Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1879-01-30
Our Washington Letter.

Special Correspondence Of The orsEnvru
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan %, 70
The Grant movement in the
Republican party received a de-
cided impetus this week. CCnk-
ling, Cameron, Carpenter and
Logan were decided elected to
the United States Senate. 1t
was the day Of what may be
called the Young Republicans
men not prominent in the organ
ization of the party, but who
have either jciEed it on become
powerful in it since then. Near
ly all these arc Grant men, while
while nearly all the old Radical
stagers are against him or were
until lately. The Grant move
ment'' to-day probably has great
or strength in the Republican
party than it ever had before.
The election of Carpenter over
Howe, in Wisconsin, though not
a strictly Democratic Wet ny, is
a gain to the country. Senator
Conkling has triumplled over
tie worst clement Of the Repub-
lican party, and his election gives
to the Senate a sound lawyer and
very able and progressive man.
1t removes frcm the. Senate a
man Of small ability and narrow
sectional views.
Best result Of all, however, is
the election of Senator Voorhees,.
Aside from money questions the
Senator is in all things in accord
with his party, and is Democrat
Of Democrats.
The Y. Y. Times says, what is
known to every one hero, that
an effort is being made TO repeal
the Thurman act Of TIE last ses-
sion, which compels the Pacific
railroads-the Union and Cen
tral-to set aside a small fixed
percentage of its earnings for the
protection of Government. This
may be callel unqualified 'mpu-
dence. The enormous receipts
Of these corporations, unrepor-
ted, go into the pockets Of the
owners OF are used for the build.
ing Of branch lines, while for the
enormous sums leaned by Gov
crnment to build the roads there
is no present or prospective secu-
rity. Government Will do well
10 enforce al its rights III
the premises, and to encourage,
as it properly can, any really
competing line of road across
the continent. But it should
make such competing line the
servant of tie Government, and
not itself be the servant Of the
limo.
As a substitute for the resolu-
tons of Senator Edmmds, which
affirm the validity Of the 18th,
18th and 18th amendments to
the Constitution, Senator Nor
gan submits resolutions declaring
the binding force Of the whole
instrument. There will, proba-
bly,, be long debate on the reso-
lutions and the substitute in the
Senate.
To-day, it is thought, a vote
will be taken in the Senate on
the confirmation of the persons
appointed by Mr.. Hayes to the
principal offices in the New
York Custom House. Senator
Conkling seems to be confident
of peventing confirmation, but
he can do this only with the aid
or the abs nee of many Demo
Gratis, and the better opinion is
that he will fail.
The u. S. Court is now hear
ing at Alexandria, Va, the suit
for possession of the Arlington
estate. The suit is III effect a
gainst the u. S. official, in charge
of the property. The Federal
government acquired title by
purchase, at a tax sale. What
ever the result of the present trial,
no doubt the highest Court in
the country will finally pass up
on the question: AUSTIN.