Year: 1876




WASHINGTON, D. c., July 80, 1876


What with the sill YER legal tender excite
ment, the Bluford Wilson sensation, the
Robeson investigation business, the hot
blood generated by the hopeless condition
of appropriation billie. and the Platt-Goode
contested election case, Congress has pre-
sented unusually attractive bills, and we,
the people, have been coIrsspondinglg edi-
fed since my last letter. Relative to the
first, there appears to be a general demand
that Mr.. Bristow come to the front and
clear up what has become matter of alb
sorbing public interest through the vague
hints and the insinuations that have from
time to time been thrown out by him or his
friends. Should he still refuse to enlighten
the public, Notwithstanding tho Presidents
letter releasing him from all obligations of
secrecy, the verdict will be against him,
judging from the temper displayed here;
and if Mr.. Wilson thought to establish his
character as "reformer," having q super
abundance of gratitude toward tha patron
who lifted him from obscurity to some
prominence as government official, he has
signally failed, judging from the same point
of observation. The impression has been
growing for some time that the President
has been designedly and persistantly mis-
represented and wounded without cause,
and there is dsposit ton manifested by
leading Republicans to continue investigs-
tions until every one concerned shall have
been made to occupy their true position.


Our Democratic reformers are ust little
restless and uneasy lest their malignantly
partisan course toward Secretary Robeson
should react upon their own party. The
action of the majority of the Naval Com
mittee during the seven months of investi-
CATION has been pretty thoroughly ventilat-
ed within the past week in the House, and
the vile instruments by which they sought
to drag down faithful and efficient public
officer have become known to the reading
public. Disreputable women, blackmailers,
gamblers, employees discharged for cause.
and criminals, who only testified after they
were promised immunity for past crimes.
all figure conspicuously among the means
used. And it is by the mouths of such wit
nesses that they have labored all the
winter, spring, and part of the summer to
blacken the reputation of Mr.. Robson.
The rights of the minority of the committee
have been pointedly ignored; and every
witness who testified against the Secretary
was discharged without an opportunity on
the part of the accused to cross examine
them. Upon such ex-parte statements
from witnesses who would have been
rejected in court of justice, this majority
has come before the House with its
reports, reciting numerous crimes and mis-
demeanors which they believe the Secre-
tary guilty of; and then, evading the duty
incumbent on them, they attempt to escape
further responsibility by referring the evil
odum should come from an attempt at i'm
parchment may not fall upon tie authers
of this slanderous report.


The action of the majority of the House
in confirming Goodies right to the seat
held by fraud and usurpation is not whit
less infamous. In justice it must be said
that portion Of the Democrats proved by
their votes that justice and honor were
higher considerations with them than party
advantage. Two of them on the commit
tee that investigated the case voted with
their Republican associates in favor of Civ.
ing the seat to Mr.. Platt, to which he was
clearly entitled: but the recommendations
of q majority were ignored on the final
vote. These are the patriots who fill the
country with their doleful lamentations
and pathetic groans at it's undone condition
because of Radical misrule and partisan
ship.


A feeling Of hopelessness relative to the
appropriation bills has taken the place Of
the bright anticipations OF an immediate
compromise and adjournment. No pro
gress has been made during the week past
and at the last report of disagreement,
upon the consular and diplomatic bill, in
the Senate, it was suggested that no fur
ther effort be made. A new committee was
| however, appointed after a warm discus
sion. The Senate committee proposed tc
| acquiesce in the reduced salaries if the
House would recede from it's proposed new
| legislation; but these Confederate gentle
men declined.


| Amid all tie discussion that has beeI
provoked upon the proposition to restore
the legal tender feature of silver, it hat
been made apparent that large majority
| of people, usually well informed. know
nothing about the act Of 1873 annuling the
legal tender feature of silver. Should al
opportunity occur to bring up BANDS bill
for vote it is believed that it would pass
both House and Senate, after having beel


amended and shorn of it's Objectionable


features. There has been Quite revolution
in the minds of those in as we'll as those on


of Congress. 1t has at last been decided i,
| Democratic caucus to instruct the Commit


tee on Banking and Currency to report


bill repeating the clause of the resumption


act which fixes the date for resumption


But much doubt is expressed whether eve


this will move this obdurate committee t


action.


Senator Logan has made repeated al


tempts to call up the equalization bount


bill. without success; but his we'll know


perseverance may accomplish it before &C
journment is reached.


The river and harbor bill has been sen


back to the committee by the Senate, wit


instructions to cut down the appropriation