Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-01-30
From our Regular Correspondent.

aGor from Vnree Stace6-WnAt the Cio-
rious BEN is doing-Butler First, Last
and at all Times.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 20, '79.
There is getting to be a class of
ladies in the land-compressing, it is
probable. about four per cent. of the
adult females-who are, to appearan-
ees, deeply impressed with the con-
viction that the country will speedily
rush to ruin and society ferment
itself into spasms uncomfortable and
fatal unless they rise to adequacy
with the situation and express their
feelings upon public exigencies as
they occur. They are what are call
ed ''strong-minded women" but
VIII ether the title is bestowed in irony
or as true description is indetermi-
nable. They are said to be persons
not in general highly appreciated In
their own domesticities if they are SO
fortunate as to be maintained in such
nor, indeed, anywhere else, unless
perhaps among those Of their own
stripe and idiosyncracy. The last en-
terprlse is the invasion of Congress
wiJh storm of petitions praying to
have the plurality wives Of Utah
pushed to extremities. 1t is without
doubt in the cause of female virtue,
thing OF rather indefinite meaning
in strong-minded localities that this
crusade is undertaken. The avidity
with which this class of politicians
seize upon opportunities to demon
strate their inhumanity, especially
toward their own sex, is significant
suggestion of the way of all woman
kind will be compelled when they at
tain to the power which they imag-
inc they are the only ones fit to ex-
ercise.
The history of the arrears of the
pension bill which passed the Senate
last week without amendment, COM
pletely disproyes the claim that is
now set up by General Rice, of Ohio,
chairman of the House Pension Com
mittee, that to him belongs that cred
it of having originated the measure
and engineered its passage through
Congress. On April 1, 1873, Mr..
Cummings, of Iowa, a Republican,
moved the suspension of the rule in
the House and the passage of the
bill. The motion was resisted by
the Democrats, notably by Mr.. Rice
and Mr.. Springer. Mr.. Rice even
moved to adjourn, so as to prevent a
vote. While the vote was in progress
Mr.. Rice walked over to Mr.. Cum
mings' seat and very excitedly ac-
cused him of playing the demagogue,
because the Pension Committee had
a bill pending before it looking to
the same end. That bill, however,
proposed to repeal section of the
Revised Statutes which forbade plac-
ing those who participated In tiIe re-
bellion upon the pension roll. The
rules were not suspended, two-thirds
not voting for Mr.. Cummings mo-
ton, the vote standing-yeas l46,
nays 76. Afterwards, June 10,
1878, Mr.. Haskell, of Kansas, Re-
publican, moved to suspend the rules
and pass Mr.. Cummings bill. Again
was opposition developed from the
Democratic side. General Rice OBJ
structed its passage and endeavored
to defeat it by every means in his
power. The bill, however, passed
yeas 164, nays 81, every one of the
sixty-one negative votes being cast
by Democrat. 1t will thus be OBJ
served that Mr.. Rice was one of the
bills most active foes.
General James Shields, who has
just been elected to fill the closing
part of Senator Bogy's term, on the
4th of March next, the present Sena-
tor, Armstrong, holding the position
by appointment, has had a very re-
markable career, having be elected
to the United States Senate from
three States. He was born in Ire
land in 1910 and came to this coun-
try in 1926. In 1882 he settled at
Kaskaskia, illinois, and engaged in
the practice of law. In 1886 he was
elected to the Illinois Legislature.
He was subsequently auditor of State
and judge of the supreme court. In
1s45 he was appointed Commissioner
of the Land Orfice at Washington.
At the commencement of the Mexi-
can war he was appointed by Presi-
Polk brigadier general in the Unit
ed States army, and was soon pro-
noted to brevet msjor-general. In
1848 he was appointed Governor Of the
Territory of Oregon, but declined
the position. In 1849 he was elected
20 the United States Senate from Illi-
nois for Six years. At the close of
his term he removed to Minnesota,
and two years afterward was elected
to the Senate from that State. Dur
ing the late war he served with dis
tinction on the Union side. He also
came very near being elected Door
keeper of the present House to sue
ceed Polk. Remarkable as his ca
reer has been so far, would not be
at all surprised if he turned up as q
dangerous "dark horse for some
important position under the new Or
ganization of the Senate.
People ask why General Butler
neglects the interests of his constitu-
ents in Congress He is paying close
attention to his practice with view
to recovering the sums he spent in
the Massachusetts election. He is
engaged in New York in the sale of
Colonel Craig's tract of 80, 900 acres
in Colorado, on which he has mort
gage. The tract has sold for $780,
900, and the litigation has cost
$1,000 Butler is poor lawyer;
he spends his time on case in quiet
ly feeling around, like q newspaper
interviewer, until he gets the point
he wants, and then he hires another
fellow at less price to hunt up the
law on it. In the Department Of the
Government he enters with certain
portent of fear that has encouraged
people to feel. The clerks and bu-
reau officers hasten to accommodate
him. He speaks to them with much