Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-01-25

Our Washington Correspondence.
REcoRDs-DEAD LETTERS
1HE Observation-Disclosures
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10, 1873.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times
Congress, after having accomplished but lit
tie in the first fifteen days Of the regular ses-
sion, and enjoying very long recess IS again
at work, and the city has assumed ITS usuanY
lively appearance. For the first time IN SIX
teen years, every seat in the Senate IS hlied'
and it is hoped that the chickering's and de
laws incident to the seating Of some indIVld-
uals of doubtful charaeter-Inen OF bad re-
port before the world-;n that body, will be
atoned for by vigorous and persistent WORK
during the remainder of the session.
That the Senate Is nearly equally divided
in politics may be regarded as an omen OF
good. as members will be more careful OF
their votes while, on the other hand, when
large maiofities predominant, they become
careless, and often vote "nearer wrong than
right"
Notwithstanding the wholesale reduction
in appropriations in all departments OF the
Government By the last Congress, ncle Sam
finds his purse nearly empty. and IN ORDER
to meet his current expenses 1t Is proposed
to thinker" the tariff, restore the income
tax, reduce the tax on the necessary artl-
cles"-whiskey and tobacco-and increase
the revenues from sugar, coffee and tea.
Such legislation as will relieve the laooring
classes, the manufacturers and the mer-
chants from their present depressed condl-
ton, is imperatively demanded. The "sil-
yer BILL will, it is thought, become law,
either with or without the sanction OF the
President, and, it is thought by many, will do
much towards relieving the pressure OF the
times. A law prohibiting the sale oil IN
toxicating liquors in the District of Columbia
and territories will be asked Tor, and, II
passed will do much towards turning our
wasted resources into their proper chan
nels.
The .'star- chamber" resolution of Ben
Wood, authorizing the committees OF the
House to Investigate" Unfortunately, and
to send for persons and papers without spe-
cal authority in each case, was passed by
strict party vote, and was strongly opposed
By the Republicans There is no doubt that
most of the Departments need Investigation,
but in er parte Investigations the truth =
not always reached.
| WAR RECORDS.
Ii is said that the official records of the
War OF the Rebellion, both Union and Rebel,
will make about one hundred volumes of
thousand pages each. Forty-seven volumes
$4,000 pages) have already been printed,
-thirty-seven relating to the Union, and
ten to the Rebel States-the latter being
brought down TO the close the year 1861.
The work will be continued assoon as the re-
quisite appropriations are made. The Brady
collection of war views, which are to be used
as illustrations for this work, have been pur-
chased for $4,000.
SOUTHERN RAILROADS.
The amounts now due the United states
from these roads for rolling stock and mate
rails which they purchased on credit at the
close of the war, foot up to nearly two
millions of dollars. Only S345 have been
paid during the past year, and as result
some of the roads are being sold at auc-
ton
| DEAD LETTERS.
| Four millions of dead letters were received
at the Postofice Department in 1877, con-
tanning $50, 600 in money and 81, 5O0,OO0
in drafts, most of which found their way
back to the writers. Besides these there
were twelve thousands packages for which
no owners could be found, and which are
sold a. auction annually. They contain nearly
every variety of merchandise, such as dress
patterns, children's suits, pantaloons, clocks,
watches, laElp chimneys, eggs, wash-boards,
printers ink, canes, swords, reyolvers.
photographs, etc Recently letter con-
tanning important documents was resur-
rected in the Dead Letter Office after having
remained there more than forty years.
TIE BIRDS.
Ramblers among the hills and forests OF
Vermont have noticed the absence of birds
of song which inhabited those localities in
former years, and have often heard this ques-
ton asked Where are the birds?" A
visit to our Washington markets and seeing
the hundreds of robin-red- breasts exposed
for sale for food fully answers the question.
After coming South to spend the Winter,
they become the victims of the sportsmen,
and seldom return to the place of their
nativity.
| ALEXANDRIA,
once the rival of Baltimore as a commercial
mart, is now an Insignificant and dilapidated
city with population of about II 1000. 1t
was here that Braddock's expedition started
in 1855 The Marshall Hous., where the
lamented Ellsworth met his untimely death
by the hand of its rebel proprietor, who had
sworn that the flag should never again be
taken down except it cane over his dead
body, no longer stands to furnish relics for
the Yankee Jack knife, while the man who
really pulled down the flag (the chaplain Of
Ellsworth's regiment) still lives and ENJOYS a
lucrative position in the service of the Gov
crnment. Here, too, stands ''Christ's Epis-
copal Church, ~ made Of bricks brought from
England in 1873, noted as being the place
where George Washington learned never to
"teil lie and where the Rebel general
Robert E. Lee xOrshipped God according
to the dictates of his own conscience, and
listened to the gospel as expounded by
Rev. c. D. Dana, formerly of Maine, who
occupied the pulpit for more than forty years.
The remains of nearly 1000 soldiers sleep in
a cemetery near the city. Here also resides
the rebel lieutenant Billy Semmes, of Mosby 5
cavalry, who "raided among the quiet farm
ers of Pennsylvania, was captured and de
posted in Fort Delaware, Philadelphia,
from which he made his escape by swimming
the Delaware river in the night, was recap
turcd and enjoyed repose of sixteen months
in Fort Warren, Boston harbor, rather than
take the oath never again take up arms
aga inst the Government. Billy is plucky