The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-04-30
SELECT LITERATURE.
"REMINISCENCES OF WASHINGTON
The Fillmore Administration from 1850 to
1858.

| 1858.
From. The -ithamtic Monthly.
The Collins line of ocean steamers APP
piled to Congress for an addition to the
subsidy already granted to it. Mr.. Col
Inns ship owner, had previously built
and run line of sailing packets between
New York and Liverpool, each vessel
named after distinguished actor. This
dramatic line. as it was called, had
been profitable, but Mr.. Collins found
that it was impossible to run his four
magnificent steamers without mourning
an average loss of seventeen thousand
dollars trip, and he appealed to Con-
garded as the finest steamer. cane up the
| Potomac to Washington. and success
! sion of brilliant entertainments was given
on board. Passes for passages across
| the Atlantic and back were lavshly dis
| tributed among congressman and CORE
spondents, and the subsidy was finally
| secured.
Several other considerable appropria-
tions were lobbied through Congress by
| the united efforts of the special friends
| OF each one. which was called II g-rnll-
ing" in allusion to the anited action of
| residents of newly settled parts of the
country in ro ling together and burning
Urge logs. One of these claims was
brought forward by the officers of the
| Orange X Alexander Railroad. in Vir,
! ginia. In 1899 the States of Virginia
| and Maryland had each advanced one
| hundred and twenty thousand dollars in
aid of the erection of the necessary pub
| lie buildings on condition that the seat
/ of government should be located on the
| Potomac river. No claim WAS made for
this donation until 1850 when the LemiS-
| lature of Virginia WAS induced to present
an application for reimbursement. to aid
| in the construction of the Orange and
| Alexander Railroad. There was no evil
| dence that the money donated was Il loan.
nor had security of any kind been taken.
| 1t was also we'll known that the Govern
ment had made very liberal appropria-
tions for the benefit of the city of Alex
;,nder. before it's retrocesSion to Virginia.
but the claim was put through Con-
gress without much debate.
Another venerable claim was presented
from the grandson of Gen. Thomas Sum
ter. who asked the reimbursement of thir-
| ty-two loan Office certificates, amounting
in all to about three thousand dollars.
HIS to his illustrious ancestor. Congress
| had passed laws again and again, calling
upon those who held these State certifi-
| Gates of Indebtedness to file them for ad-
iustment, until 1925. when by statute the
doors of the treasury were finally barred
a .ainst them. There was no evidence
that these claims had not been adjusted.
and it was certain that General Sumter,
who was Senator in Congress in 1911,
had never asserted that either the United
States or the State of South Carolina
owed him dollar.
New York had also claim, which was
industliousy lobbied. but which was
manfestly unjust. One Jethro Wood had
obtained. in 1919. letters patent for the
construction of cast-iron plows, and they
had been extended. III 1889, for an add-
tional period of fourteen years. His heirs.
represented by two good looking, inter
esting young ladies and by 4 sharp attor-
ney, sought, before the expiration of this
extension. to have the patent again ex-
ten led for seven years. 1t was shown
in Great Britain in 1142 by Scotchman
named Small. and that Thomas jefferson
had made scientific experiments with iron
mould boards soon after the Revolution
But the pertinacious solicitations of the
young Ladies' for Congressional support
were seconded by the opportunities of the
lobby, stimulated by pledges of money.
to be paid from the quarter of a million
of dollars which it was estimated re-
| newal of the patent would secure to Mr..
| Woods heirs. 1t was only after a sharp
debate. i'll which the miqnity of the pro-
posed extension of the patent was devel-
ped. that the subject was laid on the
| table.
One pleasant afternoon in March. Mr..
Brown, of Mississippi, delivered a long
speech in the House upon the politics of
| that State, in which he defended the State
Rights party, and ridiculed the Union
movement as unnecessary. no one then
being in favor of either disunion or seces-
sion. This. one of his colleagues. Mr..
| Wilcox. denied. "Do you mean said
| Mr. Brown, "to assert that what have
said is false?'' ''If you say br:lvely
responded Mr.. Wilcox, that there was
no party in Mississippi at the recent cleo
ton in favor of secession or disunion, You
say what is false - The last word was
echoed by a ringing slap from Brown
open hand on the right cheek of Wilcox,
who promptly returned the blow, and
| then the two men clnched each other. in
a fierce struggle. Many of the members,
| leaving their seats. crowded around the
combatants. while Mr.. Seymour, of Con
n ,cticut, who temporarily occupied the
chair pounded with his mallet. shouting
| 1T the top of his Wi e "Ordcr. ord. !"
The Sargean.slt'AsmE was loudly called