Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-05-26
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SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
wednesday, May 20, 1850.
Prom eur regular correspondent,
WASHINGTON LETTER.

firms more surely the views expressed
in this correspondence last week. The
leaders Of the Grant movement mean
10 nominate Grant at all hazards, II
they can, They have gone too far "a
draw back, and there Ia not much
doubt now that they will succeed, But
II by any combination of circumstances
they fail 10 secure the required number
Of votes, they Intend that tho candl'
date shall not DO James g. Blaine,
Another Of those unfortunate blows
which always seem TO hlt blaine al
the critical moment struck him below
the belt this week. The letter OF Mr..
James s. George, charging corruption
10 procuring the land grant for the
Texas Pacific railroad, created de-
cided sensation, and, while Mr..
Blaines name Ia not mentioned, II Is
understood that tho most startling
revelations relate 10 him. Mr.. George
claims TO hold documentary evidence
10 substantiate all his charges and Is
urging an investigation. II Is believed
that II the charges prove to be us Sc
rious an Is alleged, the committee on
Pacific Railroads will ask the HOUSE
for authority to make an investigation.
IT. however, II should appear that the
charges relate solely 10 a previous
Congress, and do not affect members
or proceedings OF the present Con
gress, II Is not likely an investigation
will DO ordered.
The resolution Of the House pro-
vidipg for adjournment on the slst
inst. could be carried into effect so far
as the appropriations are concerned,
for they are nearly all passed or well
advanced, but there are other things
that should receive attention. Appro.
priation bills arc indispensable TO the
successful running OF government ina.
chincry, but they do not comprise the
whole duty Of Congress, and those
democrats who assume that they are
sent here merely to vote supplies to
the administration make q great mis-
take. The last tive national conven.
tons resolved that it is the duty Of
Congress to make some revision of our
unequal and un,Democratic tariff.
Since tho last convention the party
has come into full control Of both
houses Of Congress, yet all efforts to
carry out the wishes Of the people are
smothered and the pledges Of the con-
veniion ignored. There are some
members OF Congress who will be LA
BILE to wake up some fine morning and
and find out their mistake. And, by
the way, speaking of mistakes it IS
understood that Mr.. Hayes has at
length dropped down on Horace May
nard. of Tennessee, minister to Tur-
key, for Postmaster-General. 1t is
the same dreary old story of politi-
elan vet to do work for which he has
no special fitness.
In its lmpatience and haste it is to
be hoped that the House may do
something with the bill passed by the
Senate last week providing for COM
mission to report upon better and
greatly needed accommodations for
the Congressional Library. The libra
ry is no longer maintained only for
the use Of Congressman it is the larg.
est collection OF books in the United
States, and reference to it is indispen.
sable to historians and other writers
who would have their works complete
and accurate. 1t has also become,
since 1870, a place Of record for every
publication issued in the United States.
II contains thousands upon thousands
Of valuable publications not to be
found together in any other single
place, that are utterly unavailable TO
Congressmep Or any one else, because
there is no place in which to properly
dispose them. These books are piled
up and stored away in the place now
occupied,,an almost unccmatable mass.
Were Mr.. Spofford the present libra
rian-who is thorough man and
himself walking encyclopedia in
book matters-to suddenly step down
and out, doubt if any living being
could tell what is in that library, or
where to find many of the valuable
works. Were such collection any
where but at Washington, and under
the control Of any body of men other
than Congressman, it would long ago
have been cared for according to its
merit. If There is not sufficient room
for it in the Capitol, it is far more
worthy OF special building thar
many less important government