Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-05-03
tFroniOur Regular coucspOndent.l
Washington Letter,

WASHINGTON. d. G.. April -. 80.
The president Is away at Fortress Mon
roe witnessing the maneuvers Of some
ships of war, and cannon practice at target.
Congress is proceeding With its usual
humdrum slowness toward the end Of the
session.
The interest of the press and conse.
quently Of the country is conferred In the
investigation that is going on before the
committee on foreign affairs. This Is the
circus. Mr.. Blaine Is the leading per-
former Congress is merely a sido show
now.
Yesterday Mr.. Blaiue told Mr. Belmont.
who has been conducting tho examination,
that be had spoken untruthfully, and that
he was not gentleman. Mr.. Belmont
replied that ho was q bully and CO ward,
and that ho would settle with him in pri.
vatc for his insulting language. To-day
the quarrel is the absorbing subject OF
conversation at the capitol and about the
hotels; opinion being somewhat divided
m political lines. but / oil repu olican>
IN Washington are Mr.. Baine's friends.
many of them taking sides with Mr.. Conk-
ling in quarrel Of very old standing. 1t
is very generally believed that Mr.. Bel
mont will challenge Mr.. Blaine, and the
almost universal opinion is that Mr.. Blaine
will pay no attention to the challenge.
Mr. Belmont is a young man, the son of
the millionaire OF that name, who has
figured prominently for years in New
York democratic politics. Last night he
called upon Senator Butler, from South
Carolina, who is a remote relative of his.
and requested him to act as his friend in
IN affair OF honor between himself and
Mr.. Blaine. Senator Butler called some
of Mr.. Belmont's friends together, and
they prevailed upon the latter gentleman
to wait until this morning before sending
Il blool-thirsty message. 1t is very prob.
able that Mr.. Belmont will rise in his SCAT
TO- day and tender his resignation as
member of tho committee on foreign
affairs, assigning as cause that in his
endcavor to get clear story from Mr.
Blaine he was not upheld by bis col.
leagues, but that. on the other band, the
witness had received the support of the
committee.
A colcrod man spoke on the floor OF the
House to-day for the first time in three
years. Mr.. Lynch, the contestant Of
General Chalmers seat, light mulatto Of
easy manners and ready speech, spoke in
advocacy OF his claim lie occupied the
desk formerly occupied BIZ General Gar.
Md. lie declared that tho claim Of Gen.
eral Chalmers to the seat was based upon
fraudulent returns. lie read from n pub
ished interview with Mr.. Chalmers
shortly after the election, TO the effect tina,
he wanted white mans government IN
Mississippi and would resort to any
means short Of open violence 10 accom-
plish that object. lie said that in General
Chalmers person the country was pre-.
! scented with living monument to riHed
ballot BOXES aud stifed public Justice
Though that gentleman had occupied a
seat on this Goor for the last FIVE years
yet no one knew better than himself thai
10 had never with possibly one exception
received IS many as onethrd of the vote.
cast at any election at which he had been
i cqndilat".