The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-03-20
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER
WASHINGTON, M'ch., 10Th. 1879.

WASHINGTON, M'ch., 10th. lo79.
Editor Bro0khdren Ledger:
Democratic Senators, hold a cancus
on the 18th, the day Congress meets,
Senator Thurman will have double
honors at that caucus-will be named
for presiding officer of the Senate in
the absence Of Mr.. Wheeler, and for
Chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
No man better deserves these honors
as is we'll shown by the facts that every
one comedies them in advance. The
Judiciary Commute e of the Senate is a
body which, in the last dozen years,
has come to be considered OF great inn
p~ortance to the country. Part OF this
increasing consideration is because Of
the fact that very able men have been
placed on the Committee, and part OF 1T
because, under Grant and since his
time, the gentlemen selected to repres-
ent law in the Executive branch of the
Government have not had the public
confidence. Alderman and Williams
and Devens have made it necessary for
the people to look elsewhere than to
the Administration fol the ability and
character required in the legal affairs OF
the Govermene. Grant retained Caleb
Cushing to wet nurse his law advisers,
but Gushing is dead. 1t will, there
fore, be with pleasure that we shall zee
Thurman advancedssto the head OF the
important. committee named.
The opposition to Randall for the
Speakership is a powerful one. and
many OF the Democrats named as likely
to receive the strength Of that opposi>
ton are men ofindividual character and
of prominence in the party. Among
these may be named Blackburn, of
Kentucky. Mcmahon, Of Ohio, and
House, of Tennessee. Ewing, of Ohio,
had been mentioned also, but his name
is not likely.'to be made p~romipentin the
contest. Mr.. Randall arrived here
yesterday, and will have his"headquart-
ers" at the National Hotel. All can~
didates for tho nomination for Speaker
must have headquarters" Black
burn is at Wizards. 1t may be said
now, rs two years ago, that the solid
working force of the party will IN all
probability unite on Randall, audithat
if he does not, as he probably will, get
the nomination on the first ballot in
caucus he will receive overwhelming
support on the record.
After re organizing, the two Houses
will come the question whether or not
anything shall be done at the extra
session besides the passage OF the two
appropriation bills which failed at the
regular session. It is thought by some
that only those measures with. OF
course, amendments repeating the
superior and test oath laws, and for
bidding the use of Federal troops of
the poles, should be actel on. BY
others it is believed that the first Dem-
ocratic Congress, at its first meeting,
SHOULD in some significant manner give
form to popular disapprovnl Of the a1"
travagant and unconstitutional legisla
ton of tho past dozen or more years.
There will be a lively contest on this
subject probably.
To the long procession Of Radical
candidates for the Presidency. Grant,
Blaine, Conkling, Washburns. etc, is
now to be added the name of Senator
William Wind1m. 1t is ou'y of late
that Senator W, has been mentioned,
but his friends think it will have a re-
freshing sound to. those Republicans
i who dislike the sclremipg and cunning
which characterize. the efforts Of some
of the other candidates.
Prot. G~mgec, uo1e'err 4 by the fact
that Congress gave him no assistance
goes placidly on i'll his preparation OF
means for freezing the yellow fever ont
of infected ships which ma, arrive at
Southern parts next simmer. The
Professor has the conf l"nce Of medical
and scientiAc men .here,'and such aid il
his efforts as CAL be given at the Navy
Yard here. h.