Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-03-26
Washington Letter.
wAsnINoroN. D. G. March 20. 1879.

democratic speaker; very close race fol
the speakership, In which the democrat:
showed only majority of five over re
publicans and greenbackers; the crgani-
Irtion Of new congress, so close upon
the heels Of the old; and the imminenct
Of a dead lock between The executive and
legislative branches Of the government
have given those interested in polite!
something to talk about, while those who
have penchant for the prurent ant
scandalous, find unusual entertainment in
the suit which Widow Oliver is wag;ng
against the wealthy Ex-senator Cameron
OF Pennsylvania.
Your readers know all about the organi
zItion of the forty-sixth congress. How
dignified and decorous It was in the Sen
ate and how rabble-like and chaotic in
the House. Your correspondent wen
first to the reporters gallery of the Senate
TO see the new senators sworn in; among
them was the handsome George II. Pen
dleton, of Ohio, who went up Cd the arm
of Senator Thurman; Vance Of North
Carolina, who was conducted to the vice.
presidents stand by his colleague, Senator
Ransom. Each new senator was escorted
by his colleague, with the exception OF
Jones, of louisiana; this most petite Of
senators Il don't think he will weigh
more than ninety-five pounds was moi
escorted by Kellogg, but by the gigantic
Senator Coke, of Texas. Senators Beck
and Williams, of Kentucky, made CO.
lossal pair. and they will sustain Ken.
lucky's prestige for tall men. There wa:
a profusion of flowers in both the Senate
and the House. Gen. Logan's desk was
literally covered by magnificent bouquets
The Senate was soon organized and ready
for business.
! have never seen the galleries of the
House so crowded. found the reporter s
gallery jtmmed by ladies, to the exclusion
Of many correspondents. who expressed
in very emphatic language, their disap-
proval Of this intrusion.
Mr.. Randall sat, pale, before IL large
bouquet on the extreme democratic side oil
the House, the fatigue of the canvass was
plainly evident in his face, and in his
hating and sometimes inarliculate speech
when he addressed the House, after his
election, The strain Of excitement was
intense, for it was doubtful to the las,
moment whether the democrats would
nave majority of all the members. The
lew member who attracted most attention
from the galleries was General Joseph E
Johnson. He sat near the main aisle
laughing, talking and gesticulating, to al
appearances well pleased with congress in
general and General johnson in particu
lar. He is small N IN, in long black
frock cot, grey pIntaloons, with phys
gnomy much like that of General Sher
man. saw him once before, on the
platform of the railway st ttion at Chatla
nooga, looking at u file of federal prison
ers; he then wore grey clothes and ha,
three gilt stars surrounded by wreath on
his collar.
The House is now SO evenly divided
that, looking from the speakers stand, al
the democrats are on the right of the mali
aisle, while all the republicans and green
packers are on the left. As soon as the
seats had been distributed an opportunit,
was given to see the tout ensemble of the
torty'sixth congress, rs il will be. Those
who saw it from the gallery were oil
opinion that it would compare favorabl,
With former congresses The democratic
SIDE, especially, presents better general
appearance than in the former congress,
-hough some OF their most conspicuou.
ind ablcSt men, as Potter, Hewitt, Dur.
aam, Glover and Soathard, are gone. On
The republican side many familiar faces
ire missed. The grotcsque presence Of
General Butler Is no longer in The Capitol
but his admirers may gaze upon hin. in
he City Hall, where he conducts the de-
fence in the Oliver Cameron breach Of
promise case. His MISUNDERSTANDING
colleague, General Blnks, has left the
Capitol, perhaps forever, and the white
head of Martin |. Townsend is no LONGER
conspicuous on the republican side. The
democrats are n better dressed and hand.
'omer body of men than in the former
congress, while the republicans present
IN array of younger faces. G.