Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1881-02-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
from our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON. February Il. 1881


Washington, February II, 1881.
Once more st. Valentine rules the hour,
but who he was. or what he did, few know
and not many care TO learn. The patron
Saint of love. his name and day has long
been used as sufficient warranty Tor bashiul
swains and blushng maids TO avow their
preferences. As such 1t was once hailed by
many rs pleasant advertisement and by
some as a fair opportunity to declare what
they seriously felt. But alas, how changed.
Instead of being solely devoted to the fur,
therance of the tender passion 1t Is slezed
upon with avidity by the vulgarian and
BLACKBOARD as a fit opportunity to gratity
malice or insult with impunity. 1t IS diff
cult TO determine which of the two things
valentines or serenading-has been most
widely and improperly perverted from its
original design. They both were once
considered as peculiarly pertinent to the
court of Love. But now the letters carriers
start upon their routes loaded like pack
mules. and none can tell whether the mis-
sives they carry are mostly fraught With
declarations of undying love or expressions
of unutterable hate.
A mild type of the Inauguration fever
which is now raging in the city has now at
tackled the Senate in a strange quarter. On
Friday last Mr.. Hoar offered resolution
that the Committee on the Judiciary be
directed to consider and report whether the
assembling at the Capitol on Inauguration
day of large bodies of armed troops not
commanded by L. s. officer and not under
national control. be not likely to become
dangerous and whether any legislation
or expression of opinion by COngfess is de-
sirable? The resolution was bitterly OPP
posed by Mr.. Hereford of West Virginia,
who told Mr.. Hoar that it was singular that
that idea did not occur to him when Grant
was concentrating horse foot and dragon
to assist in the Inauguration of Hayes.
Now that Congress is soon 10 adjourn, the
city officials have vigorously shaken off their
pleataut lethargy. and anxious to impress
upon the retiring statesmen good opinion
of the city's morality, determined to make
of the gamblers vicarious whipping boys
SO mastering their forces, they divided them
into squads, and at a given signal every
gambling house in the city was simulta-
neously raided. But oh, Jupiter! what was
their chagrin when they found the houses
mostly filled with the very men whose good
opinions they sought to cultivate. Yes, 1t
is melancholy fact that most of the men
found Fl Citing We Tiger were august Senator's
and patriotic Representatives.
During the Presidential Campaign Conk-
ling took occasion repeatedly 20 make false
accusations Of gross frauds against the South
and for this Senator Butler. of 5. c., deem
ed it proper to call him 70 account. lie did
not name Conkling, but painted him so
fairly with a brush dipped in gall that the
New York man fairly WINGED under 1t aud
attempted 20 reply bit wheii Bttlef fetoSt;
ed he was no doubt sorry he had said any
thing. 1t was expected that he you'd reply
to Mr.. Butler in his most insolent veih.--
His friends now give various reasons why
he will not attempt a reply to Butler's last
remarks. No reply is possible, fOr all the
facts are against Mr. Conkling and he is
wise to accept his castigation in a submissive
spirit
The action Of the se9ate FmSEce Comi
mittec on The House funding bili makes
some very material changes as the bill now
stands. The issue Of 800, 100000 will be
authorized bearing three ard 3 half per
cent. interest and feGeefAable in five or
twenty years, aud the issue of S300,OOO,O0O
certificates bearing three per cent. interest
and redeemable in one or ten years.
Active preparations are being made for
the erection Of the New Congressional Ii
brary building. It's to be built on J0dici-
airy Square Immediately north of the City
Hall 1t is intended to be the finest library
building in the world, its estimated cost to
he about $4,000, 600 1t will be brilliantly
Illuminated and open night and day. The
present library has no gas and consequently
is always closed at night, very often much
to the regret of
A LOCKER OS IL Vienna.