Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-04-16
From Our Regular Correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 10. 1879.

1CttCAs
WASHINGTON. D. c., April 10. 1879.
Yesterday was dull day at the Capitol.
The Senate was discussing the eligibility
of Mr.. Bell to seat in that body, and the
House was debating proposition to re-
quire three-fourths instead Of a two
thirds vote TO pass an appropriation bill.
The debate seemed stupid enough 10 those
who had been so recently enthused by the
eloquence of Garfield and Blackburn.
thrilled by the alarming cry Of revolution.
and amused by the witty word duels of
Conger and Chalmers. But no debate in
the Senate or House, no matter how in
sipid and pointless it may appear TO those
whose taste has been spoiled by condi-
ments. is without its significance and
weight. 1t shows the forte or foible of
some representative man; aye the forte and
foible of representative governments. In
deed, it doss not require debate to make
the forty sixth congress interesting. Per-
haps the most interesting performance, to
one acquainted with his country's recent
history, is the calling of the roll. What
episodes and volumes of history do these
names recall And how tame and unheroic
do the wearers of those names appear,
sitting in their arm chairs, posing their
feet on their desks, or furtively trying to
smoke cigar without making any smoke.
Can it be that the demi-gods who loom so
grandly in history were little men. tooP
The dearth of news has led me into these
sterile reflections, and was also think
ing what creditable show of forensic
ability two ex-cabinet ministers, now
members of the House of Representatives,
have made during the last week. One
cabinet minister was Gen. Grants secre-
tary of the navy, the other was Jefferson
Davis post master general. They are
both able men with large stomachs. Rea-
gan was speaking yesterday. off.hand, on
II very dry subject, that of changing the
rules, and he was frequently interrupted
by men of his own party, who were OPP
posed TO his views, and who piled him
with questions and sought to entrap him
in contradictions. But he was equal to all
his opponents. and met every one of them
with a ready reply. While he was speak
ing Mr.. Stephens, of Georgia, tried to in
terject little speech, but the ex-cabinet
officer was not much disposed to yield to
the eX-vce president, who sits in three
wheeled chair. Suppose some lunatic
had told those two gentlemen, sixteen
years ago, when one presided over the
confederate Senate, and the other sat in
the confederate cabinet, that the day would
come when they would both sit in the
United States congress. They would not
have believed the lunatic, nor would any
body in the world have believed him.
Then there is another little .old, but remark
ably well preserved man, whom nobody
ever expected to see in this congress or
any other congress. When this man
dawned upon history, or was it history
that dawned upon himP Well, either way
eighteen years ago, it was as great
military leader, n consummate strategist,
twin sphinx and phoenix of war. Those
of us who do not pretend to be young
ladies remember well enough what giants
of proves rumor and the press made the
Johnstons, McClellens, and Beaurcgar DIS
TO be in those early, untried days of the
war. But it is not my intention to depre-
cate the military ability of Gen. Joseph
f. Johnston. 1t was he that forced Nc
Cellen back from the foothod that Grant
finally maintained, and had he not been
removed from the front of Sherman, as he
was moving on Atlanta, the present gen.
eral of the army would not have had such
an easy promenade to the sea. don't
think he is much of an orator, but once
heard him in that role. 1t was sixteen
years ago when lie was in command of
the army of Tennessee, with headquarters
at Tulahoma. Business had called him to
Knoxville, where the enthusiastic citizens
serenaded him late at night. He appeared
on the balcony of the hotel and told them,
us well us can remember-that little
fighting was worth more than all that
music and enthusiasm; that they would
better be in bed, but that he was glad to
see SO many able-bodied men from whom
the confederate ranks could be recruited
That was the kind of q demagogue Gen
Joseph L. Johnston was sixteen years ago.
He has doubtless changed since, with the
rest of tho world, and would scarcely
browbeat band of his constituents if
they should give him serenade now. In
his new role of statesman he has more
need of ballots than bayonets. To make
the historic tableau complete Gen Sher-
man was on the floor as a spectator, and
here are many of them, the victorious and
vanquished, living "reminiscences of those
heroic days. Yesterday, fourteen years
ago. Lee surrendered twenty-seven thou.
sand eight hundred and five men, the
remnant of the confederate army, at
Appomattox, and yesterday Virginia
military company were the guests of II
Washington company, parading the prin-
cipal streets. In the evening II band of
citizens met and drafted denunciatory res
olutons, and made speeches condemning
both the Washington and Virginia COM
panies for emitting to carry the United
States flag in their parade.
But to get back to congress. Mr.. S. S.
Cox made the only effective reply TO Mr..
Reagan, of Texas. When he arose to
speak there was observed on his desk Il
large, very old looking volume; it proved
to be the Bible. If it was Mr.. Cox's own
book it had certainly been well thumbed.
He read nearly chapter, and brought
down the House and galleries when he re.
peated the text Thou who sayest man
should not steal, dost thoup" looking at