The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1879-01-30
Washington Letter.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Jan. 25, 1879.
The event of the last week was the
cipher dispatch discussion in the
House. The previous announcement
that General Butler would contribute
a speech to the occasion, and pay his
respects to cipher literature, sufficed to
attract one of the largest crowds of the
session, many of whom went away
without having experienced the sensa-
ton of extreme delight they had an
ticipated. 1t was supposed that the
General knew thing or two about ci-
pliers, and that his contribution would
be something exceedingly lively. But
Benjamin did not shy his castor into
the ring with the air of man who
meant to hurt somebody. He came up
smiling, with a rosebud in the button
hole of his coat, and in a very deliber-
ate and dignified manner delivered
himself of a few high-toned judicial
reasons for opposing the Investigation.
He thought the House lacked jurisdic-
ton, and that it would simply be the
stirring up of private scandal. The
Major General is evidently cultivating
dignity and respectability preparatory
to his Inauguration as Governor OF
Massachusetts next. This was his last
chance to shie few of the bricks
with which his hat is said to be filled,
and he failed to improve it. In the
course of his remarks he stated, how
ever, that nobody had ever seen the
bundle of dispatches so mysteriously
found upon his desk last year, and that
when brought to light they might hit
somebody. '-.1,-"
Hale and Conger could not let pass
the opportunity to inject little of their
partisan malice into the debate, both
indulging in some of their sickly spe-
cies of wit. Hale said something about
a conspiracy to defeat the will of the
people, probably referring to the sue
cessful scheme of his illustrious father
! in-law, Zachariah, and John Sherman,
assisted by the other Chandler, and a
| few chosen experts. Before Buffers
speech every Republican had quietly
opposed investigation, because they
| were not certain that the Generals
bundle does not contain some of old
Zach's and Morton's dispatches, but
embOldened by the Generals omission
to confirm their fears, they changed
front. Little Eugene processes to doubt
that Morton destroyed the Republican
dispatches, but he manifestly stood a
good deal firmerr on his pins after But
ler had spoken. i tIslD nen f.'
Alr. Hewitt's. speech on the subject
was the most important deliverance,
as the statements ofhis personal knowl-
edge of the innocence of Mr.. Tilden
and that of the Democratic committee
had scorned to resort to the use of mon
ey, were accepted as the utterances of
q man entitled to belief. When he
said that the investigation would prove
that at least one of the candidates for
President in that memorable year was
not mere trickster, ready to bargain
for the highest Office in the nation,
sensation of applause passed over the
packed galleries and the floor below.
Does anybody believe" said Mr..
Hewitt, ''that if Mr.. Tilden had
been in scheme to buy these
corrupt returning boards the thing
would have failed for the want of
money" 1t will be shown that the
scoundrels were for sale and volun-
teered propositions to that end, but
Mr.. Tilden refused to furnish the mon
ey, though few of his friends regard
ed it case of property in the hands of
thieves. They know that the Electoral
vote of these States legally belonged to
Tilden, and as the law seemed power
less to wrest them from the rogues, it
was thought prudent to pay the ram
som, as is often done to secure the res
toration of property to its rightful own
er, but Mr.. Tilden would not consent
to it, and the matter fell through. Take
this in connection with the fact that
the other side did induce these same
thieves to deliver the property over to
party who had no claim upon it,
while R. B. Hayes has rewarded every
one of them, and we have the case
summed up.
Senator Conkling is waging his old
war upon the administration with re-
newed vigor and bitterness. It is a
very pretty fight as it stands, and I
think the Democratic Senators will be
wise if they decline to take any hand
in it. They helped the Senator out
once and got nothing but abuse for it
afterwards. If he can now defeat Mr..
Hayes Custom House appointments
within the party ranks let him do it,
though that will not restore his friends
Arthur and Cornell to their positions.
But it is really amusing to hear the
hurl his keen sarcasm at the
occupant of the Presidential Mansion.
" Mr.. Hayes" said he the other day in
executive session, "has shown this
no consideration and is en-
titled to none." Whereupon Mr..
Wheeler, the legislative half of the
fraud, promptly called the New York
to order for omitting to use the
title of " President" 81 am not out
of order" responded the New York |
Senator, because when 1 speak of
Mr.. Hayes L am not speaking of the
President" This coming from the
side would be right and
proper, but from Senator Conkling,
who helped to place Mr.. Hayes in a
position that didn't belong to him,
when it was in his power to have pre-
vented it, the point of the utterances,
like two-edge sword, cuts both ways.
A joint committee of both houses Of
Congress is tinkering away at some
provisions for taking the next census.
The bill recently introduced by Mr..
Cox, of New York, has been adopted.
except the section relative to the ap-
pointment of Supervisors. Mr.. Cox