Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1878-12-13
FROM THE CAPITAL.


All quiet at the Capital. Both Houses
adjourned over till Monday, on the plea
that the various Committees needed time
for the preparation of business for their
respective Houses. But we opine that Mr..
Blsine's resolution looking to an investiga-
ton of Southern election abuses had more
to do with the fact of adjournment than
any love of business or desire to expedite
it on the part of the patriotic Democrats,
whose working propensities were well il
lustrated in July, in the last days Of the
first session, by the enrolling committee,
which had every one of its members afflict-
ed with severe indisposition, save Mr.
Rainey, the .colored member from South
Carolina. We presume he had taken a
Murphy prophylsetic prior to the assump-
tion of the entire work Of the Committee.
But he is only q ''nigger" and no one
should expect him to play the gentlemen
when more important matters of legislation
demanded every power of his physical na-
ture.
The House convened with no parade.
At 12 O'Clock Sam Randall raped the
members to order, and then after short
prayer by the chaplain, who fervemtly
prayed for that grace and regeneration so
much needed by the average Democrats,
particularly so about former adjourn
nept days, the roll was called, which
showed quoram present, This prepared
the House for submission of the Presidents
message, which was read, as usual, to empty
seats, for the rule is for each member to
pocket the printed pamphlet copy, laid in
| advance on his desk, and walk of to some
committee room or to his quarters in the
city. After the reading was concluded
Father Fernando Wood Was moved in spirit
to criticise some portion of it. But the
castigation administered by Mr.. Garfield
made him wish he had kept his mouth
closed, for he got decidedly the worst of
the battle. Sunset Coz ilteTposed some Of
his witticisms but they did not serve to
| shield the doughty Wood from receiving
some hard blows. Mr.. Garfield is one Of
the ablest debaters in the House, where facts
and argument are involved, and in no sin
gle instance last Winter where ths real
merit Of any particular matter was in issue
| did he fail to demonstrate his mastery
power. he is no tactician, in the parlia-
mentary sense that gives Mr.. Hale, of
Maine, or Conger, of Michigan, virtual
lesderShips Of the House, but he performs
a part in the Capitol fTgys, IS essential as
that Of the private soldier in ACTUAL war
whose musket balls do all the killing Mr..
| Hale appears none the worse of his recent
defeat. But those who have been in the
reporters gallery realize that his absence i'll
the next Congress is to be deplored for no
one in the past has done more to eniven
things or has proved a greater thorn in the
Democratic side than he. Thoroughlyin
earnest, sklllfql tactipian, q ready debs-
tor, fertile in experience and cooler than a
cucumber in every emergency, he is most
formidable opponent indeed, and we, at
least, regret that the fate of political war
has given him 1.-TWO years in the hospital"
for he will be needed in the trout next
Winter. We have however the imperturba-
ble COnger left, who, backed by Garfield,
will undoubtedly carry war into Africa in
the 46th Congress.
Washington has ASSUMED its wonted
business aspects which chRracteViSes il dqrs
ing the session. Drays appear on the
streets, people promenade Pennsylvania
avenue by the hundred, the stores and
SnOpS are cFOHueu VIII buyers, Ile nag
fauDts gracefully from the domes of both
Senate and House, the corridors of the va
rious Executive Departments are thronged
with ANXIOUS Congressman and on every
hand are indisputable evidences that our
city is roussd out Of its sleep which follows
after every adjournment,
The President pardoned recently one
O'Brien. who originally was sentenced to be.
hanged here for the murder Sam Cunning
ham, but whose sentence was committed by
General Grant into imprisonment for life,
under the immense pressure brought to
bear Tor 0'Brien by the Catholic clergy OF
this city, headed by Mrs. General Sherman.
The whole strength of this sect has been
thrown for this culpiit, Notwithstanding
the murder Tor which he was convicted was
wholly cold-blooded and inexcusable.
! QBrieD Was policeman and tried to Sc
duce Cunnlngham's WIFE who reported the
fact to the Chief Of Police, which appered
o'Brien and then without further provoca- SIF,l-
tiOn he shot her husband to death in the
presence Of the wife at a picnic. Mr..
Hayes erred in this pardon matter most
waf4llF, for he has no right whatever to
libeFste such aB internal murderer because
! SOpe religious ssbt asks t0Fit,