Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-02-17
WASHINGTON LETTER.
iTrsn our rexui< Corrsspoadsat.l
WAaHINQTON Eah "a ~

WASHINGTON, Feb. IA. 1851.
The event Of the last week in point Of
importance was the electoral count on
Wednesday. Thongs Of sight.seers,
who found nothing to see. poured into
all the entrances OF the Capitol from an
early hour in the morning. and as early
as 10 o'clock every available space in the
galleries was occupied. The spacious
area of the rotunda was so packed that
scarcely room to walk around was afford
ed, and the old hall of the House, now
known as Statuary Hall, was equally
crowded. At ~ o'clock; the hour fixed
for the meeting of the joint convention
Of the two houses, the vast hall of the
House and the tiers of galleries which
rise above it presented an animated and
Interesting spectacle. The attendance of
members Of the House was unusually
large, and there would have been no
such trouble as has been experienced 30
often during this session of obtaining a
quorum. The diplomatic gallery had
large proportion of the attaches of the
Chinese and Japanese legations, and
sprinkled amongst them were a great
many who do not be long to the diplo-
matte corps, but who, somehow or other
always manage to avail themselves of
the diplomatic gallery whenever desira-
Die. There was noticeable absence OF
any members of the Presidents house
| hold, who by courtesy, are always &C.
corded seats in the diplomatic gallery,
and prominent member of the House
on the Republican side, in commenting
on this, said, "Of course they don't care
to see fair count; it might make them
feel badly"
| Just before the hour arrived, per-
mission was accorded to the anxious
crowd of ladies', wives, daughters, and
friends Of members, who were waiting in
the corridors unable to find room in the
galleries, to come in on the floor, and
they rushed in pell-mell sweeping every
thing before them like pent-up water
course which has broken its confines.
Sofas, chairs, and the seats of members
were taken possession of without formal
! ity of request, The waspish Mr.. Conger,
who, true to himself, had objected to the
admission of the ladies and called for
division when the question was put by
the Speaker, stood surveying the scene
with grim satisfaction. but took good care
to defend his own seat against all attacks.
The dignified and solemn procession of
Senators came in promptly at the hour,
headed by Vice President Wheeler lean
ing on the arm of Secretary Burch, close
behind whom came the venerable Isaac
Bassett. the faithful malor-domo of the
Senate, bearing, as he has on so many
Foccasions, the mahogany boxes which arc
the receptacle for the electoral votes.
Four years ago. when he came into the
hall of the House with the boxes con-
tanning these precious documents, he was
in the middle of solid phalanx of deter
mined men. armed to the teeth and ready
to defend the custody of the boxes
against all assailants. This is not the
only respect in which the count of WedEes..
day differed from that of four years
ago, which was prolonged through three
weeks of anxiety and excitement and
terminated in wild scene upon the
| floor of the House and the final shame of
lnaugurating the wrong man. On the
present occasion there was no excitement,
and after the count began, the proceed
ings were decidedly monotonous and un-
interesting. Senator Conkling came in
| fifteen minutes after the reading of the
certificates began and gave his admirers
an opportunity to look at him. His con-
scious manner showed that he knew he
was observed of all observers, and that
was his object
| III s6etlS pTCJLy buAC, alHQlH
other important matters to fail with the
end of the session, the nomination of
Stanley Matthews is one. There is no
longer any doubt that the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate is opposed to
him. Both Senators Thurman and Ed,
munds are among his most earnest ops
ponents. Mr.. Matthew's ability and fit
ness is not questioned, but his views up
! tIo olotin ~ Ixro
to the people, as indicated by his course
pending the Thurman bill two yeats ago,
renders his nomination Objectionable,
especially at this time when conflict is
felt to be impending. 1t is understood
here that, in addition to the other influ-
ences working against him, influential
friends of General Garfield are moving in
the same line. 1t is held that the new
President ought to have something to
say in the matter. The idea which is
animating his friends who are active, is
that 1T would be proper and expedient
thing for the South to have this appoint
ment in the person Of one of her repre-
sentatives Democrats, several Of whose
names are mentioned in this connection.
As it is settled that Justice Clifford will
never be able to resume his seat on the
bench, Justice Field is left as the only
Democratic member of the court. 1t
would therefore, to that extent at least,
divest the court of its present almost alb
solute and entire partisanship.
Now that the appropriation bills are
under consideration in Congress, MEM
bers Of both houses are expressing some
curiosity as to where the money came
| from to pay the expenses of the extern
sive trip made by President Hayes and
suite to the Pacific cost and back last
summer and fall. The party consisted
of about twenty persons, and the round
| trip covered a journey Of somewhere in
| the neighborhood of 5000 miles, via
Omaha, Salt Lake, San Frapcisco, Tus-
con. and Santa Fe. The army furnished
transportation, escorts, &c, through
Arizona and New Mexico. In number
of instances the railroads did not charge
for the conveyance of the party, but the
actual expenses of the trip are said to
have been in excess of $50, 900, and mem
bers OF Congress seem to think that the
appropriations for the army were drawn
on, although it is not seen under what
authority of law this could be done.
There is talk OF resolution Of inquiry
on the subject being introduced. 1t sure
~ was an expensive jaunt, and Mr..
Hayess well known parsimony renders
it morally certain that his private purse
was not drawn upon to pay the bill.
PHoNo.
| A cute observer remarks that utha mao,