Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-02-12
lFrOa our rsgslsT correspondent
Washington Letter,
nashinnlon. ID. O.. Reb. 10, 1871

the loss Of power and preslage that
must result, mlght have oyerthrown
him in the race lol reelection, Less
than q year ago, when this same con'
test was on, tho Democratic Senators
almost unanimously voted with Conk'
ling TO assist hin 10 defeating Mr.
Hayes appointments In New York
This time twenty'iour Democrats yot,
Cd tho other way, not because Of any
love ior tho frauds In aud about the
White House, but because tho public
cool demand that the case be cilectu'
ally disposed Of aud because Conkllng
failed 10 manifest any appreciation OF
tho service done him before, Tho
vote was q sore disappointment to the
New York Senator who had counted
noses aud up 10 within few hours OF
tho Executive Session believed ho had
majority, lint tho seductive 'nilu-
cnces Of patronage had been at work,
and John Shcrman's promises OF lat
places were TOO much for Conkling's
mere personal appeals There Is
scarcely doubt that this sort Of brih.
ory won over 10 the administration
side some halt n dozen Republican
Senators who had pledged themselves
to Conkling, among them one, who,
rs n member of the committee, signed
the report against confirmation, SEN
aiors do love to have good bcrths at
their disposal for their dependents.
Moreover there are some Of them who
60 ont Of office in about three weeks,
and the prospect Of n Foreign Mis-
sion, or some such thing, has decid.
cdly modifying effect upon their tenn
pcre, This administration don't hest.
tate to buy anything it wants. II
bought ITS way into Office, aud has
done nothing since but confer rewards
upon the mscalS who sold ont to IT.
Some very interesting correspondence
was read in the course Of Senator
Conklns's remarks in Executive Scs-
sion. One of the letters was sent
from a high Treasury official to the
Collector at New York, requesting the
appointment OF n son Of Judge Brad
ley to n position "ior manifest rea-
sons" Another letter wanta0 one
Howard slowed away in some fat
place, and Senator Conkling said this
was for "maniiest reasons too, 10
Howard was Mr.. Hayes biosrapher.
These letters were written before tho
acting President suspended collector
Arthur. This is nice administration
to make loud pretensions Of Civil!
Service reform and purity. Bah!
The prospect Of an extra session
has resolved itself into almost a GER
tain!y. AT least that is the prevailing
opinion. The Senate both before aud
since the recess has consumed good
deal Of time in doing nothing in the
way of real business. The Custom
house contest, and the debate on Ed
munds political resolution just con-
cuded, have between them done much
TO retard progress, and now it is SAID
the Senate Committee on Appropria-
ton purpose to attach provision to
the Army appropriation bill, repeal
ing the posse commitatus clause passed
last year. OF course this will be re-
sisted by the Democrats, who object
to making a police force of the army
in free state. The test oath for ju-
rors has got to be repealed. A fight
over that occurred in the Senate early
in the session, and finally the Demo
Gratis permitted bill to go through
which only halt covered the case, but
now that it transpires that the admin
istration is making use Of the oath to
persecute Democrats, there Is a dspo-
siticn to blot that piece Of Radical in
iquity from the statute books. 1t was
struggled into the Revised Statutes
by Boutwell, who had charge of tho
publication of them, after it had once
been repealed by both Houses OF
Congress. The old villain claims that
it was an error, but there seems TO
have been good deal of method in
it.
Several important reports are to be
made before the session closes. The
Potter Committee will present its &C.
count of the theft of the Presidency,
summarizing its conclusions from the
evidence taken. The result of the
cipher dispatch inquiry will likewise
be submitted. The Naval Committee
is also to bring in its Indictment of
Robson, which think will make out
a case demanding some attention.