The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-11-19
CUR uARRlsRuRG LETTER.


--s~-
The senate N rie-rhe USntroI OF the ssnnte
Depending UPon the Hesuit ia Watt's District
--Oamcrcn AbsHt TO Aoandau hackev-uc
AosIes for Ex-Se0otOr DOieRaa -Tae Deeliue
Of Cnmeron's Fewer.
FpOTa our Oten Go -respondsnt.
BARRisBURG Nov Is, lS79.-The death OF s IN ltor
Watt materially ida 20 the complications VITA
which we are threatened on the meeting Of tue
Legislature. The Senate nov stands l6 Republicans,
10 Democrats, and one vacancy. Under the Oon-
sttuton and laws, the Speaker Of the Senate s re-
qured TO issue his writ for a special cleo
tion TO supply a Senator in place OF Mr.. Watt.
The law Is not imperative as TO the time
the writ shall issue. IL simply provides
that he shdu issue the writ; that there shall
be afteen days notice. that the Sheriff must make
proclamation ten days before the election, and that
no writ shall be issued to I'll vacancy unless the
returns can be received before the adjournment OF
the session Beyond these mandatory directions OF
the law, the Speaker Of the Senate is left to his
discretion Some forty Eve days must elapse be-
tween the time OF the death OF Senator Watt aud
the meeting Of the Legislature, and Speaker White
win doubtless issue his writ at once, that the va
cancy will be filled before the first Tuesday OF anu
ary and have the Senate full for the organization.
The special election will call out the best energies
Of both parties The district gave some 500 ma
jority TO the Republican candidate for Sheriff at the
late election but that majority is not reliable one,
especially in mere local contest. The two parties
win start the race with about even chances OF
success, and the issue viii be dependent, measur-
ably at least, upon the relative strength OF the
didates. As the political power of the Senate viii
depend upon the special election both parties will
make exhausting efforts to win. Should the Demo-
Gratis succeed they would secure the control OF the
Senate for two years, as no political changes
probable in the list of Senators who will
retire at the end of the next session.
The air has been thick with rUmors for week
past Of all sorts of political combinations aiming
disoTganizaton in the Legislature. do not ere lit
the intimation that there will be disihection in the
organization of the Senate. II the Republicans hold
Watts district, Speaker White add the other Re-
publican officers will be eleced but 1t is settled
fact that the power Of the Cameron corTuptionista
is broken, and they cannot rule the Legislature As
Nackey has been made the objective point OF che
better class OF Republicans who mean to overthrow
the Cameron ring, the Wiunebsgo Chief
Is evidently contemplating the sacrifice OF
Mackey to himself. His organ has
thrown out feeler in favor OF
ex-senator Coleman, of Lebanon, for State Trea
surer, and If the proposition is responded to favora
bly, Mackey Will be thrust aside unceremoniously
and Coleman will be offered to pull the ring chest
nuts out Of the fire. Coleman is mere creature oi
Cameron, without half Nackey's independence OF
ability, and as he is laboring under the deuslon that
Cameron will nominate him for Governor in 1872, he
will obey orders and run for Treasurer If the chie
Of the ring so decides. lie is wealthy and hospta
ble and is convenient friend. When Cameron
ptTbudueb 10 NlslJ HiIl, 10 keep up JUe
appearance Of reputable standing away from home
he has them dinei and elegantly enter.
tanned at Coleman's free OF cost
He thus takes the credit, and Coleman pays
the bills Should Coleman be made the candidate
much OF the positive strength of Mackey would be
lost, the caucus nomination would be doubtful, and
it is probable that anOtner $7000o would have to be
paid and promised TO receive nomination that
would not ensure an election. Altogether the clouds
are thickening around the Cameron plunderers, II
is the well-settled purpose of . compact body o.
Independent Reform Republicans to sweep the
Cameron ring out OF power, and it will b'
done. Considering that the Republican
majority on JOINT ballot is bu
eleven, and that there are four members OF the
House reelected who b0ted la3t year, it is easy tC
calculate how easily the success OF Cameron can bt
defeated The signal rebuke he received from the
people at the late election, the Presidents evident
dstrust of him, and the palpabe decline of his power
both in the State and with the administration, en-
bOlden honest men to grapple with him; and he will
be defeated in the Legislature, and the success o.
constitutional reform will heal the running sore O
inlamy with which he has botted the good name O.
Pennsylvania.