The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-17
7 H E REP u B Lie.
WASH N GTON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING. OCTOBER II. 1915

The late EIeotions.-Th VIII OF the People.
The Opposition journals exaggerate the
adverse results OF the late elections, and
exult over them as if they were necessa-
rily to embarrass and annoy the National
administration. If the Executive govern
ment were bound to set of party mea-
sures; if they were bent upon carrying out
the doctrines of some special party plat
form; if they had factious schemes to &C
complish to advance factious interests
then, indeed, the opposition "to the bitter
end'' might have some reason to rejoice
over their supposed reverses. In that
case the results of even the local elections
might be watched with jealous interest.
The composition of the State Legislatures
would be matter of much moment to an
administration which looked to party ma
chinery, and resolutions of instruction,
manufactured as of old at the seat of gov
eminent, and distributed through the coun-
try, to force a reluctant Senate to yield to
the demands of an arrogant and all-power-
full Executive. If the Locofoco doctrine
of late years prevailed in the present Adj
ministration, and the idea were in vogue
that the President is every thing and the
people nothing; then the situation of a
President might be exceedingly awkward
A. Il
by liberal party majorities in the State
Legislatures as well as in Congress.
But President TAYLOR stands upon
ground where no such considerations can
affect him. He has no measures to force
upon reluctant Congress. He has no
need of any other majorities than those
which the people see fit to elect. In one
aspect, it is all-important that we should
have majority in the House of Repre-.
sentatives; and it is on this account that
we look with especial interest to the re-
suit of the approaching congressional cleo
tons in Mississippi and Louisiana. The
Locotocos have abused the power of APP
pointing the committees. Contrary to all
parliamentary precedents, they have app
pointed committees of investigation, with
three members friendly to inquiry and six
opposed to it, and in favor of suppressing
and sitting public abuses. If the Loco
focos should elect the speaker of the next
House, they will, no doubt, play the same
game. We shall then have every obstacle
and impeachment thrown in the way of the
exposure of abuses. We shall have ques-
tons voted down, and subpenas to wit
nesses refused-as they were in the case
of the Wise and PEYToN committees of
1886. This will embarrass the develop
ment of the abuses of the late administra-
ton. The hostile majorities would COM
bine with the Opposition press to deny
and defend the defalcations of MOORE,
Collins, and Denny, and to exclude
from the people the light that fair con-
gressional inquiry would throw on the
transactions of Mr.. OSBORNE and Mr..
Secretary MASON. We cite these cases
as examples merely. In this point of view,
and in this only, it is extremely desirable
and important that we should have reli-
able majority in the next House-for we
look forward to the exposure of abuses
committed under the late administration
that will parallel the Locofoco enormities
developed in the post office in 1884, in
the land Offices in 1886, and at later
period in the custom-houses of the coun-
try.
This is the secret of the exultation OF
the Opposition. They rejoice over what
they consider the probability of Locofoco
majority in the House, because they be-
lieve it will enable them, by means OF
packed committees, to cover up and sup
press investigation. They have no other
reason to exult over it, Their majority in
the Senate is sufficient to enable them &c
defeat any WING legislation-but ma.
jority in the House alone will enable them
to stiAe inquiry, and prevent or embarras:
the exposure of their gross and enormou:
abuses in every branch Of the public ser
vice. Should they obtain such major
ity, the WHIGs will have no available
means Of communicating with the people
except through the channel Of the press
The majority reports of exculpation vii
be scattered broadcast through the land
and the minority reports will be sthed il
the House. Much as we should regre
such result, we cannot but see that
would add materially to the importanc,
and interest of the WIG press-fo
through that medium alone would tn
friends of the Administration then be abb
TO speak to the people.
The composition of the House, then, i
all-important so far as II affects the mean