Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1881-10-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


WASHINGTON. D. c., October 18th, 1854
More than usual interest will centre in the
National Capitol for some time, as several
events of public concern are entering ubcn
the scene The in licimCnt already o,rd
against Guiieau IS 20 lC tiled and the wresh
probably hung. the star rou'e cases have ~
read hren called into Court for .ippin,.
Tic Senate is about 10 meet in cxtr, Srs.i.o
aud be Supreme Court convcucs ON No,l,t
next. All ihesc Things, in correction viii, ts,
ut.rcsl attaching 70 % change Of Atlmiuistr,-
lion, are likely 20 make Washington n rr77-7
esting as u Is in mid-Winicr. Our bs.t-;.f
criminal court isa tribunal OF n uiunal ,.t,5 a.
ruOrdiuar5 interest when It's hisiory ~ M.
history Of rs trials is reviewed II has lri.5
Surratt for the murder OF President L.ncer.
tried the notorious safe burglary eases. M,
Ouinan Treasury robbery case, besides Gan.
grcssncn for murder, forgery and bigsmy
and sent eX-Scnators and other former hgi
officials to tine Peniicntiarv
Next to the Guijeau trial the people Of the
country are probably most interested in ,hc
star route prosecutions These eases htye
been thoroughly exposed through the %
aud there il ,puviatrln in the publiC IN
that Here was Under the direction Of Mr.
Brady criminal waste of public money. TO
say tie least. The enormous expenditure lOr
that service, consuming the entire nppropria-
ton for the fiscal year before the year was
halt gone, aud creating a deficiency amount
ing TO millions; excessive increase Of tlt
pay Of certain contractors to live or len times
the amount OF their original contracts, arc
facts beyond controversy aud circumstance
calculated to raise IA presumption Of wrong
When these things gre taken in connection
with certain other evidences, aud the gccumu
t.F no
contractors, they not only raise the presume
ton but inspire conviction in the publ,
mind which only a thorough clearing up VII
ever remove. Even ii the accused escape CON
Nlciion upon technicalities, or for l..-k ,f Il.
gal proof - satt, she etrsumst ,nces aTc i,
strong thtt a general doubt Of innocence Mi
still exist.
Since tie adjournment Of the Suprcm,
Court there has been a vacancy creatpd
caused by the death Of Justice Clifford IN,
Justice HUNT il is understood, is still inca
paciiated for service. Justice Field is not ex
/ pectcd here for several weeks, and the Cuur
will therefore meet with three members short
There is much anxiety among the bench an,
the bar on the subject of the Filing Of the va
cancy caused by the death OF Justice Clifford
] There is no reliable information as to wheul
or President Arthur proposes to send in
nomination for the vacancy at the special ses
sion OF the Senate, or whether he will wal
until the regular session in December, and
is supposed that he came to some conclusio
in the matter daring his stay ia New. va.
| after consultation With bis rffonis- rue Ju'
tices OF the supreme Court would be glad
the vacancy should he promptly filled, as
would help very much to tighten their labor
but there are difficulties in the way which til
J President fully appreciates, and which mt
! possibly induce him to delay making nom
inaiion until December. There will be
4 great pressure to take the new appuintce frgr
the East, as only one active member of tn
bench, Mr.. Justice Bradley, is now from tina
section, and Justice Clifford was the onl
member from New England But the claim
/ OF The South will also be presented and URGE
/ with persistcncy, as it has had no representa-
tive on the bench of the Supreme Court sine
the days Of the war. Justice Woods. viii
Was lately appointed, although nominal
itom Southern circuit had never given up hi
residence III Ohio, winch State to-day has n
less than iuur members Of the bench of the Su
peme Court Owing 10 all the crcumstau
ces, including tile peculiar division of partir
IN the Senate, the filing Of this vacancy b
the President will necessarily be surrouude
with more Or S. embarrassment, aud will re
quite the exercise ul sound Judgment and dis
erection.