The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1880-06-03
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
FROM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT

ging its slow length along in the SEN
ate, under what seems almost an inter
minable discussion Of its merits and de-
merits. Yet, aside from the legal hair
splitting disquisitions Of such able law
yers as Senators Carpenter aud Hill, an
occasional argument appears containing
much general interest. One OF these
was the speech Of Wade Hampton, who
took the ground afterward occupied by
Mr.. Carpenter and others, that, whether
elected by fraud or not, the Senate was
now barred from retrying The case aud
uuseaiing Kellogg, through the fact
that be had been formally seated, and
there was, therefore, 10 power existing
to undo the wrong. He said, in reply
to q personal appeal from Mr.. Hill, that
he had followed the palmetto flag on
bloody fields to uphold the honor OF his
State, and, though he regretted the ne
cessity which compelled him to differ
in opinion upon this question from Mr..
Hill, he but followed his convictions
now as during the war 1t is not at all
likely that Kellogg will be disturbed in
his seat this session, Notwithstanding
the persistent effort of Senator Hill to
oust him, for General Hampton un-
doubiedly represents the balance of
power in the test by vote, aud, should
he adhere TO the sentiments expressed
in his recent speech, Mr. Hill will APP
pear in the minority on the final issue.
For a number of years Congress has
been procrastinating the "Claim of the
Choetow Nation" but It reappears In the
new Congress to clog the wheels Of leg
islalion aud crowd out matters Of Ma
tional concern. The House occasionally
devotes a day 10 its discussion, to the
exclusion Of vastly more important
matters. Back Of this claim is power
ful lobby, which, like the Pope Of Rome,
seems to have an inherent p0wer Of per-
petuaiion, for as far back as the Forty
third Congress it was pushing the Choc-
tow claim as vigorously as to-day, aud
was as successful then as now in finding
champions for the measure, Eotwith-
standing a legislation is asked for that
will enrich many a spoil.
Senator Morrill, deserves the Nations
thanks for opposing the proposition to
extend one Of the Capitol fronts and put
in the edifice the Congressional Library.
It is iuexplicabIe why able Senators
should urge that the grand outline Of the
Capitol should be utterly destroyed by
at right angles from its
center this proposed building, which il
no more a necessary adjunct to the Cap
itol than the Patent Office. 4 space Of
several acres will be required for the
accommodation Of the present stock Of
books, while provision should OF course
be made for future accumulations /;
hence, when Mr.. Morrill, urges a sepa-
rate structure, he simply acts as any
sensible man should. The Capitol
should not be broken In any Of its ex-
ternal proportions or outlines. 1t is
now the finest aud graudest legislative
building in the world, and IL is to be
hoped that ignorant Legislators and
worse architects may keep their vandal
hands off Of it.
One by one our old landmarks are
disappearing under the march Of i'm
provement. So great are the changes
occurring that soon little will be LEFT Of
old Washington in the northwestern
part Of the city. Opposite the Post
Office Building, on the south side Of Z
street, few weeks ago, stood the Seaton
Mansion, plain, old fashioned dwelling
house, which bore every mark of hav-
ing been erected by a former generation
Of people. More memories Of the great
men Of the city's past cling to its walls
than to those OF any other private man.
sion occupied since 1870. Hardly a no.
table who figured prominently in the
affairs Of the Nation prior to 1850 but
made his home at some time or other
under its portals. Presidents Monroe,
Jackson, Van Buren, and Harrison
Chief Justices Marshall aud Taney
Kossuth, the Hungarian patriot; Lafa-
yette, Webster, Clay, Calhoun, Ran
dolph, and a host of other celebrities,
were all quartered here. But all these
are matters Of the past. All have had
to give way to the necessities Of the
present. King Lager Beer has swept
every material thing out Of existence,
aud In a huge ball erected on the site
will hereafter celebrate his triumph
over old Washington and its revered
memories Of the good and the great, in
so far as they were connected with thi:
pile Of bricks and mortar. When Lafa-
yette made this house his home, be
planted several young trees In its yard
or garden to celebrate his farewell visit
to America, and these, having grown
into large aud shady proportions, have
been spared by the new proprietor, SC
that his customers may qusff their beei
to the honor aud memory Of those whose
brains, not stomach, ruled the house il
former days. The Seaton Mansion ha:
disappeared, aud on its ruins has arisen
a beer garden.
Courtney, the oarsman, Is q splendid
physical specimen OF the live Yankee.
DOM pEDRo