Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-06-02
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
From our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON, ID. e., May ~, 1851.
During the past week there have
been efforts to connect Secretary Blaine
with the Star route scandals, and ex.
Secretary Sherman with certain Treas
ury steals. 1t seems, however, to be
plainly established that speculations OF
Blaine did not take this direction OF
wickedness. There are sins enough,
big and little, on his head to render the
bearing of false witness against him ua.
necessary. In the Sherman matter
there was certainly failure to discharge
official duty, and the charge is that he
failed to act while knowing that frauds
were being committed. That he per.
sonally profted by the stealings no one
alleges. The booty was small and the
confederates were numerous. As re.
suit of this treasury investigation how.
ever, it is believed several quite promi.
nent officials will suffer.
Hardly q Senator or Representative
is left here. The weather did not suit
them, and they were not getting favors
from the President as they desired.
Between the illness of his wife and the
vexations of politics the President has
lost something of the patient and com.
plying humor with which he used
to greet his visitors. Now that Mrs.
Garfield is out of danger, and the quar-
relling Senate is out OF the city, the
better qualities will resume sway with
the Executive.
We Washingtonians are probably bet.
ter informed as to affairs at Albany,
than are the politicians themselves in
that city. Intelligent and experienc.
ed men send us the whole truth
as far as they know it, and also the
more reliable rumors, discarding the
canards which gain short currency
among excited partipants in the strug
gle. Aud this is preliminary to a state.
ment telegraphed here this morning
that beyond doubt, more than half the
Republicans would unite in a call for a
caucus, and that Messrs. Conkling and
Platt would be the caucus nominees.
l am inclined to accept this as most
likely to be true. What number Of
legislators will balk caucus nomina.
ton remains to be seen.
The post.office authorities are likely
to get themselves into trouble for caus-
ing the arrest of Mr.. Carmichael, of Vir-
ginia, for writing strong words against
Gen. Malone on postal card addressed
to Senator Vance. The Language used,
il is true, was far from being choice or
elegant, but, as already suggested by
Mr.. Carmichaels counsel and by others,
IL Is extremely doubtful whether il
comes within the inhibition of the
law. But there seems to be little If
any doubt amongst the highest legal
authorities that Bell, the official in
the city postofFlce here, who first read
and then detained the postal card,
exceeded his authority and is liable
to prosecution and punishment there
for. This matter will be thorough.
ly examined into, and If the law Is
found 10 justify it. proceedings will be
taken. II is asserted that 1t has become
too much the habit of the postoffice Of.
ficials TO inspect postal cards simply to
crafty their curiosity. Many persons
are in the habit Of writing about private
matters on postal cards under the belief
that they were safe from prying eyes, as
the law certainly contemplated they
should be.
The rumor that the Grand Jury of
the District Of Columbia had found in.
dictments against ex.Assistant Post
master General Brady, ex-senator Dor.
ssy and others prominent in the Star
route swindle, was officially denied to-
day. The report, nevertheless, devel-
oped that the parties named expect
10 be indicted, - their atlorners this