The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-02-07
NOTES FROM WASHINGTON.
The HGississippi River COnvention-An
Interesting Body-WhO Shall be BEae-
keys successor The Presidential Nom~
Sx.aasa,,

The Mississippi River COuvention-An
Interesting Rody-WhO Shall be Mae-
keys successor The Presidential Nom-
iAaIiOn.
Especial Correspondence Of the Press.1
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.
The Mississippi river convention in session
here is very interesting body, and is likely TO
accomplish some good work. The earnest in-
telligent business like manner In which the
members Of the convention take hold of their
work and with which they look at and discuss
the subject gives promise OF most successful
convention. 81 think the convention will do
US much good" said Gen. King Of Louisiana
in speaking of it and the class of men Of which
it is composed. "This Congress is think in
clined to treat the Mississippi fairly, bat
have been very anxious to see the convention
meet for the effect it would have in showing
10 Congress The strong feeling there is all over
the Mississippi valley for the continuation of
the work as begun there by the Mississippi
River Commission. There are few people who
understand how much the experimental work
by the Commission has accomplished, and
how thoroughly it commends itself. Along
The reaches where the work has progressed far
enough TO show its effect, the water has more
than doubled in depth, nearly trebled in fact.
am satisfied that the Commissions work 10
what the Mississippi needs and what it must
what a great water way ought to 30 in increaS
ing and regulating commerce. The effect OF
the Mississippi in regulating transportation
rates In the past few years, since the mouth
mas been opened and It's value shown, has been
very great"
The convention, which is meeting at Lin
coln Hall, is proving all that its projectors
promised in the character of the delegates.
They represent the best business element of
the Mississippi Valley. They are sober, think
ing business men, who appreciate what mil
liens Of dollars mean, aud that they should
not be flung away lightly simply because they
belong to the government. whst they may
sfy, in person and by action Of the convention
itself, to Congress, will 30 respectfully heard
and will have its weight.
MAcKEY's SUCCESSOR.
Richardson, the colored man who contested
the seat OF Lee from South Carolina in the last
Congress, and whose case was under considers
ion by the House when its session ended, In
here feeling the pulse of the leaders to see IL he
can be Mackey's successor. He has not yet
made up his mind what he ought to do. He
sss there are plenty of candidates in the dis.
trict, ous not one OF them white. 1t is a curi-
GUS Tact that Mackey was the only white man
III the district that could be elected TO Con-
gLess. Oncle Bob Smalls," Richardson, and
half dozsn others of color are anxious to sue
ceed Mackey
The fact is" said O'Hara of North Caro-
Una, talking OF Mackey and the wonderful
courage he had, "the fact is he forced these
south carolina Democrats to recognize him.
and they did it BY cutting him out a dis rict,
composed almost ent rely of colored voters, aud
letting him have his own way in it. Mackey
vas man OF wonderful nerve and force OF
character. No other man coal have compell-
i'm in fac oof
that bourbon Eatred that he did,"
IL IS curious to look back at e. o motley crew
mat heid possession of the governments of
South Carolina ten years ago, and see what
mas become OF them. Mackey is about the last
one TO dlsappesr from public view Ex-Treas-
nrer CardoZo and Swails once President of the
Senate, are comfortably esconsced in the treas-
ury here, seldom recognized and more seldom
mentioned in print. Ex-Governor Moses hay-
ing served out his term in the penitentiary for
petty tnie wing. is now in New Mexico. Patter-
sou Is seldom heard from. Ell lott who ia
counted as tne smartest colored man developed
oy the period, who was Congressman, Speaker
OF The House in the State Legislature, and
elected Attorney General is now picking upa
erscSrlous M living Ia New Orleans; the Control
mons tSa rs sescdddllng glue in Boston; Solo
bake shop in Kansas City; Governor Scsrt.-
since his murder trial, is ia bad health and
seldom appears on the surface; Chief Justice
wizard Is here almost unknown and unhaard
OF Cass Carpenter is reported "a wreck" in
Denver; White, once Justice Of the Supreme
Court OF the State, is spoken of as "a drunken
loaler In Beaufort; Bowen, who held Charles
ton in his grasp, and Gurney, it's county treas
urer, are both dead.
THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION..
Most of the people who come from the
South, here say that Arthur is the almost
unanimous choice of the Republicans there,
and that he will undoubtedly receive the sup.
port Of that section in the convention. "Itis
quite astonishing, however," said a prominent
Southern member of the House, ito see the
utter indifference with which the President
LOOKS upon the matter. 1 am convinced that
he is determined not to be a candidate for the
nomination unless he is sure that he is so uuan-
lmously by the choice of the party, that his
NOMINATION Will not create any facIional feel
ing. he Is snrewd enough to see that must
nave perfect harmony, and that to obtain that
The nomination must be the spontaneous de-
mand OF the party. II that feeling is followed
out in the convention, the nominee of the par
" VIII Dc eleetsd; If there is faclional strife,
he VIII not, that Is ALL"
There Is no doubt that Gen Logan is play
ing every card for all 1t is worth Il is rather
cruel, perhaps, TO 'g,ge it away" but the visit
oil the II lnois Press Association here is looked
upon as means OF booming Logan, Certainly
General and Mrs. Logan are taking great in
Ierest in their country cousins of the press
MRS. Logan WAS one OF a party that went out
hundred miles TO meet and escort them into
the city, aud the General has been very atten-
tive to them here.
The two Shermans are very formidable. Sem
ator Sherman has the confidence of business
men, while as to the General every body says,
mes queer, but his nomination would be
equivalent to an election"
Especial to the Bangor whig.l
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5.-The long-delayed
and much-heraded Morrison tariff bill, intro
duced into the House, Monday, and referred
10 the committee on ways and means has
proved d veIltaOle bombshel in the Democrat
'c camp. 1t strikes a vicious blow at nearly
every Important Industry in this country. and
II Morrison had been employed by the worst
enemies OF our productive and manufacturing
development, he could hardly have devised
more destructive and mischevous scheme. No
members are more astonished than some Of
Morrison's party friends, who thought that
Speaker Carlisls's speech was pledge against
any violent disturbance of business. The
OIL proposed slashe5 right and left and has al
ready raised storm OF protest all ever the
country. The people of Maine have special
reason t. appreciate the peculiar regard mani
tested by the Democratic leader for their in-
tsrest5 The bill not only cuts off 20 per cent.
OF the present duty on all cotton aud wooden
goods and on wool and lumber aud all wooden
ware, out IL places en- the free list timber,
hewn or sawed, wood. hay, potatoes, starch,
dextrine gum, substitute or British gum, bark
xtracts, grain, etc. The manufacturers and
farmers and other working people OF Msiue
VIII see how the Democracy propose to pro-
moSe their welfare by striking down every inn
poitaDt protective interest ia the State. Aroos-
took people will Particularly take notice Of
tue proposition to strip their hay crop aud
their potato and starch industries of all pro-