The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-12-28
our WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Congressional 0ratory-Ioto the elogucnce Of
our Congressional luminariesi is suppressed
The death Of Williams, Of Michigan, and
Douglas, of Tirginia-Dcpartmen Clerks
hapPy--Byard Tayior's successor, &c.
WAsH1NGToS, Dec. 20, 1873
During the past week of Congressional by
play the galleries (which were Unusually
full of strangers) were more than once heard
to murmer that our republican form of gov
ernment is the bane of statemanship, and
that the generation Of great men is past for
ever. 1t is aggravating to hear the oldest
inhabitants descant on times when he heard
Clay, ,Cass, Calhoun, Webster, Benton, Wright,
Pierce, and their compeers debating and ora
ting " Ttmpore mutantuy, ct nos mutamur
in Ills" Now it is positive bore to pass
much time at the Capitol, which nobody
will inhict upon himself unless necessity
compels it. Ifthe Greenback element in the
next House cannot accomplish anything
else, IL should at least resolve to " stir up the
animals" and call out their colleagues 10 the
footlights of public observation. Perchance
there may be any number of Ciceros, Anth-
onys, Websters, and Clays dormant from
fcrce circumstances and "because the times
are out of joint" hiding their luminaries
under bushel of stale points of order. The
honorable Speaker and the Committee on
Appropriations consume most Of the time in
the House, and when member has carefully
prepared speech on any particular subject
he rarely has chance to deliver il; if he
does, it is an evening session to empty
benches. Perhaps this may save time, Ito
be irittered away in idle wrangle and re-
peated roll calls,) but it is grave mistake.
The country is growing restive under the
dictatorial hammer of the Speaker, and the
constituency want to discover the merits of
their members by some other means than
the printing of speech in the Record that
has never been uttered in the House or mar
rated in the newspapers. II was the living
eloquenoe and almost inspired speeches of
the statesmen of early days that piloted the
republic through dangerous waters and
placed her on firm foundation.
On Saturday the death ofGeneral Alpheus
S. Williams, Congressman from the Detroit
district of Michigan, was followed yesterday
by the demise of Congressman Beverley
Douglass, of Virginia, at the National Hotel
in this city. Mr.. Douglass, in his sober
movements, was man of intelligence and
ability, and highly esteemed by all who
knew him. About three years ago the fatal
passion took possession of him, and since
then he rarely appeared in his seat in pro-
per condition to discharge his duties when
in the House. He frequently became so de-
monstratiYe as to seriously interfere with
the public business, and then his fellow
members would coax him out Of the hall.
Every effort was made to save him by his
family and friends, but to no purpose. His
defeat for the Congressional nomination at
the last election,an event due entirely to his
intemperance, weighed heavily upon him,
and to drown his disappointment he took to
his cup worse than ever. His sad fate
awakens the deepest sympathy, and is the alb
sorbing topic in political circles.
The Executive has taken the cue from the
legislative branch, and the army Of men and
women employed in the Departments are
anticipating few days of pleasure and re-
spite from the tread mill. They get the
whole of fChristmas and New Years day and
half day preceding each ofthese anniver.
saries; besides they are allowed the half o.
each day from the Goth to the 3lst inclusive
: They are permitted to arrange this time
among themselves, SO that if, for instance
there are ten clerks in a division, five will
take the whole of three days, the other five
remaining on duty all day, and Uica uerst
when turn about in fair play" Thus thu
Government business is not retarded to any
I ones inconvenience, and everybody is happy
The vacancy in the mission to Germany
has temporarily, at least, raised the expec
g tations of such Of our leading men as happer
: to be out of office. Bayard Taylor's remain
were hardly cold in death, before the un
! seemly scramble began, and the candidate
, already put forward can be numbered by tn,
dozen. 1t can be authoritatively stated
a however, that neither the President no
e Secretary Evarts has given the subject tn
1 slightest consideration. A great deal ha
, been said about the probability that citi
F zen of Pennsylvania or New York will b.
4 selected, and some have gone so far as to as
sert that the former State will certainly sup
). ply the new Minister to Germany. Thos
t best informed in such matters incline to
contrary opinion, and do not think tha
either New York or Pennsylvania will secur
>. the prize. The reasons they assign for thei
: belief are not without weight. They con
It tend that New York, having the secretar,
d of State and the Minister to Russia (Stough
I ton), cannot justly be accorded more posi-
D tions of prominence in the diplomatic ser
n vice. As regards Pennsylvania, it is claim
= ed that she has the mission to England, ant
is therefore barred from attaining the presen
vacancy. There is some force in this, ant
e upon reflection it would seem that tn
chances are rather adverse than favorable +
New York or Pennsylvania. A report
= among countless others, has been circulate,
If that Senator Christiancy is being vigorousl,
urged by strong influences. 1t is no secre
: that for year or two back the friends O
Zach Chandler have been striving to brin
II about the retirement Mr.. Christiancy fron
: the Senate in order that the "stalwart Mich
10 igander" might resume his old position
n These gentlemen think that the German
5 mission, if they can persuade the Presiden
to tender it to him, is an inducement Nj
n Christiancy will not readily discard.
IL IL :.