Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-01-24
our WASHINGTON LETrge.
tFrora Our Regular Correspondent,

tfrona Our Regular Correspondent.)
During the past week the debates
and acts OF Congress have touched
q variety of subjects. The French
spoliation bill, which was first
brought up eighty-three. years ago,
has passed both houses; and
the Nicarauguan bill, which opens
up the widest and gravest possibili-
ties, has been debated. jefferson
Davis and Tecumseth. Sherman
have both revisited the glinpses OF
the moon, and the Senate has voted
to restore Ulysses s. Grant to his
rank in the army. There was con-
siderable surprise expressed at the
fact that Democratic Senators voted
with the Republicans to restore
Gen. Grant, but more, surprise will
be expressed if the Democratic
House shall allow the bill to be-
come law. e,,...as
Human idolatry never reached u
more beastly depth than in its wor-
ship OF Grant. The country does
not owe as much to him as it does
to hundreds of others. But because
he has lost his i'll gotten fortune
through stupidity and fraud. and
his wonderful health through pro-
ionged dissipation, the Senate,
portion of the press, and a heard of
miliionaires dissolve in maudlin
pity over an example of spurious
greatness to which history furnishes
no parallel. g
There are decided objections
against restoring Gen. Grant to his
rank in the army. The last time
he held power as president of the
United States, he used ii to disperse
Southern legislatures and to over
awe opposition to the fraudulent
seizure of the presidency by the
conspirators of 1879. The Edmunds
bill proposes to place him only on
the retired list of generals, but the
Supreme Court has decided that the
retired list is as fully part OF the
Army rs the active list, and that
the former may at any time be call
ed into service. ass
Suppose there should be another
disputed election. as in 1876, or like
that which occurred only last
November. How easy and how
natural chad another than Arthur
been in the White House) would it
have been for Blaine TO summon
Grant, as senior general, to assume
command. And with his name
and prestige, and the fanaticism OF
his idolators, the crime and shame
OF 1876 might have been repeated.
History never repeats itself, but
folly and crime are perpetual.
These dangers may be treated as
| trivialties, since they are not immi-
nent, but it will be the part of folly
to make them even remotely posi-
BILE by placing Grant again in the
army.
There is disposition on the
Democratic side here in both houses
to do nothing at this short session
except pass the appropriation bills.
The remaining days of the session
are so few and the appropriation
bills still to be considered are so
many that this postponment to
another Congress of all legislation
will be easy to accomplish. a
tits not among the impossible
ties that there may be an extra sess-
ion, and, for number of reasons,
it need not be deprecated. AS 1t is
now, more than a year commonly
intervenes between the election of
Congressman and the beginning of
their duties. This fact has fire.
quently been commented upon as
opposed to the spirit of our laws,
and Objectionable. The election
and the service should be brought
nearer together, either by spring
elections, or spring-sessions. There
is certainly no reason why of two
men elected TO coordinate public
trusts at the same time, one should
enter upon Office on the fourth of
March and the other on the first
Monday of the following December.
But apart from the abstract ques-
tions involved; it will scarcely be
disputed by those at all familiar
with the work now thrust upon
Congress, that it, or,iin ny sessions
are OF inadequate length to enable
ii to cope with its legitimate bust
ness. 1t iStrue that much time is
now wasted, and that more would
be if the sessions were longer, but
that does not argue that Congress
should not give itself Il fair chance
to do its work.
The Presidents social duties have
kept him busy during the past week
and are likely to employ his even
ings for some time to come. He
has Abandoned all idea of visiting
the New Orleans Exposition in an
official capacity and has so informed
the board of managers. He expects
however, to make a short visit to
the Exposition after the 4th of
March, and then, of course, he will
go as a private citizen. He had
hoped to attend the Exposition
during the month of February, and |
had consequently RETAINED from
extending his engagements into |
that month. -
Washington, Jan. 10, 1855.
Whether we agree with Mr..
Beecher or not, only few men can
speak or write on any subject OF