Our Washington Letter

Washington, Feb. 27, 187C. ïhe topic of universal interest at this metropolis during the past week has been the trial of Gen. Babcock at Kt. Louis. It has been talked about day and night, from the Exeentive Mansion down to the basement gin-millB. I presumo there has been a general interrst in it all over the country, but I doubt whether a stranger to Washington wonld appreciato the all-absorbing nature of the matter here. You see Gen. Babcock has been not only the Private Secretary of the President, but has stood in close intimacy with him socially and politicíilly. Not only tíiat, but Babcock and "Boss" Shepherd have long been on terms of intímate friendship - frequenters of the samo club, moving in the same "society" circles, by common rumor members of the same associatiouH for speculation. So both on general account and for local reasons the people of Washington could not help feeling the liveliest interest in the St. Louis trial. That Babcock has many warm friends here no one will deny, but that tho general soutiment has been heavily against him from the beginning is equally trae. And I bclieve it would largely preponderate against any ono known to have been the intímate friend and assoeiate of "the Boss," who, in spite of his great wealtli, is the most odious man who ever stepped within the limits oí Washington. GREAT RAID ON 11BISTOW. But tliis is not all. One of tho most formidable political intrigues which have ever been concocted at this head-center of intrigues resulted from tho Babcook trial. Or rather that trial was the occasion of it. I refer to tho determined assault which was made on Secretary Bristow, and which is still going on while I write. It is known to all men that the attack of the Treasury Department on that numerous, wealthy, formidable and most corrupt combination known as "tho whisky riug " has simply been tremeuious "allalong the lines." Many men af influence ia politics, niany men of that standing in society which groat riclies and diamond breastpins give, many sworn officials of the Government were found to be guilty of the grosscst crimes against the revenue laws, and of eoiiduct utterly denioralizing to all bonesty in business and in politics. It was impossible that the Secretery should deliver so heavy an assault and maintain the fight with snch persistent vigor and unfaltcring pluck, without raising up ngainst him a powerful opposition. Tuis opposition oulminated on tho occasion of the Babcock trial. All the friends of men in the whisky ring, all the toadies of power - and they are numerous in every party - even not a few of the champions of certain aspirants for the Presidency united, or seemed to uuite, in an attack upou Bristow. They asserted that the proseoution of Babcock was an attack upon the President, and day in and day out they have used all sorts of influence to get up " bad blood " between the President and the Secretary of the Treasury. As Gen. Grant is known to be especially strong and adhesivo in his friendships these men undoubtedly made considerable impression upon his mind. And the great question of to-dayis "Will Bristow go out?" This is the comnndruni everybody at Washington is asking, while ' ' waiting for the verdict. " Meanwhile I beg leave to remark that, whatever may be the truth as to Gen. Babcock, if these unconscionable intriguers shall succeed by any means in driviug the brave and honest Secretary of the Treasury fx'om the Oabinet, the fact will be nothing less tlian appalling to all men of all parties who demand honesty in politica and in government. And I can say this with the more emphasis and appropriateness because I caro no more for Bristow's politieal aspiraüons, if he has any, iban I care for last month's moonshine. THE WORK OP CONGJVESS. The actual accomplishments of Congrega have not been much during the past week,'though either hoiiso has made considerable progress in the work bef ore ifc. The most important measure pasaed by the House was the bill of the Judiciary Committeo reorganizing the United States Oourts, by constituting an Intermedíate Court of Appeals, between the District Circuit Courte as tlwy now exist and the Supreme Court. This Interinediate Court will be composed of tho District Judge, the Circuit Judge and one of the Jiulges of the Supreme Court, and will have appellate and liiial jurisdiction in certain cases which are now taken by appeal or writ of error to the Supreme Court. The object of the bill is to relieve the Snprerne Coiirt of the trial of many cases of a comparatively unimportant nature. The docket of that court is now greatly overburdened. It is very far behind, and is gettingfarther behind all the time notwitlistending the great and constant labors of the coart. If the bill becomns law it will accomplish the object intended, facilitato tho administration of justice, and causo no atlditional expendituro. It is regarded as a wise measure aud of very considerable valué to the public. I believo that Mr. McCrary, of Iowa, is the author of the bill, but it had the hearty approval of the whole Judic'ary Committeo MKA8UBES OF FINAUCE. The majority party of tho House has had several caacuses at which the curreney question has been discussed, but without, as yet, any deflnito conclusión. Indeed, it has been statod, and I think with trntli, that several geutiomen mil not be bound by a caucus resolution on this subject. The truth ie, there is such a variety of opinión upan the subject of finance and especially upon the currency among our public men, whether of one party or another, tbat I greatly doubt whether tho Congress at this session wij 1 accomplish anything whatover. I do not look for actual legislatkm herein till ufter the President-makicg business is accomplished. Meanwhile we havo speeches on the subject till one can't rest, and no end of bilis. If things should keep on at present rate a few raonths our currency "bilis" would be nearly os numerous as our bank billa and our greenbacks, and they would be infinitely more varied in char;ctor. I do not think uiything practical will como out of all this chaos for some time. It dow looks very muoh as though Congress would go home leiiving this question in sta u quo ante bellum. I think the representativo men of both partios beliuvo this is the best eourse, or rather tho safest course, for party purposep. If I am right lieroin, the whole Rubject will be loft severely alone so far as the Rtatute-book is concemed. L. M. N. P. S. - The verdict of acquittal in ( irneral Babcock's case is reeeived herowith divklod opinions. Some most he.-.rtily rejoice over it as a complete vindieation. One newspaper pays, " enthusiastic men on the utreets were nominating liim for the Presidency, and bctting lifty to one on his election. " They must have boen very " enthnsiastic. " Others there are who rojoieo at the verdict, but think the escape vas a narrow one, and tliat Babcock ought to bo severely on bis good Ixlinviov, f rom tliis timo forth. Thefo think that the General's heart must b taken for fianted as :il! right, but that he had a wcak head. The dupe of Kuch men ts Joyce and McDonald, they say, ought to come down end out from a position of large political fluence. The latter class of persons is greatly tho more numerous, but the former is the moro noisy and enthufiastio." ■