The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1879-12-12
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec. A, 1879.

WASHINGTON, Dec. q, 1917.
Again we have the IMMACULATE De-
mocracy withus, and rWash|ngfon, lot
east, realizes that The country is once
more safe. Congress assembled accord
ing to Gunter or tho Constitution-
Il matters lille by which rule n was N
a1Id, as the extra Session had
settled all such little proliminaries rs
speaker, bouncing employees,
etc., nothing was to be done on the
opening but call the roll and inform the
President that his political mbricationsi
would be received. Both houses pre-
sentedan unusually bright appearance,
through the abundance of bouquets and
flowers which decorated the desks of
the presiding officers, as well as those 7
of the senators and members. One
could almost fancy himself at some
college commencement, where Jealous
friends had sought to cheer the weak
kneed, budding orators with gifts of
flowers and stage decorations, Sam
Randall's face fairly illuminated the
House with the smiles which shone
through the bouquets and pyramids
grazing the speakers table. When the
message was announced, each member
pocketed his copy, which was simulta-
neously laid with the arrival of the
Presidents private secretary, on his
desk, and departed, leaving the clerk
to read to an empty hall. Such is the
usual rule, and. particularly was it so
on. Monday, because of the premature
publication Of the message, through
which everybody knew just what was
coming. rs .efi ...ai.ati. Iisdl
For a day OF two the Democrats were
happy in the thought that the Presi-
dent, by his financial recommendations,
had furnished a petard to blow up the
Republican party, but now they al not
so confident, for it is evident the Re-
publicans will not allow themselves to
be divided on such ground. Under tho
guidance of such astute politicians as
Senators Edmunds and Blaine, full
harmonization of conflicting views may
be regarded as an assured fact, and ii
the Democrats suppose that the Repub-
leans will be guilty OF such asinine
plumbers as have brought constant and
uninterrupted defeat to the Democratic
party, they are counting without their
host. lr. alhGN'f .a 800 u19Is
The improvements made In and about
|
conduce largely to its beauty. The
broad approaches, which extend from
the avenues through the grounds on
the west to the Capitol terrace, have
been laid in ornamental concrete, with
guarding walls of white and blue stone,
and give much effect. The ventilating
ducts are complete. Paint and polish
have been freely used throughout the
building. Brumidi's fresco in the ro'
tunda has been so extended that ths
J visitor can appreciate the full beauty
and grandeur of the painting which, al
a work of the painters art, surpasses
all others in the Capitol, save those
magnificent pictures of Meran, repre-.
senting scenes In the Yellowstone re.
gion. Tot
The recommendation of the secrc
tary of the treasury, in his report
and of the President in his message, fa
} voring the retirement of the greenbacb
from circulation, has developed a de-
cided opposition to such n measure
among most OF the Republican mem,
: bers from the West, and among boil
Democrats and Republicans from The
: South. For two days 1t was the sub
ject of discussion in the coat.rooms, il
the lobbies, and on the floor of thu
House, but now q calm succeeds tbt
: breeze, out of which there came the, au
dible whisper from the potent voice o
a strong majority" The circulating
medium shall not be decreased, and Thu
business of the country destroyed b,
r such legislation sl.1
The most important legislation antic
, ipated this session is revision Of thu
2 tariff. Whether tea, that beverage fol
!, which our forcfathers raised such o row
in Boston harbor, is TO be the object o
: taxation, or quinine, which feetis 1ou
E statesmen to preserve their lives inea
, the tadpole flats of the Potomac, ha
not yet been determined. .ire .T1f
The stealing and publication of tn,
t presidents message and the report o
, the secretary of the treasury, befor,
, they were given to Congress, is still tn,
4. subject of Investigation, much discus
l sion, and, with few, some swearing
: Many theories and speculations are ad
I vanced as to the manner of pilferin.
them, and several fertile schemes set oil
. foot by the executive branch of tn
e government to get these documents, il
. future, to Congress before the finger
' of the thief takes them away and sell
them for $3.50. 1t is not the first in
st ance of the kind, and therefore the,
] W Ill tax their ingenuity only for tn
ext administration to fall into tn
ame trap. In 1867, President John
on's message got into the paper be
y core it was read to Core.p,s, und
, was stated that the many jonrnals pub
/, fishing 1t paid 500 carh :fr Tie d0cu
, ment. Notwithstanding .,is experienc
and renewed vigilance, in 1868 Secre
tary of the Treasury McCulloch wa
j startled by reading his report in New
: York paper @lveral dsys before it wa
o given to CoEe. -. ..o... .1,
The Republicans of the District O
, Columbia who have voluntarily, he
manned DISTINGUISHED for some years
: In consequence of the great influx O
a ragged and destitute Africans from al
|. portions of the South, voting for any
thing that brought taxation to property
holders, are now organizing with !,
n view to bereinstated with the rights 0
an American citizen and the power o
the ballot. AT a meeting held severa
days since, Maj. A. C.. Richards wa
chosen president, and Hon. Robert G
lngersoll and other prominent Repub
licahs elected vice presidents. The,
were cloquently addressed by Hon
Robert lngersoll, who made no allu
, sion to the mistakes of Moses, but dwell
principally upon the mistakes of Con
gress. .s. .'.f..'' Ia,
i Four car loads of colored emigrant,
from Goldsboro, N. c., passed through