Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-12-10
Washi,.gton Correspondence.
WASHINGTON. ID. e.,
Dec. 3, 1878.

Dec. 3, 1873.
Upon no people under the sun, perhaps.
is the rspidity with which the earth makes
her circuit about tho centre of the solar
universe. more deeply impressed than
upon the Wsshingt1nisn and the crowds
that regularly come and go with Con-
gress 1t is as but yesterday that The
members OF the first session OF the 45ih
Congress convened, organized. struggled
and intrigued during the day and dissi-
psted (msuy OF ,hem) the nights till the
heat OF summer drove them forth. With
them went the hangers-on, male and
female, who make the joint operation oil
Washington during The season more OF
less profitable or so pleasant as 10 insure
their annual return with the Uor the
time beinR) honorable Members. To-day
the second session meets with a few short
weeks in which TO do their work. With
very many of the Representatives 1t is
likely their last session as such, and the
term OF service of an unusually large
number of Senators expires with the
ringing down OF the curtain on the Sd OF
March. Senator Hamlin OF Maine. Is oil
the number. Ii is understood that he
positively declines denomination, but
will follow the bent of bis inclination 10
live a private citizen the balance OF his
life. He is the senior member Of both
Houses as regards length Of Congressional
services, and OF all the men of the past
who have grown famous during their
Cougre ssional careers, and have died
with the harness on or have retired ON
their well earned lanrels, moi one lett
more exemplary character tor the imila-
ton and guidance OF their successdGhan
Senator Hamlin will have done should he
continue yet lew more weeks in the
straighlior course that has char
acter;zed bis public lie OF more than 80
years duration. lie has left the impress
OF his craftsmanship ard his incorrupti-
bic honesty on many OF our most cher
ished institutions. There was never q
measure introduced into the Senate look
ing TO the perfection OF Republican Gov
eTumenl-to the advancement OF the in
.eresls of the great mass of his fellow
men that his aid was counted on in
vain. With not one OF the innumerable
scandals that have brought shipwreck and
in TO other men eminent in their public
services, has the name Of Hamlin ever
been coupled. His honesty is q, undoub!ed
here among those who have had oppor-
,uni,ies TO scan his lite as when he frs!
entered the Senate quite third OF cen
fury ago. Ia order TO fully appreciate
The kind of integrity requisite 10 preserve
any one spotless in this u@ sirom OF cor
rup'ion where men are alleged to DO
bought and sold like sheep in tho sham
bles, il must aforementioned that the vote
OF one occupying the position OF Mr.
Han lin, is not infoquently worth for
tuue-could probably command ID. Yet
Mr.. Hzmlin Sil 20 out of service CON-
psralively poor man, though his lie here
and al home has always been economical
and radically republican in its simplicity.
All in all, no man ever in the Senate has
worn better than The veteran from Maine
and very few have succeeded in retaining
such full measure OF the respect OF all
parties May he yet have many years
youchsaied him is the almost universal
wish that will follow him into his re-
tiIemenl.
The light between Army officers and
the Indian Bureau is likely to be taken
up very early in the session. MIR. Schurz
has Ct course espoused the side OF the
Bureau and Gent Sherman that oil the
Army. Congress can hardly be arrayed
on a stric, party line 10 this matter, as the
abuse of both contestants 10y the average
Democratic member ba1 only been limit
ed by his command OF language.
Another mattor-the guarantee of the
interest of the Texas Pacific Railroad
bonds-wlll be pressed TO an early hear
ing. Prophecies lack good deal OF be-
ing facts. sometimes, and iorbear. But
Il is evident 10 those looking on that the
reaction in ,he public minds provoked By
tue oppressive course of the Central Pa
chic road towards those forced to patron
ize 1t has been favorable 10 tho I. IL +.
enterprise; and this has been rendered
much more decided by the refusal Of
Huniington's road to comply with the
laws and by its defiance of Government
authority.
From The: tenor OF all that has been
heard from returning members of Con-
gress We seem justified in believing that
the more influential OF both parties have
come back from their respective conslilu-
encies imbued with the importance OF
making politics secondary this winter TO
needed legislation; aud we may reasona-
bly, hope that after the passage of thu APP
preparation bills. action that will aid
rather than retard a restoration OF public
confidence, will be had in conjunction
with the resump ton of specie payments.
Enlarged and more intimate commercial