The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1878-12-18
Washington Letter.

4
g NosTICATIONs-GRE ORAToRIA
ENTERTAINMENT EXPECTED IN tn
9 sENATE-sENAToRs BLAINE AN
Il THURMAN--AND IN THE HoUs
t WHEN BUTLER CoMEs-WnL SEM
TOR THURMAN RETIRE FROM tn
SENATE ?-soCIETY MATTERs-TH
, SAME OLD PRoGRAAINIE-RELICs o.
BELLIES AND BEAUs.
WAsHINGToN, Dec. 9th.
To the Editor Of the Morristown Gazette:
The work of the first week of Con
gress is now before the country, ant
it will be taken, so far as it goes Al
a pretty fair index to the programme
of the session. In the Senate the
first matters considered, were the
transfer of the Indian Bureau to the
War Department. the Investigation
of the yellow fever, the retiren ent
of the trade and the southern elec
toral outrages. This last resolution
was proposed by the Senator from
Maine, and it instructs the Judiciary
Committee to enquire whether at
the late elections any American citi-
zen was denied the right to cast
what President Hayes calls an sun
intimidated ballot On Tuesday
Mr.. Matthews called up the Texas
Pacific Railroad bill in the Senate,
Mr.. Beck offered a resolution re-
questing the Secretary of the Treas
ury to tell what had been done to.
ward receiving the silver dollar for
custom duties, and disbursing it for
interest on the public debt. The
House has already passed two of the
regular appropriation bills; and both
Senate and House, apparently we'll
satisfied with the weeks work, adj
journed on Thursday for vacation
during the remainder of the week.
This enabled members of Congress
to look after the interests of their
constituents in the various Depart
ments, and especially to importune
the Postmaster. General about post
masterships in their respective dis
tricts.
There is much diversity of opin-
ion, in political circles, as to the
probable course of Congress in rela-
tion to Presidential and other cleo
tion Investigations. While we hear
on one hand that the Potter Com
mittee will go to work vigorously
and probe matters to the bottom,
there are political wiseacres who in
sist that the bill proposed on the
first day by Senator Blaine, and the
Investigations now under way, will
be nsed for no other purpose than
oratorical thunder in the Senate and
House, and that solid work may be
expected during the short session.
But those acquainted with the tenn
per of the Senator from Maine, and
especially those who have marked
his improved health and training,
predict one of the most exciting dis
cussions on the Southern question
that has been heard on that much
bruited subject in Congress, for the
last thirty years. There will be an
opportunity TO hear the two most
prominent presidential candidates
of their respective parties, for Thur
man will lead the debate on the Dem
ocratic side, and his long familiarity
with the questions that will be dis
cussed, his training with such power
full opponents as Morton, Conkling
and Edwards; his GOODNESS, and pro-
foundly acute acquaintance with
the legal aspects Of the case. will
furnish, the eloquent ex-speaker q
foil far different from the impetuous
and imprudent Hill. Mr.. Thurman's
Senatorial term will expire in the
year, and it is rumored that he will
the next Democratic candidate for
Governor of Ohio. His friends think
that he can poll a much larger vote
than any other Democrat, and It is
inferred that if he carries his State,
it will give him invincible prestige
in the next Democratic Presidential
convention. It will be bold stroke,
and If he loses, Indiana, will most
probably furnish the Democratic can
didate.
Mr.. Butler has not yet made his
appearance, he is engaged as coun.
sci for plaintiff in 100000 law
suit in which the Lieutenant 6 ener.
al OF the Army is defendant. With
Schurz On one flank and Gen. But.
Ter on the other, tho great cavalry
leader has his hands full. The adj
vent Of Butler is anxiously expected
by quid names and pen.drivers gen.
orally. His great talents, pugnacity,
unique political relations, and recent
election provocations, have made
him more than ever a vessel Of
wrath, and a subject of interest to
the press which he effects to despise.
There is no end to the rumors of