The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-12-11
Washington Letter.
from our regular correspondence


WAsHINeToN,D. c., Nov. 5, 1870.
The opening of the regular session
of the 46th Congress, on the lst inst,
created less senation and attracted
less attention this year than the open
ing of big beer garden. There was
none of that spice and Importance in
the proceedings which sends the
average American spectator away
from the galleries satisfied with him
self and his Pickwickian representa-
tive. from the rural district. All the
galleries in the House were filled,
except the Diplomatic Gallery. In
that sacred incloeure sat one solitary
figure brown japanese, member of
the legation of the great Sycoon, from
that island in the sea. Huge pyri-
mids of flowers aud fragrant bouquets
adorned the desks of many of the
members. Before the Speakers gavcl
fell to hush the buzz and rebuke the
throng and open the session, the
ardent handshaking, the sweet smiles,
the tender greetings, and the kindly
inquiries between the rabid Democrat
and the stalwart Republican, the soft
Greenbacker and the hard gold-bugs,
the old Confederate and the old Union.
ist--made one".think the was looking
on a reunion of long-parted friends,
instead of gathering of hostile po-
litical factions.
In the Senate the'same, or similar,
scenes were witnessed and similar I'M
pressions made. Senator Thurman,
notwithstanding the defeat in Ohio,
sat waving his famous red bandanna
behind a huge bouquet, smiling at all
who approached. "Some kind friend"
said he to one who complimented the
flowers, "has sent these to decorate my
political coffin" The tall figure of
John Sherman, Secretary of the
Treasury, approached the old Prince
of the Red Bandanna. saying, "How
are you, Judge Thurman?" "How do
you do, Mr.. Secretary?" said the
Senator, rising. "Sit down." "No;
thank YOU replied the Secretary.
"Oh, but insist that you sit down in
this chair" replied the Senator. "I
see by the papers, that Tom Young,
firstand then Garfield, and then STAN
ley Matt hews, each came in and tried
my seat, and now I insist that YOU
try it. "sg"Oh, no, "ssaid the Secretary;
"if 1 should come back here, would
prefer my old seat'-pointing to it.
The recommendation of the Secre-
tary of the' Treasury, in his report,
and of the President in his Message,
favoring the retirement of the green
back from circulation, has developed
a decided opposition to such q measure
among most of the Republican men,
bers from the West, and among both
Democrats and Republicans from the
South. For two days it was the
subject of discussion in the coat rooms,
in the Hobbies, and on the:foor of the
House, but now ass..calm succeeds the
breeze, out of which there came the
audible whisper from the potent
voice of strong majority-"rhe
| circulating medium shall not he de-
creased, and the business of the
country destroyed by such legisla-
| tion!n
The most. important legislation an
ticipated this session is q revision OF
the tariff. Whether tea, that bever-
age for which our forefathers raised
such row in Boston harbor, is to be
the object of taxation, or quinine,
which feeds our statesmen to preserve
their lives near the tadpole flats of the
Potomac, has not yet been determinep.
The stealing and publication of the
Presidents Message and the report of
the Secretary of the Treasury, before
they were given to Congress, is still
the subject of investigation. much
discussion, and, with few, some
swearing. Many theories and specu-
lations are advanced as to the manner
of pilfering them, and several fertile
schemes set on foot by the Executive
branch of the Government to get
these documents, in future, to Con-
gress before the fingers of the thief
takes them away and sells them for
$3.50. 1t is not the first instance of
the kind, and therefore they will tax
their ingenuity only for the next adj
ministration to fall into the same trap.
In 1867 President Johnson's message
got into the papers before it was read
to Congress, and it was stated that the
many Journals publishing it paid $loO
each for the document. Notwith-
standing this experience and renewed
vigilance in 1868 Secretarya.ro of the
Treasury McCulloch was startled by
reading his report in New York
paper several days before it was given
to Congress.
The Republicans of the District of
Columbia who have voluntarily re-
manned disfranchised for some years,
in consequence of the great influx of
ragged and destitute Africans from
all portions of the South, voting for
anything that brought taxation to
property-holders, are now organizing
with view to be reinstated with the
rights of an American citizen and the
power of the ballot. AT meeting
held several days since, Major A. c.
Richards was chosen president, and
Hon. Robert G. Ingersoll. and other
prominent Republicans elected vice
presidents. They were eloquently
addressed by Hon. Robert Ingersoll
who made no allusion to the mistakes
of Moses, but dwelt principally upon
the mistakes of Congress.
The improvements made in and
l l.at.. .t-l