Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-09
THE PEOPLE AND CONGRESS,
Political Results OF the Late Session
Changes Of Northern Opinion To-
ward the SOUfh.


Political Results Of the Late Session
Changes Of Northern Opinion To
ward the South.
The political results of the session
which has just closed form the subject
OF conversation among Congressman
OF both houses remaining here, and as
the work Of the last three months was
telt to be a campaign preliminary to
1916 It's bearing upon party prospects
Is interesting and even important, when
1t is considered that members of Con-
gress judge of political results, not
from the narrow public opinion of
Washington, but from a pretty accu-
rate knowledge Of the feeling of the
country, because the opinions of the
constituencies are well known here and
thoroughly compared. The general
conclusions in which the ablest men
here agree may be stated as follows:
1. The last two months have un
doubtedly lowered the President in the
esteem of his party and lessened his
influence with the Republican LEADERS.
His lmperiOus conduct lost him some
time ago their confidence and affection.
The notable defeat of the Presidents g
Arkansas policy and a reaction even
among strong Administration Senator's
against the Force bill are felt here as
so serious a blow at Gen. Grant party
supremacy that for the moment the
third term spectre is laughed at.
80 far from renOminatinO
himself, he could not to-day
even procure the nomination Of his own
man" said a prominent Republican
to-day, and significant sign Of the
change is the fact that one Of the most
conspicuous Southern third-termers
yesterday remarked that General Grant
was not his candidate, and suggested
that he and some other Southern men
had favored the third term idea, not
because they liked 1t, but because it
was the best way Of getting whatever
they wanted from the old man" What
ever may be In the future, this Con-
gress goes home with little fear Of
third term.
2. The defeat of the administration
plan of carrying the next election by
means of the force bill and the sus-
pension of the writ Of habeas corpus,
makes new calculations necessary.
The moderate Republicans 90 home
full Of courage and determination.
Two months ago they were for the
most part demoralized and ready to
give up. To-day they believe they
have the people at their back.
3. The country would rather sec a
Republican than a Democratic admin
istration, if it could feel certain that
the Republicans would secure peace by
constitutional measures: because with
Us the people would be ceryain that no
serious injustice would be permitted in
the South, while they are not sure how
far the Democrats would 60" said a
leading Republican. But this as
surance can come only from the man
we nominate, and not from any plat
form promises, for 1t Will be character
and not platform that VIII carry the
day in 1876"
4. Ali thoughtful men feel extreme
anxiety that peace and justice shall be
maintained In the Southern States.
The Southern Democrats, who dread
the continued misgovernment of their
States and fear a third term fully as
much as any Republicans, have gone
home determined, by all means, to pre-
serve peace and order, and feeling that
this is, as one Of them said the other
day, "our only salvation from Grant"
5. It's thought by the moderate men
of both sides, that the discussion OF
Southern matters through the press
and by means Of investigating reports
to Congress during the last three
has greatly changed Northern
opinion, as 1t certainly has the opin-
ions of the ablesJ Northern RepubI-
cans IN the House. The desire of the
great majority Of the House was for
Justice, and when it was shown that
injustice had been done or was threat
ened In Louisiana and Arkansas, the
set In very strongly.