Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-09
The Conspiracy Of MIR, Etherldse.

the bouse held a caucus this evening, aud
Mr.. Colfax of Indiana was nominated for
speaker by reclamation. Among those pres
ent in the caucus we're Messrs. Anderson and
Smith of Kentucky, Loan, McClurg, Boyd,
and Blow of Missouri, Blair, Brown, and
Whalcy of West Virginia, Thomas Cress-
ell and Davis of Maryland, and Mr. Smith
ers, the newly elected member from Della
ware. Twelve of the Pennsylvania members
were with us. The attendance at this caucus
gives positive assurance of l02 votes for Mr..
Colfax, which is about twenty majority of the
whole number Of members entitled to vote for
speaker lie will undoubtedly receive one or
two more votes than 1 have counted for him;
and there is no likelihood that the 81 or So
votes that may be cast against him will be
united on one candidate, for a portion OF the
Kentucky members, and, probably, few 9TH
ers, will vote by themselves for a third can
didate."
1t is likely that you are now receiving by
telegraph some accounts of our caucus, and
that most OF what am telling you will be
''old news" when this letter reaches Worccs-
ter. The republican caucus made no nonna-
tons for the other offices of the house, it being
their purpose to secure the election of
speaker before attempting anything clse,--
and there being also a prospect of serious
trouble with Mr.. Etheridge, the clerk of the
last house, before the organization is effected
told you there were reports that Etheridge
had conspired with the copperheads to deprive
the republicans of the organization. 1t now
appears that these reports told the truth.
Etheridge has for some time been in commu-
nication with the copperheads; and it is al
legged that copperhead council was held IN
Philadelphia some time since, at which sueha
conspiracy was initiated, and that Etheridge
was present at this council, or at any rate in
close and confidential communication " it'll it.
1t appears now that a plan was organized.
AT any rate, this afternoon, when it was too
late for the members to send home for new
certificates, it was for the first time announced
by Etheridge that the members from Ma.sa-
chusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and
several other republican states, had presented
unsatisfactory certificates, and could not be
enrolled 1t was impossible, tonight, to OBJ
tain an exact statement of the number o be
excluded; but it is known that thirty or forty
republicans are refused enrolment, and only
such opposition members as were necessarily
excluded in throwing out the credentials from
certain republican states, to wit tone in
New Hampshire, one in Connecticut, and 50
on.
The first notice oftbis vllanous operation,
received by those concerned, came to some
of them between two and three o'clock this
afternoon, but TO most OF them not until eve
ming when the caucus assembled. About two
M, Mr.. Boutwell, of Massachusetts pre-
sented his certificate to Etherdge, and was
refused enrolment, on the ground that it was
not satisfactory. In terms it was precisely
like certificate presented on Wednesday by
the representative from your district, and re-
ceived by the clerk and filed call right"
But now, when Mr.. Boutwell, appeared, and
when IL was toe late to get new certificates
from Massachusetts before Monday noon, it
was suddenly announced that none of the
Massachusetts certificates would be accepted.
But Etheridge has not played this part of the
game with all the sharpness necessary to win.
Some Of us have been here most of the week,
observing, drawing differences, and writing
letters; and tonight senator Sumner reach
ed Washington with ner certificates for all
the Massachusetts members. The whole del
egation will visit Etheridge at nine O'Clock,
Monday morning.
But Etheridge may keep himself hidden
from us until after II o'clock New certf-
Gates for the Connecticut members arrived to-
day. but Etheridge could not be found after
o'clock P. NJ. At that hour he was told by
Mr.. Demlng that new papers from Connecti-
cut would Immediately be presented where
upon he disappeared. A hunt for him was
organized at once, and continued until night,
but Etheridge could not be found. Perhaps
the Massachusetts members will fail to find
him, on Monday forenoon. But we will have
our places in the house. Provision has been
made for all possible emergencies; and there
is very pooitiYe determination to defeat this
infamous conspiracy. II Etheridge persists
in attempting to carry it out, he may find
himself properly taken care of by some legal
process. He has no right to preside at the
organization of the house. There is no law
authorizing him to do so. His duty under
the law is discharged, when he has made up
the roll, and reported it to the house The
law does not oblge the house to use his roll
without amendment, nor to accept him as pre-
siding officer. But the telegraph will report
to you the proceedings in the house, on Mon
day, before this can be printed l will mere
ly add that an ''interesting" time is now an.
ticipated.
Etheridge's allegation in-regard to the re-
jected certificates is, that they do not conform
to the letter Of the law. 1t seems that his
construction condemned all, or nearly all, the
certificates that have been presented; it is
noteworthy, however, that all the democratic
delegations are provided with new certificates,
while republican delegations have not been
allowed to know that additional certificates
would be required. Clearly, Etheridge, as
clerk, has no right to interfere with certif-
Gates that come from the proper authority,
are correctly signed, and show that the men,
beers are duly elected Pint he. sssumas .