The Daily Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Or.) 1876-1883, 1882-03-23
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent

lstteE EWsitten'by General Garfield to
Secretary Chase in 1868 has created
a sensation here, and it is regarded
unfortunate that the publication
was made. General Garfield at
that time was chief of staff to
General Rosecrans, who CON-
manded the army of the Cumber-
land. The letter criticises the
policy of. GeheralRosecrans as one
of inexcusable procrastinatien,
and the writer expresses his inten-
ton, if the inaction continued
much longer, to ask to be sent
somewhere where he could be part
of working army. General Rose
Grams, who is now a member of the
House from California, says he
very much.regrets the appearance
of such letter, more on account
of the injury to the memory of
Garfield than >on his own account.
The point made is that, occupying
confidential relations to his superior
officer, writing such a letter, whether
its charges were true or not, was a
breach of faith and subject to
court martial. There appears to
be little if any doubt of the genu-
ineness Of the letter, ,and the friends
ofthe late President are not pleased
that it has been made public. He
is not here to defend or explain,
and the inevitable result of the
publication will be to stir up bad
feeling and: give currency to Cos
sip, idle and otherwise. Already
gossip on the subject has COM
menced and it is asserted that at
the time of General Rosecran's re-
moral from the command of the
Army OF. the Cumberland General
Garfield, who had then come to
Washington to take his seat in
Congress, expressed great regret
and was loud in his praise of
Rosecrans as an able military
chieftain. : Afterwards, it is al
legged; President Lincoln, when in
formed of General. .GarGeld's ex-
pressiops, remarked with much
surprise that ii was principally on
account of General Garfeld's
statements aud representations
that General Rosecrans had been
removed. 1t is charged that this
letter was publishedin the interest
OF Fitz John Porter, against whose
restoration to the army Garfield
was thoroughly opposed, having
been a member Of the court mar
tial that dismissed him.
Persons who have schemes be.
fore Congress for subsidies and
kindred matters are struck dumb
with amazement and admiration
to hear that the Commerce Commit
tee reports in favor of guaranteeing
SIX per; cent interest on s50,000,-
900 bonds for the mythical ship
railway of Capt. Eads across the
lsthmes. Mr.. Eads has always
been remarkably successful in en-
gineering his projects through
Congress, and perhaps one reason
for his Success Is that he never
strikes for paltry hundreds of
thousands, as do the more modest
beleaguers of the Treasury, but
boldly demands millions. But it
is easier to get through commit
tee than through the whole
Senate and. easier to carry
scheme through the latter
body with, its 76 members than
through the House with its 293.
So Eads is not ont of the woods
yet. !. LII the house he will have
hard work to :eoncilIiate Holman
the objector. Holman is ALWAYS
IN session when the House is, and
Speaker Kieter has doubtless
found out by this tine that the
rugged old Hoosier is, by the dis
pensation of nature a member of
all committees, and by virtue of
his own indefatigable industry
personally in charge of all bills
that have money in them. Hol-
man doesn't sit in the committee
rooms, but when any committee
tres to bore hole in the treasury
they are sure. to find Holman
around when the boring begins.