The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-04-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.

/
on one subject, the Democrats have
held caucus and decided that there
shall be chance, at least, for some
thing else. The representatives Of
the Grcenback element have been
anxious for an opportunity to bring
forward measures looking to finan-
cial legislation, but have, 80 far, been
cut off by the refusal to hold sessions
on Monday, which, under the rules,
is bill day. Now, however, the
House Democratic caucus has decid-
ed, unanimously, to vote for sessions
on Monday in order to let in any
measures the Greenbackers may de-
sire. am not so certain that any
thing definite will result from this
indulgence, for, while a large pro-
portion of the Democrats are in favor
of abolishing the national banks, the
free coinage of gold and silver, etc.,
there are still quite number who
oppose any action at the present time.
A large majority of the Republicans
being also opposed to such legisla-
ton, the chances are that none of the
proposed measures will get through
this session. Yet nothing short Of a
test veto will determine their
strength. 1t is certainly fair to give
them a chance.
People who fancy that Democratic
| domination means battle murders,
sudden death and other things too
fearful 10 be named, will do well to
consider the debate now pending in
the Senate over the admission of Mr..
Bell, appointed Senator by the Re-
publican Governor Of New Hamp-
shire. The sessions on that subject
read like a story from the land of
spirits. Senators Thurman and Bay
ard are found, with other Democrat
ic Senators, inclining to admit Bell,
while the protest against his admis-
sion is led. and led with signal abili-
ty, by the Republican Senator Car
penter, side by side with the Demo-
cratic Senator Hill. Now, observe
that such thing as this not only
never occurred, but was never so
much as expected to occur during
the long Republican domination in
the Senate. While the Republicans
had control of either house the adj
mission of a new member was always
treated openly as a party question.
The truth is, that changes in party
preponderance are ABSOLUTELY neceS5a-
ry to give any country chance at
noa-partisan legislation. AS a pure
ly legal question, teere is a pretty
plain case against the admission of
Mr., Bell. His appointment it not
for an actual vacancy, but 10 begin a
new term. The Legislature should
have elected Mr.. Craigin's successor
last winter, but the Republican ma
jority could not agree upon a candi-
date, and let The matter go over,
hence 1t is their fault that the State
is unrepresented. But upon the
broad principle that every State is
entitled to two Senators, several lib
eral-minded Democrats will vote for
Bells admission without regard to
the legal question, though really it
seems like bad precedent to estab-
lish.
Every reader is familiar with the
old Freedman's Bank swindle,
whereby few Radical lights were
successful in gathering in the savings
of the poor colored people of Wash
ington and the South. Senator Bruce
(coloredl has been placed at the head
of a special committee of the Senate,
with authority to investigate the af-
fairs of the bank. If the committee
will take time to give the matter a
thorough overhauling, they will de-
velope some of the era of good steal
ing. They will find that, under the
disguise of true goodness and pecu-
liar love for the colored people, a
number of leading lights of the Re-
publican party gained the confidence
of the negroes for the purpose of get :
ting hold of their savings, and, hav-
ing gotten the money into their con-
troll, appropriated it to their own
use. They will find that money was
loaned to the ring on imaginary Sc
curity, and that the pretended friends
of the colored race reduced their rob-
berry and plumber to thoroughly
organized system.
In the removal and changes in the
Senate the journalist does not appear
to have been lost sight Of. Colonel
Burch, the Secretary of the Senate,
is an old newspaper editor, and is
now the owner, or part owner, oil
the Nashville american. He seems
not to have forgotten his profession,
: and is quck to see point and ready
to impart it. He is particularly kind
to the guild here. Mr.. Bright, the
Sergeant-et-Arms, is also an old edi.
tor, although yet comparatively 9
young man. He was formerly edi.
: to~ n kt< T,,Js. ,.Iso IT.