Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1885-08-10
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, august ,

Especial CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MoNlroR.l
Washington, august Sd.
But little is talked about in Wash
ington besides the hot weather and
the Grant obsequies. The political
campaign in Virginia is exciting
some attention but it is yet too early
in the engagement to rivet the inter-
est even of the professional politi-
clans of both parties, who crowd
Washington. 1t may be said that
the professional politicians as well
as the office seekers are much scarcer
in Washington than they have been
for some months past. First the
president turned a cold shoulder on
them, and now succession of hot
waves have made life in Washington
pretty hard living.
The white house has been closed
except to those who have business
appointments. Only routine work is
going on at the departments. On
next Friday the president and his
cabinet will leave for New York city
to attend the funeral of Gen. Grant,
unless something unexpected tran
spires he will not be seen in Wash
ington before the middle of Septem-
Der. His plans for seeking quiet
repose in the woods of Northern
New York have already been suffi-
GENTLY published. He evidently in
tends to come back fresh in the au-
tumn for the hard work that must
proceed the session of congress and
indeed, must continue while congress
is here.
1t is said that a joint resolution
has been prepared to be presented in
both house and senate, when con-
gress assemblies, declaring it to be
the wish of the nation, that the
body of General Grant be placed in
custody of the nation, and that it be
inferred at the capital in order that
national monument to his memory
may be erected over his remains. 1t
is believed that the Grant family will
be Influenced by such an expression
of the national will.
The idea is not to at once remove
the remains from Riverside Park,
but to allow them to remain there
until the completion of grand me-
mortal, which shall at the same time
commemorate the restoration of the
union.
The movers in this matter have a
bill which will follow the passage of
the resolution proposing the extern
sion of the main building of the cap
itol toward the east, and they pro-
pose to have tomb placed in it after
that of Napoleon in the Invalides.
Another idea is for grand national
yalhalla like Westminster Abbey to
be placed opposite the proposed ma
tional library, to the east of the cap
/
itol. 1t is certain that the idea of
bringing Grants remains to Wash
ington is fixed and will not be allow
ed quickly to die out.
Considerable difficulty was expert
enced in locating all who had been
selected by the president as pail
bearers, and General Joseph E.
Johnston, at present railroad COM
missioner of the interior department,
was not communicated with until last
Friday night, when it was learned
that he was at Portland. Oregon. He
at once started East, and will be at
New York in. time. incidentally it
was learned at the white house, that
General Grant had high regard for
General Johnston, and always re-
ferred to him as one of the leading
minds of the confederates. 1t was
upon the receipt of this information
that the president selected General
Johnston to be one of Grants pail
bearers.
Nearly all the oolored servants who
were in the white honse when Gen.
Grant was president will attend the
funeral ceremonies at New York.
the president having given them per-
mission to do so. Inasmuch as the
holses attached to the hearse will bt
led and not driven, Albert Haw,
kins the presidents coachman, al
though he will be in attendance, will
not drive the hearse as lie expressed
a desire to do.