulness enhanced by keeping the
run Of political affairs and social tenden-
cies ut the only seat of national govern
ment that is directly or indirectly acceSsi-
| bic to them, unless they are the exception
al two in two thousand. 1t is II fatal mis-
take to suppose like DR.. johnson that
| there is nothing worth seeing outside OF
London, but there are those who are like
the renowned johnson to the extent that
they believe in the universally of their
own village
On Monday, the I'd of November, the
last session of the forty-tifth congress
will convene, and it will be brief for it
must adjourn before the 4th of March,
| 1879. The indications are that congress
will make new departure in plssing in
the early part Of the session the appropri-
alton bills thlt have heretofore been de.
terred until the last hours. and then hur-
red through under pressure. The House
committee on appropriations have been in
The city for some time, and. on yesterday,
completed the military academy, and for
LITIGATION bills, and authorized their pre-
sentation to congress on next Thursday.
The West Point bill us prepared by the
committee is not materially different from
that passed last year. Inc fortified ion
bill will be presented in precisely the
same shape us last year. The sub COM
mttee preparing the consular and dipo-
matte bill have nearly completed their
work, and the bill will differ only in minor
points from that enacted last session. Sub
committees have charge of the Indian and
pension bills, and, | am told, will be ready
to report them before the holidays.
What is called dead lock-" it is
thought, will occur early in the session in
the appropriation committee between the
democratic and republican members, arts
ing cut of the desire of the administration
to raise fund for the payment of federal
election supervisors, and for the manage
ment of election cases now being prose
cuted in the southern states. This debate
cannot be confined to the committee, bat
will eventually be wsged in the House
and Senate with all the acrimony that has
ever attended the controversies between the
north and the south. Toward the close OF
the session the political situation will be
interesting from the probability Of an
extra congress, IN exciting race for the
speakership, and change in the complex
ion of the Senate. 1t is the opinion of
many that this will be Mr.. Randall's last
term as speaker of the House. There are
new and formidable combinations oppos-
ing him, and the indications are, espcci-
ally since the late elections. that the centre
of party gravity has shifted to a point far
Their west and south than Philadel phia.
We are so remote from other great people
that our diplomatic relations, except with
the two or three powers with which we
have extensive commercial intercourse,
are of the least Importance; but, it may
be interesting to those who follow the
ceremonial and spectacular features of
official life and etiquette at the capital, to
know that one Oriental legation, that of
Turkey, is to be permanently withdrawn
| doubtless IN economical measure of the
government Of the Porte) and that the
recently arrived Chinese embassy and the
japanese legation will be the sole diplo-
matte representations of the great Orient
I in the western world. c.