The Hartford herald., 1879-04-23
Washington Letter.

fEOu our ItSuidI OOIItS lonutul.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April TO-
To vary the monotony of so much talk
on one subject the Democrats have held ,
caucus and decided that there shall be :
chance, at least, for something else. Tn,
representatives OF the Greenback elemen
have been anxious for an opportunity Il
bring forward measures looking to finan'
cial legislation, but have, so far. beer
cut off by the refusal to hold sessions or
Monday which under the rules, is bill day
Now, however, the House Democrat,
caucus has decided, unanimously.:to vot'
for sessions on Monday in order to let ir
any measures the Greenbackers may de,
sire | am not so certain that anything
definite will result from this indulgence
for, while large proportion ofthe Dem
ocrats are in favor of aboiishing the na-
tional banks, the free coinage OF gold and
silver, etc.. there are still quite number
who oppose any action at the present
time. A large majority OF the RepubIi>
cans being also opposed to such legisla-
tion. the chances are that none OF the
proposed measures will get through this
session. Yet nothing short OF test vote
will determine their strength. Ii is GER
,ainly fair to give them chance
People who fancy that Democratic
domination means battle, murder. sud-
den death and other things too fearful to
be named, will do well to consider the
debate now pending in the Senate over
the admission of Mr. Bell. appointed Sens-
tor by the Republican Governor of New
Hampshire. The sessions on that subject
read like a story from the land OF spirits
Senator's Thurman and Bayard are found
with other Democratic Senators, inclin-
ing to admit Bell, while the protest
against his admission is led ami led with
signal ability. by the Republican Sena-
tor Carpenter, side by side with the Demo
cratic Senator Hill. Now, observe that
such a thing as this not only never oc-
Cured, but was never so much as expect
ed to occur during the long Republican
domination in the Senate While the
Republicans had control of either house
the admission OF new member was
always treated openly as party question.
The truth is. that changes in party pre-
ponderance are absolutely necessary to
give any country a chance at non-parti-
san legislation. As purely legal aues>
ton, there is pretty plain case against
the admission OF Mr. Bell. His appoints
ment is not for an actual vacancy. but to
begin a new term. The Legislature
shoulI have elected Mr. Cragins suc,
cessor last winter, but the Republican
maj oriiy could not agree upon a candi-
date, and let The matter go over, hence it
is their fault that the State is unrepre-
sented. But upon the broad principle
that every State is entitled to two Sena>
tors, several liberal-minded Democrats
will vote for Bells admission without re-
giri to the legal question, though really
it seems like bad precedent 10 estab-
lish
Every reader is familiar with the Old
Freedman's Bank swindie, whereby few
Radical lights were successful in gather
ing in the savings OF the poor colored
people OF Washington and the South
Sesator Bruce (colored) has been placed
at the head of special committee OF the
Senate, with authority to investigate the
affairs of the bank. Ii tue committee
will take time to give the matter a
thorough overhauliIa, they will develope
some of the champion rascalty of the era
OF good stealing, They will find that
under the Disguise of true goodness and
peculiar love Tor the colored people, 4
number OF the leading lights of the Re-
publican party gained the confidence of
the negroes for the purpose of getting
hold of their savings, and, having gotten
the money into their control appropria>
led 1t TO their own use. They will find
that money was loaned TO the ring on
imaginary security, and that the preten-
ded friends OF the colored race reduced
their robbery and plumber to thoroughly
organized system.
In the removal and changes in the
Senate the journalist does not appear to
have been lost sight OF. Colonel Burch
tho Secretary ofthe Senate is an old news
paper editor, and is now the owner. or
part owner, OF the Nashville American.
lie seems not to have forgotten his pro-
fession. and is quick to see a point and
ready to impart it. He is particularly
kind to the guild here. Mr.. Bright, the
Sergeant Arms, also an Old editor, al-
though yet comparatively a young man.
He was formerly editor of the lndianapo-
lis Sentinel The Clerk Of Printing Re-
cords. Mr.. Richardson, the Washington
correspondent Of the Baltimore Sun, is as