Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1879-02-13
Washington Correspondence.

Tue Hi u "a dIcl leAC. IL e was met
at the depot on his arrival from the
west by the reception committee with
carriages and escorted TO Willards Ho-
tel. Pennsylvania Avenue was ablaze
with calcium lights and brilliant fire,
works -; the marine band enlivenine
the occasion with its fine music. a
salute of thireen guns was also fired
Upon the arrival at the hotel he was
met by Gen. Paine, Com'r of Patents.
and chairman CT the meeting who con
Quoted him to the balcony, and first
introduced Hon. \. N. Clapp, Of this
city, who had been selected to deliver
the address of congra;ulation in behali
Of the friends of Senator Carpenter in
this city, and after the completion OF
his address, Gen. Paine introduced
Senator Carpenter to the large and en-
thusiastic assembly in few we'll timed
remarks, after which Sen. Carpenter
replied in his usual eloquent, enthusi-
astic and hearty manner. After his
address he retired to the large drawing
room of the hotel, where his many
friends had the opportunity of shaking
hands with, and congratulating him.
1t has been frequently remarked that
it was the srandest reception ever
rendered a United States Senator
Pennsylvania avenue was densely
packed to listen to the great national
orator.
On Saturday last, after a week of
cool and prudent meditation four south
ern representatives, responded to Gen
Braggs arraignment, charging the
south with pushing war claims, schemes
of Improvement and other raids upon
the treasury. Gen. Bragg as a north
ern democrat urged that his party
must cut loose from these southern
democrats or perish by them. 1t was
a statement by a northern democrat of
the desires and demands Of the south
ern democracy. What is the response?
Mr.. Chalmsr of Miss, said that he
"cared nothing for the payment of
loyal southern claims because loyalty
to the Union during the war meant
dizloyalty to everything he held dear"
Frank, certainly, but showing no
change of heart !! He proceeded to
asperse loyal men. He avowed him
self against war claims, not upon the
ground of disloyalty in the claimants,
but with declarations and differences
which would carry him against the
payment Of obligations incurred in
suppresSing the rebellion; for he pro-
tested against all distinction between
the two sides; and he insisted that
those who fought the Union, had as
strong claims, as those who upheld it
If the South did not urge war claims,
she would demand help from the
treasury; and as to the warning of
Northern Democrats, it was the i'm
potent protest of minority. 1t was
the first time anybody had ever heard
of a minority undertaking to turn out
the majority Of the party" He
hoped that the solid South might still
be solid for the Democratic party but
for that portion of it that had the
courage and manliness to treat the
people Of the South as equals and
not interiors in the Union. The
prevailing thought was, the south
swayed and controlled the democratic
furnished its strength, and
she would rule its councils. She de-
large subsidies from the treas
ury, but she would exact them for
general schemes. rather than individual
claims. Most of the representatives
from the south took similar grounds.
Mr.. Hooker did not commit himself
against war claims but insisted that
they should be fairly heard and ques-
toned the rights of any man to call
them false and fraudulent. Mr.. Mills
who has heretofore shown himself in
was more explicit il con-
demning them. Mr.. Singleton burst
into a general glorifcation of the south
Claims that the south has furnished
all the statesman, fought all the bat
ties, won ali the glory, and achieved
all the greatness Of the country "She
still supplies the majority of the dem
ocratic representatives, and she meant
to exercise corresponding control -"
Running all through all these speeches
is the idea Of re-established southern
mastery in this country. Where they
seem to reject war claims they couple
it with demands for subsidies and they
put it upon grounds, which by impli-
cation would involve the rejection of
loyal obligation.
When Ben. Hill spoke in the senate
a few days since, he used a similar