Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-03-19
nnR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Jun NAOnlhUiUh III iLh'
Written and compiled for .hc ll2EA'p.
Since the conflict began between
the president and the Senate, moth
ing but standing room can
be had in the Senate galleries
after one o'clock each day. Crowds
of people 60 away unable to OBJ
t,in an entrance, aud members OF
the lower House come over to the
Senate chamber aud fiji the space
IN the rear OF the desks Of the
Senators where chairs are placed
for them.
From every side praise is heard
of Senator EdmundS exposure Of
the indefensible attitude Of the
Administration, with regard to
furnishing papers. In opening the
discussion the Vermont Senator
occupied the floor for about two
hours and a quarter. The most
earnest attention was paid him
throughout the entire time, and
while he interlarded the dry facts
of his unanswerable argument with
occasional witty thrusts, witheripg
sarcasm, and incisive irony, it was
delivered in good temper and with
out a trace Of acrimony.
Several times he played in q
happy manner upon "inocuous
desuetude" that now celebrated
phrase of the Presidents recent
message. Abiding to the message
as the complementary minority
report" he said the President has
stated, with a fullness OF rhetoric
which was as charming as it was
unique, that these statutes OF the
United States relating to official
papers, and practices under them,
had now for many years fallen into
a state of "inocuous desuetude.'
Mr.. Edmunds stammered over this
| nhrase with well acted hesitation,
| and finally succeeded in enunciat-
ing it. He thought it was the
Presidents duty to take statute
out of disuse If he might use a
shorter and humber phrase) and
mt it into faithful execution.
Mr.. Edmund's elaborate tribute
TO Allen G.. Thurman, created quite
a stir in the galleries. He was
speaking of the Democratic men,
beers Of the judiciary Committee,
at the time of ex-senator Thur
mans craftsmanship, as the great
headlights upon the locomotive Of
the Democratic party. They were
Thurman of Ohio, Mcdonald of
Indiana, Bayard of Delaware,
Lamar Of Mississippi, Garland of
Arkansas, and Judge Davis of
Illinois. He remarked that Thur
mans headlight was at present
extinguished, "the best, the wisest
the greatest of all the Democrats
added he; "and he is, too, the
braveSt." Pausing a moment, he
continued, 81 say the bravest be-
cause he has not hesitated to
denounce the recent notorious
frauds of his own party in his own
State"
If space permitted me | would
be tempted to spitomize the most
prominent points of Mr.. Ednunds
remarkable speech, although you
will doubtless have read il in full
ere this reaches You. SO far he
has been replied to only by Senator
Pugh of Ala, in rambling
pointless, illogical way. Senator
Wilson of Iowa, followed Mr.
Edmunds and Senators ingalls,
and Eyarts, did the same. On the
Democratic side, Senator Kenna Of
West Virginia, made the best argu-
ment. 1t was his first effort in the
Senate.
Mr.. Cleveland has done nothing
since his Inauguration that has
raised such a howl of indigna-
ton as the nomination of James
Matthews, a cOlOred lawyer Of
Albany, New York, to succeed
Frederick Douglass rs Recorder Of
Deeds in the District of Columbia.
The Democracy of the District are
unanimous in a sentiment of dis
gust that the President should
force upon them a stranger for the
best local Office IN his gift. They
have held meetings, adopted r0so-
lutions condemnirg his action and
the more they consider 1t the more
inappropriate the nomination islre-
garded.
In a sense the whole community
is interested III this Office. 1t is
where the records of tranGfers Of
property are kept and all actual
and intending property holders
must 20 there. For the proper
discharge of his duties, its incum-
bent should know the District
well. The emolument Of the posi-
ton is about $4,000 a year and
there are about twenty such Offices
at his disposal. Ex.President
Hayes appointed Frederick Doug
lass, the representative man Of his
race, TO this Office, and he has filled
it in a capable and satisfactory
manner up to this time. Mr.. Doug
lass had no idea of being retained
by the "reform" Administration,
! hnwever- and sent in his rcSipna-