The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1883-05-24
Washington Sketches.
GLEANINGS FROM THE NOTE BOOKS AND SCKAI
BOOKS OF ESPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.'

MIXED MARRIAGE. SENATOR BROWNLOW'S
PERSONAL EXPLANATION. A PLEA FOR THE
CJBANS. GEORGIA IN THE SENATE. DEATH
OF SECRETARY STANTON. A DIsAGREEABLE
CHRISTMAS.
The President recommended in his message
the prompt admission of Virginia into the
Union, the state having complied with all the
requirements of the reconstruction laws in his
opinion. Gen. Butler thought otherwise, and
so Virginia had to wait. The case of Georgia
was also attracting attention. and Bullock the
carpet-bag Governor was in Washington en-
deavoring to SO manipulate matters as to obtain
supreme control of the State and secure his
election to the United States Senate. On the
10th j. Nelson Tiff, a Democratic Congressman
elect from Georgia, appeared before the Judici-
airy Committee of the Senate, in behalf o. his
fellow citizens, and charged Bullock (who was
present with being - thief, a liar Il coward
and traitor" These We're exciting times, re-
member. Senator Morton had introduced a
bill for the reconstruction of Georgia which
provided for re-seating the negroes in the Leg
stature who had been expelled by the Demo-
crats, and the ratifyipS Of the fifteenth amend
Union. Friends of Georgia favored accepting
these terms The extremists wanted the test
oath applied, and were determined to defeat
Morton's bill.
During discussion in the House on the 18th
on bill reported by Gen. Bu Ter from the ,Ju-
dietary Committee to remove disabilities from
certain Federal appOintees in the Southern
States, Messrs. Brooks and Cox of New York
objected to individual bills, and demanded that
the committee should fulfil their promise made
a year before to report bill removing all Cisa-
bllitles except in cases where indictments have
been found and judicial proceedings begun.
Butler replied by saying that ''there is more
JOY in Heaven over ore sinner that repents than
over ninety-nine just men made perfect" The
retort caused laughter all over the House and
in the galleries.
The faro banks in these days We're recognized
constitutions" of the National Capitol, and as
they We're much frequented by statesmen, the
newspaper correspondent was also not unfa-
mlllar With their interiors. Here is a descrp-
tion of the most noted of these resorts Rooms
ample and elegant, sumptuous even in their fit
tingS; gorgeous chandeliers. whose countless
burners turn night into day and reflect in costly
mirrors all the rich ad0rnments. Gems of art in
pictures and Statuary vie with the ornate Clecora-
tions of gilded cornice, frescoed walls, flowing
draperies and lithsome lace. Fanteuils of more
than Eastern luxury tempt to repose, or grace
ful ease. The football sinks deep and makes no
noise from the costly velvet pile. Furniture of
rare design and of exotic woods is drapcd with
the richest fabrics of Lyons looms. Servants
with attentive mien are waiting to comply with
the slightest behest. Tables, cleaning with sill
Yer plate and cut glass, laden with culinary del
icacies. Wines, rare and sparkling Guests
from every cline and section. in whose ranks
may be found representatives of all the profess
sons. Here may be met the learned advocate
fresh from the tribunal Of justice; the skilled
physician from the bedside Of the invalid the
son of Mars and the follower of Neptune; the
astute judge from the criminal bench the legis-
lator from the councils of the nation; the ltt~,r-
te9r; the diplomat freed from the care of ma
tional complications; the tinancier to forget the
worries Of iluctuating market. These form
the visitors to the residence of the goddess For
tune whose tickeness has never diminished her
army of adorers.
Civil service reform had its advocate at this
time. On the 7th Senator TrumbulI of Hin
ois introduced a bill to prevent Congressional
pressure for public office. 1t provided that
any member Of Congress who shall directly or
indirectly, solicit or recommend The appoint
ment TO office by the President or heads of De
partments, of any person in any of the ENecu-
tive Departments, except such recommends
tions be i'll writing in response to Il written re-
quest from the President or the head of a
Department asking information, or by a Scna-
tor in giving his advice and consent in the
manner provided in the constitution. shall be
guilty Of a mSdemeanor and ON conviction
thereof shall be fined not exceeding $1,000 for
each o1tnse. And it will not be lawful for the
President or mead of any Department to al-
point to office or to employ in his Department
any person who shall be hereafter directly or
indirectly recommended therefor bv any meui-
Der of Congress or Delegate from a Territory
except in the manner hereinbcfore excepted.
y theme for nine days gossip was the mar
riage of Mr.. Paul Girard, a French citizen. and
a brother-n-law Of the Portuguese Minister, to
Miss Wormley, an octoroon, daughter of
Normley the caterer, since proprietor of the
Washington hotel bearing his name The
French delegation did not recognize the mar
r!aSe, declaring it Illegal, a. certain require
ments of French law We're not complied with
by the groom.
In the Senate on the 14th Senator BrownloW
of Tennessee, better known as ''Parson Brown
loW,' who was then physically unable to deliv-
er speech had a long personal explanation
read from printed slips by the Secretary Ii
was very bitter in its terms and covered q good
deal of the political history of Tennessee
When Congressman Butler and Stokes (both OF
TENNESSEE We're denounced as ''liars." etc.
the reading was interrupted by the President
of the Senate, but it was Immediately resumed.
Brownow went on to say that he had been dv-
ing for a good many years, and although the
pace had been accelerated by his trials during
the war he expected 10 administer on his own
estate for good many years to come. At all
events. he should not commit suicide TO please
his enemies While the reading was in prog
ress he sat sunken down in his chair, with his
chin upon his breast and his left lee thrown
over his desk.
This was followed by speech from Senator
Carpenter in the interest of the Cubans. not
Withstanding the protest of Mr.. Sumner, who
said the Senate had no facts before il, and knew
nothing of the question except from news
paper reports Mr.. Carpenter protested against
the release of the Spanish gunboats then in
New York harbor, and claimed that the nell-
trality laws do not permit foreign nations to
fit out military or naval expeditions against any
nations with which we are at peace. His
speech was Cuban all through and had the un-
Interrupted attention of the Senate and CALLER
les during its delivery. Quite number of Gu
bans were in the galleries and were close listen
ers; but there We're no members of the Spanish
Legation in the Diplomatic gallery.
Dec. 7th Mr.. Morton called up in the Senate
his bill for the reconstruction of Georgia, which
he proposed to amend by providing that the
Legislature ''shall be provisional until it has
ratified the 14th and 18th amendments" Mr..
Carpenter opposed the amendment as perni-
cious and unnecessary. The bill went over