The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-10
He Takes q Lesson from the
Great Smiler.
History Of RentOn's Antictam Letter and
How It Slaughtered Him.

postpone the business In order to nave the cnair-
i, manshlps to trade upon this summer" II 81
This the feeling the privately expressed feeling
OF nearly all the members OF the Fortysecond Con-
gress; but no one cares to express II openly, for
fear, as has already been stated, that Mr.. Blaine
may remember to forget to give them desirable
places on committees. All are opposed to Baine's
course, but no considerable number dare lead on
In effort TO get resolution through directing the
Speaker TO complete the organization OF the House
! BY the appointments Of the committees
ONLY ONCE BEFORE.
This plan Of keeping the House chairmansBps to
trade upon during the summer previous to Prest-
Dental nomination and election has never been
tried but once before. Indeed, with three excep-
tons, the pracrce since the foundation OF the gov
eminent has been to select the committees at the
commencement OF the first session Of each Congress-
Immediately after the election OF Speaker Clerk and
other officers.
The organization OF the Senate Is complete, COM
mirtees all appointed az the law Directs and there
Is no good reason why the Speaker should violate
the rules and law OF Congress BY keeping the House
longer in ils present disorganized condition
INTERESTING PIECE OF HISTORY.
On the 4th OF March, 1851, Mr.. Coafax was elected
Speaker OF the House Of the Forteth Congress, but
he did not appoint the committees until the Decem-
Der following. This was the first instance where q
summer previous to q Presidential election. What
trades were made upon them will appear hereafter.
Some time after Mr.. Cofax had appointed the
committees the Secretary OF the Industrial High
Tariff Lea.uen issued confidential circular to the
members OF the Leagues Executive Committee, in
which he claimed or rather boosted. OF having
largely Influenced the selection OF the House COM
mittecs OF the Fortieth Congress.
The h0cus pocus that had been at work was
clearly manifest In the selection OF the members
and cnarmen Of the most important committees.
An Oficer OF the Industrial League" o new men,
Der, was made chairman Of On important committee
the first instance on record Other members Of that
clique were placed on all the important committees;
while oil prominent members who we're certain to
be candidates for either President Vice President
were placed low down ON the most obscure COM
mittees.
The clique thus accommodated worked, with all
It's affiliated interests like beavers previous to and
during the Chicago Convention to make Mr.. Colfax
President, II possible, or, at least, Vice President
The most prominent man OF the ring was known to
declare that che was in favor Of Cofax and Grant,
| in the order named''-Colrax for President and
! Grant for Vice Presiient-but he supposed 'Shat
the Convention would give General Grant The nrst
! position"
| indeed every man OF them worked for C0liax
! with WILL and the committees were accordingly
! arranged Just about as the monopOlists wanted.
| High tariff, railway subsidy and national bank
managers held high carnival, and az q matter OF
course Mr.. Colfax was nominated-not to the posi-
ton desired, Dus to the best that could be got ct
that time.
In fact, the object In appointing committees
seemed to be three fold. First Jobbing In general;
second to Kill on Presidential aspirants In Congress-
and third TO nominate Mr.. C0lfax.
The clique went even further. Its managers de-
clared war also upon all republican candidates out
sLIUoHrERED GOVERNOR rENroN
with the famous, or rather Infamous, Covode Antie
tam letter, very pathetic AFFAIR, charging the un.
suspectng Governor with terrible dsloyalty 10 radt
cal repubcanism. 1t was published over the
organ OF Boston, and was intended exclusively to
influence the ultra radical element OF that city ana
The inside history OF that remarkable letter and
the circumstances OF It's production have never been
Shortly alter the close OF the rebellion the Mary.
land Legislature Incorporated the Anteiam Gene
terry Association and presented 1t with suitable
tract OF land. BY the act OF incorporation any State
could become member OF the ASSOCIATION aud part
proprietor OF the land by merely asserting to the
| fitting up the grounds. Provision was made for
| giving decent Christian burial to all who fell In
No provision was made for rendering special
honors to the dead OF either side The states JOIN
ing the ASSOCIATION simply provided decent Chris
and associations formed for the purpose the duty OF
! paying special honors, decorating the graves, &c.
| In compliance with this arrangement the New YORK
states share OF the expenses.
In his letter Transmitting the appropriation to the
| Anuetam Association Governor Fenton took occa-
sion TO approve the provision OF the charter that
| Christian burial, In the following Words
When ys recall hs generosity and moderation i that b.
cOse waen we remember thai our coHn!rymsn are now
III
sSs ss:
sbe believe that they would desire TO make nvidous dis
ss sy %oa "a
ST c.| s On s
We were that great struggle our stern dssp
aGaS 40 q bravery sss
Americana misguided, ndced and mis!ed but still our coun
s synisy, or uni nnkindnsss
| attack upon Governor Fenton. 'Teplyn to 1t was
published in Boston paper, over the signature OF
the charge reiterated again and again, tina. the
Governor sympathIzed with the rebellion. lndeed,
'HONoRs TO DEAD REBRls,"
10 large type. A copy Of Il Is now before me. It's
| closing paragraph Is as foliows:-- H0s
you. The subject & painful 70 me- But there sits my
and there s n ny yss:
appsarance q your Ansssm letter should regard yoSr
Ss o sS !. an
:s; oSS As ay Of " Ss acc covSDs
Thus, by raising the mad dog cry that he was a
| rebel sympathizer, Governor Fenton was disposed
/ Of The extent OF his sympathy was letter depre-
| eating the proposed i1niCtl0n OF punishment upon
dead reoels-partculariy those killed IN bartle-and
aVs al ne xo @ o. On e ss
Christian burial leaving Il for those who felt like It
MANY other candidates were similarly toma-
hawKed by the Colfax combination.
| THE BLAINE COMBINATION.
There IL the strongest evidence that similar conn.,
blnati0n has been made 10 give Mr.. Blaine the next
| republican nomination. vigorous war Is being
4 made upon all Ills rivas, the President included
\ Several have already Deen tomahawked, a Ia Fen
| ton. The selection OF the House committees has
| been postponed until December. During the next
| eight months Speaker Blaine Will have more valua-
bic patronage than President Grant. In fact there
is not appointment In the gin Of the President
| equal In importance TO the chairman OF the Ways
and Means Committee. The same may be said Of