The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-04-15
Washin gtOn, Letter.
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.

IRON Our KeEular Corr .DOndent.
WAsHINGToN, d. c., April 10. 1850.
Beyond the usual weekly acrimOni-
9us personal quarrels which occur in
he House, Congress has been pursu-
ing an even placid course of duty. Mr.. |
Springer, of Illinois, rose under a
question of privilege, to make a per-
sonal explanation on the Washburne-
contested case, claiming that |
his honor and veracity had been at
tackled by certain parties. His produc-
tion of the letter which he had receiv-
ed, and which offered him a heavy
bribe, created quite sensation, and, if
such be possible, redoubled the noise
and confusion. which seems ever to
control the House. His remarks in
volved a question of veracity between
himself and Mr.. Manning, who, becOm-
ing excited and indignant, INDUCED in
language of rather wide and question
able latitude, and for u while we were
gratified with real dramatic chapter
of colloquy as interesting as quarrel
between two viragoes, whose belliger-
ency does not terminate in blows, but
whose tongues do not fail to express
the desired shade of meaning. Both
are men of undOubted Integrity, and
no one questions that the whole mat
ter, in SO far as they are concerned, is
one of misapprehensiOn. Beyond that
however, is the fact that a large amount
of money was rendered Mr.. Springer
to influence his action. Then, again,
Messrs. Clymer and Sparks tried their
hands at u verbal pummelling, during
which Mr.. Sparks became so angry as
to shake his fist in a most violent man
ner at Mr.. Clyner, and to accuse him
of falsehood if he insinuated that the
amendment under consideration did
not come from the Military Committee
The Speaker raped with his gavel to
an unheeding mass of excited, interest
ed men, just as he always does when
ever the monotony of the proceedings
is disturbed by such personal conflicts.
But it was some minutes before order
could be restored. The scene reminded
the spectator of some of the filibuster-
ing proceedings of last Congress, when
the Speaker, finding his gavel wholly
useless, had the mace carried around
among the members by the Sergeant
alarms, but without effect upon the
unruly boys, who heed no attempt to
subdue into quietness. To get itself
out of the snarl, the House went out
of the Committee of the Whole into
regular session, in which the dispute
was amicably discussed and patched
up, and, after mutual apologies, the
beliigerents smoked the pipe of peace,
leaving the House as quiet and placid
as a mild spring day of sunshine and
| warmth. 1t was agreed that the col
loquy, rs it really occurred, should not
appear in the " Congressional Record, y
hence the distant future student of our
political history will not realize the
| bitterness of our present parliamentary
wranglings. Mr.. Thurman is again
the temporary President of the Senate
through the absence of Mr.. Wheeler,
and his pleasant face smiles benignant-
ly upon those, he said, who did him an
honor in putting him into the chair.
The Indian question has been ably
discussed in the Senate, pretty much
without regard to party lines, and
though Senators differ on other points
yet there is an undoubted agreement
in sentiment that the Indian must
soon lose his tribal identity to the eX-
tent of becoming civilized, or must in.
evitably be swallowed up by the march
of civilization. We very much doubt
whether an Indian treaty has a strong
er hold in Congress than it has upon
the miner and the homesteader and
pre-emptor. Its letter may be more
closely observed there, but its spirit
has no more strength of support than
| with the pioneer.
The Senate Military Committee re.
fuses to decide the point whether the
two costly valuable swords of General
Twiggs, which were confscated by
General Butler, at New Orleans, and
are now in the U. S. Treasury, belong
to the Government or to his heirs. 1t
claims that this question should be de-
termined by the Judiciary Committee,
since purely legal one. These swords
cost originally over $50, 900, being or
namented with costly diamonds and
most artistic work, hence, aside from
the effort being made by Gen. Twigg's
children to secure possession of them.
Our lawyeress, Mrs. Lockwood, gal
lantly returns to the charge against
Senator Ben. Hill. Mr.. Hill's lawyer
asked that the suit against the Senator
by Miss Raymond for aintainance of
her Legitimate child, be dismissed,
and under his motion made use of some
very harsh remarks toward the plain
tiff's counsel, Mrs. Lockwood. TO ev-
cry ones surprise, Mrs. L. at this par
ticular juncture appeared in Court
with Miss Raymond, who was sup
posed to have left the city for good
some two weeks since, and successfully
opposed the motion. Her client made
the requisite affidavits, so that the case
will now proceed, unless other strange
developments rise to prevent. In view
of the hard swearing already done by
one or the other of the parties in inter-
est, we will not be surprised at any
thing which may hereafter appear.
One thing, however, is clearly appar-
ent, that Miss Raymond's statements
and at1idavits are wholly unreliable,
and no jury in christendom will give
them the slightest credence if weighed
under the test of consistency. Had
not the Senator's friends unfortunately
made a personal attack ON Mrs. Lock
wood, therby compelling her to make
the fight a defensive one on her part,
Miss Raymond would have disap-
peared.