The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-02
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

To THE EDITOR or THE NEW NoHrHWE-r:
The ere-assembling Of Congress is rather
a tame. hum-drum affair in contrast
with the spirited and exciting scenes
which at intervals follow it. The
House particularly exhibits this pecu-
liaritv. for in the Senate the Dombeylan
proprieties which govern that august
body of solons, serve TO Fepress cuy ex-
cessive ebullition OF temper or excite
ment during the session. But the House
would not seem TO be 10 its normal con-
|dition were there not at least once a week
Ia burly-burly Of noise and confusion
among its bedlamites. On Monday last
Mr.. Randall took the chair at II II. pre-
cisely, and rapping order with his gavel,
proclaimed the House convened in rrgu-
liar session, under the Constitution, and
ready for prayer, which was made by the
chaplain IN rather fervent and eloquent
terms. Prayer in the House u Repre-
sentatives il one Of the solecisms Of re-
ligion, and is as puzzling a problem to
us as that n band Of Italian brigands or
pirates must necessarily have a priest
accompany them in all their cut-throat
expeditions. Bot as prayer always be-
gins the days proceedings, we take il
for granted that it is all right, aud ac-
cept the fact, as We do many Of the
spread-eagle speeches Of the members,
as being intended for On appeal to the
country, rather than for the members
individually. We regard the average
Congressman as beyond the reach Of
prayer, and the clamor which followed
the reading OF the Presidents message
clearly evinced that those who partici-
pated in the debate had nesrly forgotten
all the teachings Of gentiIiiy and propri-
ETY. involved in prayer. Very many Of
the members left the hall on Monday
after the preliminary proceedings ami
the announcement Of the message by the
Presidents secretary. No one cared TO
remain TO hear the message read, since
each had been already provided with a
printed copy Of it which could be taken
home and perused. Mr.. Wood sprung
a debate IN which several participated,
and but for that, an adjournment would
at once have followed the conclusion Of
/ the reading. Such is the usual practice,
and 10 is rarely indeed that any point
-. made by the President "a his annual
message is subjected to bitter criticism
by his opponents, on the day submitted
to Congress. We dropped into the Sem
ate after the House got to work, merely
to glance at the Senators. It's move
ments being slereotyped, Que know.
without seeing, precisely what will oc.
eur when he has learned the ritual or
rules Of order governing 80. Nearly AL
. the Senators were present, and severa
offered financial bills. There seem.
every prospect that between this and
March 4th, we shall have an avaiauch,
of words, If not Of money or legislation
. Congress is therefore in the harness, but
whether it will work or not. the futur,
ouly can determine. From this 10 Feb,
ruary 18th nothing but talk viii D.,
given the country, aud we may ther
look for the usual programme Of forcing
into the last two weeks Of the session
what should have been done I'm the out
start.
Ou Saturday night last we attende,
, one Of the pleasantest receptions eve
, held here a number Of citizens, heade,
, by Governor Shepherd, rendered a sup
. per to Hon. Casey Young, NJ. c., and J
: VI. Heating, editor Of the appeal, botl
. Of Memphis, Tenn, in recognition O
services rendered by them during tb
O. recent yellow fever epidemic ia that un
, fortunate city. The reception was givei
s at Wizards Hotel, and was attended b.,
b. about three hundred of our promiuen
, citizens, with quite sprinkling Of Oh
, "press gang" Gov. Shepherd made
short speech TO which Mr.. Young repIie
4 in most eloquent terms. He said he nc
T. cepted the ovation, not in a persona
1 sense, but for his stricken and Athlete
o people, who had been so fearfuu
. scourged, as he was but one Of the hund
p reds who had remained with the sic
Z and the dying in endeavor to DO man
o duty to the helpless and suffering. II
n said that the grand charity Of the Nortl
= in sending down mouey and supplies {
Y them in their sore distress, had don
b more to remove the bitterness enger
,, dered by the war, than all the politics
], measures combined which Congress ha
n enacted; that now the South realize
$ she is one part Of nation Of brother
II and that the time has come for putin
It aside all past differences and for becon
Is ing once more a united people. Aft,
e several speeches the whole assembling
IS was seated at the splendid banqu,
which bad been provided, and until mes
o midn ight the hours were passed j
n toasting with responses from Postma,
d ter-Geueral Key, Sam Randall an
10 other digni,aries. FELIX.
n Washington, December 6, ISIS.
r. ------------=--
lf s mother was trying 10 break her f.
~ vear-old boy Of the habit Of lying b
telling him that all liars went to hel
l. She gave him moving account Of ii