The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1879-12-09
IHE SOUTH KEN fUeKiAA.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Dec 5, 1871

lllaai topics around the hotel iobbies.
fhis, and the absence of the customs
airy bntton-holing campaign for
officers oflhe House. has rendered It
exceedingly dullhcrc up 10 tie very
opening OF Congress. Among the
few here during tho past week there
has been a good deal of talk aboHtthc
proposition, started by somebody, to
make General Grant captain general
of the Army for life, with a modest
salary Of $4,000 per year. Some OF
his friends think that this or to place
him on the retired list at the same
figure, would be fine thing to 10,
and they have even talked of sns-
nchding the rules to pass bill to
that effect tho first week Of the ses-
sion. But | notice the cx Govern
ment Printer tlipp aud a few of the
old ofli,e h ,lde,s un'lcr Grants adj
minislralion don't cotton TO this
pro position worth a cent. They are
the ones who organized tho third
term boom, and they want tle"old
man." as they used to call him, for
President in order that they may gel
another chance TO feather their owl;
nests.
In this connection | may refer to
the talk abont Grant boom in the
'orth. Interviews-with all the lead
Ing Southern Congressman who have
so far arrived, including Alexander
Stephens, Gen. HINTON, Randall
Gibson, and many others, develop the
TACT that there is nothing in it.
have talked with twenty influential
Southern Democrats, all OF whom
say that not1a man of any influence
in the party is committed TO or in
favor OF such q movement. at
amounts to nothing" said Gen. Glib
son. "and any good candidate the
Democrat may nominate will carry
al the States that voted fer Tilden IN
1876" But the agitation concerning
Grant sentiments in the South has
had one very visible effect. II has
slckcned the stalwart Radicals, who
advocate Grant as "strong man." q
regular "rebel hater" as it were.
They started the talk Of Southern
strength for Grant merely 10 aid them
IN working The boom, but It wen. SO
har,'apparcntly. and Grant expressed
him selfso practically that III ey really
hogan TO doubt whether he was the
man they wanted alter all. 1t is the
offices and the power these men
want, now and for all time. They
want 10 array q solid North against q
solid South, and makes the campaign
one of hate and bitterness, Any.
thing that intcrferes with this pro.
gr8mme knocks all their calculation,
into pie. II Grant makes few NOR,
utterances like his words 10 Tho
Army of the Tennessee, lie will soor
ease TO be heir man and his chances
or third term won't be worth q
nsh
It's difficult to indicate the bus
n ,ss that W ! chiefly ,cupy Congress
aside from the appropriations and
routine legislation. Thereappears Il
be Il very general sentiment in favor
of q working session and an early ad-
journment. Six months has beer
fixed by some members as the limit
Of time, but predict ilat it will be
seven at least. The calendars of both
houses, Containing the business
brought over from the extra sessions,
have been prepared, but they contain
few important bills. | do not think
there will be any prolonged contest
between Congress and the President
over the measures brought out at the
extra session. Tho Democrats then
accomplished all they can secure
against an adverse Executive, and it
is generally admitted that further dis
cussion or agitation would be waste
of time. The question of tariff revis-
ion has been extensively discussed,
and the indications are that Congress
may undertake it. There is nothing
sectional in the question and some
reforms are highly important. Yet
there is every reason TO expect a hard
fight whenever the subject is taken
up. There are some interests that
will oppose and change to the bitter
end, aud with all the usual appliances
for influencing legislation. Another
important measure likely to be agi-
tated is q proposed bill 10 regulate
the electoral count, though it Is
doubtful il it results in anything
more than talk. There are plenty Of
Congressman who express themselves
in favor Of change in the manner OF
cleciiug President and a Vice Pres
ident-a change enabling the citizen
TO vote directly for these officers--but
that is hardly practicable at this time.
Nor is il likely that any departure
will be made from the established
method Of counting the vote by Con-
gress, though doubtless the Republi-
cans will come forward with some
device through which they would
llope to trick the Democrats agaiu.
The grand ball iu honor of the
Army of the Cumberland last week
was brilliant affair, and only es-
capped notice in my letter because
had already written TOO much before
reaching It. But the picture given ty
that enterprisiug journal, the Graphic
excites laugh oven now. A large
tent was erected for the exercise con.
nected with the reunion, including
tho ball. but strong wind felled il
TO the groud, andtthe fantastic exer.
else was held in the Capitol. 1t was
the first ball ever given in that build
ing and the new electric light flashed
FORTH its brilliant rays until they met
the gllre Of calcium from the Treas
ury building, making Pennsylvania
Avenue as light as day, almost. But
the Joke of the thing is that the
Graphic Artist was so previous that
he located the scene IN tie tent, lie
gives the picturesquely draped tent
pole the stretch of the canvass above
and tho gay groups within. This is
certainly q triumph OF the ideal arr
for, with the few triffling exceptions
that will be understood from the fore.
going, the pictureis perfect. 1t was
not the artists fault that while the
ball went on in The Capitol his mag.
nificent tent with o mass of limp and
helpless canvass.
In obedience Of Mr.. Hayes sugges-
tion Thanksgiving day appears to
have been well observed. There