Richmond weekly palladium., 1875-12-09
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE


The organization of the House of
Representatives, by the Democratic
members, was readily effected, and
very nearly In the manner heretofore
predicted. The Confederate Demo-
Gratis having a majority of the party
caucus, were enabled to control the
nominations, and did so to their entire
satisfaction. The Speakership had, as
a matter Of policy, been conceded to
the North, but the majority of the re-
naming offices were claimed and re-
ceived by the South. The caucus in
which the selections were made, was
presided over by Mr.. j. @. G. Lamar,
of Mississippi, a southern fire. eater, of
the most pronounced stripe, who will
be the leader of the Democracy on the
floor of the House. His isspeech before the
caucus was mainly noticeable as fore
shadowing the course of the party on
the finance question, and this brings
small comfort to the imitation branch
of the Democracy. Mr.. Lamar, speak
ing for the party, says, 4our people are
suffering from the evils of an irredeem-
able currency" and admonishes the
Democracy that it is their duty to SO
act, sthat nothing Is done which would
impair the good faith Of the country or
tarnish the public honor, or lower or
disturb the credit of our government"
and, he continues, ito see that the ma
tional credit and currency of this DEM
ocratic Republic are made equal with
that Of any nation on the earth"
These declarations followed by the
nomination and election Of Mr.. Kerr, a
hard money man, as Speaker, fixes the
position of the Democratic party on
the currency question.
The newly elected Speaker is a rep
resentative from Indiana, strict par
tisan, and though possessing but few
of the peculiar qualifications required
In presiding officer, is man of very
considerable ability and thorough per-
sonal integrity. He will neither steal
nor permit stealing il he can prevent
it, and IL the House were freed from
the controlling influence Of the Confed-
crate Democracy, we might have much
to hope for from the management of
Mr.. Speaker Kerr. But as it is, while
Mr.. Kerr fills the chair, Mr.. Lamar will
be the guiding spirit of the House, and
southern supremacy it's leading object
and aim. With the exception of Mr..
Thompson. Of Ohio, as Sergeant-at
Arms, the rest Of the important offices
are filled from the South. Mr.. Adams,
of Kentucky, is made Clerk, Mr.. Stu
art, of Virginia, is Postmaster, and Mr..
Fitzbugh, of Texas, Doorkeeper. The
latter was Sergeant-at-Arms of the
late Confederate Congress. Thus or
ganized the Democratic House is pre-
pared for work, but what 1t may ac-
complish remains to be seen.
The small number of offices in the
gift of the House compared with the
multitude of applicants was a great
source of regret to the Democratic
it was referred to in feeling
terms by Mr.. Lamar In his opening
speech in the caucus, and was the SUBJ
ject of earnest conversation among
the members. Each Of the l7S Demo-
Gratis who have seats in the House, had
q little army of followers from his dis
brict, begging and importuning for
position of some kind. But if half the
members could provide for one friend
each, the other half could get nothing
and the pressure was terri
Die. A hungrier set Of office hunters
lad never beseiged the doors of the
Capitol, than those who laid in wait for
Democratic members as they ventured
out from time to time. Their long fast
mad made them actually voracious,
and they could only be compared to a
pack OF half-starved wolves in pursuit |
OF prey. But If this pressure upon the
democratic members rendered their |
congressional life a burden to them |
almost before they had entered upon
1t, they found consolation in another |
quarter. The smiling, smirking lobby
ist, who has some job to get through |
during the coming session, was ever
ready to soothe their sorrows with the |
kindest attentions, and bid them drown /
their grief in choicest wines and most |
sumptuous dinners. Indeed, so far
were these Establishments captivating |
the new and unsophisticated members |
that the old and shrewder ones become |
alarmed, and gravely counseled mod |
grafton, or the outer house" would |
soon have had the new Congress COM
pletely In its power, and the promises
30 profusely made to the people would
nave been forgotten beneath the in
1uence OF these sirens of the lobby
Bpt we viii await results and Judge
he present Congress by its fruits.