Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-03-04
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From our regular Correspondent


WASHINGTON, ID. c., March |, 1880.
1t is rarely that we are treated with
as eloquent eulogy by a Senator as that
of Senator Voorhees, upon Brumidi, the
the recently deceased artist of the Cap
itol. A Congressional speech usually
is as destitute of oratorical graces as
lawyers argument before jury upon
some dry, kpotty legal quibble, and
Senator Voorhees, efforts are not ex-
ceptions to this rule. But on this oc.
casion he allowed his fancy full rein,
and paid the deceased a tribute spark
ling with beauty and sentiment. The
Government was indebted to Brumidi
some $500 for extra work retouching
the canopy of the dome, which moneys
could only be paid the heirs under a
resolution, which the Senator introduc
ed, and which, of course, was adopted
without debate. Mr. Voorhees, referred
TO the artists services in adorning the
Senate committee rooms aud panels
aud corridors with pictures of men, and
merits, as works of art, would suf.
flee in Europe to make him famous
and to entitle him to burial.place
with the nobility and the great,
and said "The birds, especially, are
all there, from the humming bird at an
open flower to the bald eagle with his
fiery eye and angry feathers. | have
been told that the aged artist loved
these birds as his children, and that he
often fingered in their midst as il a
strong tie bound him to them" We
have often thought that the aged artist
was mentally so engrossed with his art
that he knew little else, hence can APP
preciate the orators fine idea of the
old mans love for his works. 1t is pos.
sible that he will be remembered
through his art. as Mr.. Voorhees, said,
long after we have ceased to exist as a
nation, and even after the Capitol it,.
self has crumbled into ruins. Yet so
little attention was paid him in the
last obsequies, through the entire alb.
senee of demonstration and of attend
ing strangers, that it seems Brumidi's
greatness, like that Of Millions, will not
be really recognized till long after his
death.
An interesting debate arose in the
Senate upon q motion to repeal the law
prohibiting the appointment of x.con.
federates to the Army and Navy. Mr..
Edmunds forced the debate, as he said,
for the purpose OF settling the matter.
and, as usual, he and Mr.. Thurman an.
tagonized. These two great men "lock
horns" upon nearly every question aris-
ing in the Senate. Both are lawyers of
pre-eminent ability, and can split hairs
with the incest possible determinations
between tweedledee and tweedledum.
and differing as they do in politics,
they necessarily oppose each other on all
issues with the slightest political bear.
ing in them. The debates was not con.
cluded, and it is not likely the statute
will be repealed in advance of the
coming presidential contest, inasmuch
as this repeal involves an immense
amount of capital which, like the
"bloody shirt" cry of past campaigns,
may have an immense weight for the
opposition. No one doubts that under
the next administration, no matter who
becomes President, the Army and Navy
will be opened to the South as to the
North. Yet just nov neither party
will assume the responsibility of break
ing down existing distinctions. Mr..
Thurman, however, took advanced
ground in favor Of repeal.
The House is rapidly bringing its re-
vising the rules 70 a conclusion. and
will soon possess new code. Some Of
these rules are great improvements up.
on the old, and others are equally OBJ
noxious. For instance, In our iudg
ment no appropriation bill should con.
tain any provision not strictly pertain.
ing TO appropriations; and yet the new
rule Is even more unrestricted than the
old, through which has crept some OF
the most pernicious legislation of the
past twenty ears. Had the President
power 20 veto clauses Of an appropria.
lion act il would matter little what