The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-01-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
TIE HALLS OF CONGRESS A DE
SERTED PLACE AND WASH
INGTON AT PEACE.
A Story ON Congressman Culbcrson in
Which an Anti-Abolition Judge Took
Il Leading Role With Great Sue
cess and Culberson Gained
His Case.

Washington. Dec. 25.-(Special cores
pondence. This being Christmas weel,
the halls of congress wear an air of de-
ISOLATION and loneliness. The large ma
Jorlty OF the senators and representa-
tlves have repaired to their respective
homes there to enjoy the good cheer and
tor the time being lay aside all of the
Weighty cares of state. At one time il
looked very much as though there would
De no recess and consequent let up in the
regular routine; all on account of the on
position OF one or two senator's who by
smooth manipulation of the cumbersome
yet sometimes very effective rules of that
Douy, come very near making the SeS-
sion Il continuous one. About the only
members of congress now 10 be found in
Washington are those who are so for
tunate i'll the possession of this worlds
goods as to be able to bring their entire
lamiles mere Tor the winter, or else they
belong TO the far Western or Southern
| class of members to- go to whose homes
would take up nearly all the recess with
out taking into consideration the expense
such Il trip would entail. 1t is Just now
that the full force of Il modification of
the Biblical prOphesy as to the first being
last and vice versa is felt At the
present time those members whose
homes are close by the capitol are erioy-
ing the comforts of their own firesides.
while those who reside at Il distance are
| making the best of boarding house hash
| and hotel soup. How different il is
when the mills of congress are running
| full blast. especially Just after Il change
i'll administration. Then it is that the
nearby member is almost Swamped and
| distracted in the mad rush of cOnstitu-
ents in quest Of Office. their proximity to
| Washington making it possible for them
to hang about constantly and drop in
frequently. Truly is life burden to
such members. On the other hand how
different is the experience of the far
Western and Southern members. Sepa-
rated as he is by thousands of miles from
his district it is mainly through the mails
that he can be importuned. Then is the
time he thinks he is receiving his reward
A STORY ON CULBERSON.
The Washington Post prints the follow.
ing excellent story on Congressman Cul.
berson, which also throws some light on
the early legal history of Texas:
In 1860, Just after Lincoln had beer
elected president" said an old friend OF
Judge Eulberson the other day, "therC
was a neighborhood quarrel between two
citizens i'll Upshur county, Texas. The
Southern question was at fever heat. an(
the feeling was very strong Oh both sides
l
lanXiOus 10 get the verdict. The defendan
went to Jefferson and engaged Culberson
who was then rising to distinction as ;
bright lawyer. Dawes client didn't have
Iany case. the evidence being all agains
him; but true to his trust, as he always
is, CulberSon determined to make the bes
fight he could for him. When the tria
came off, it turned out that the other fel
low had employed a smart young saddle
bag lawy n from Maryland, who had jus
located ~ JeAas.
"Culberson had the opening speech. ant
made a good defense for his client unde
the circumstances. When the Maryland
er replied in behalf of his client, he pro
duccd n vast array of authorities, from
which he read in support of his case
lWhen the young man closed Culbersol
lpicked up one of the books, from whicl
the opposing counsel had been reading t,
the court, and said:
"'If youh honor please, this youn;
brother of the profession has been readin,
for your instruction Massachusetts law
This book is printed in Boston. It i
Greenleaf on Evidence. We don't wan
Massachusetts law to govern us in Texas
have been giving you genuine TeNa
law. made by our own people,
whats that? asked the judge sharp
ly, been imposing on the court with Yam
kcc law
eyes, sir, your honor said Culberson
he has been reading from this book, whicl
was printed in Boston, Mass
"'Pass it over this way said the sur
prised court, looking at the fly leaf intent
ly. Then he said:
"'Mr. Culberson. The court finds tha
you are correct. 1t is Boston print, am
we don't want any of it here. No aboli
ton law for UpShur county, and the cOur