Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1876-02-17
Our Washington Letter.
special Correspondence, Herald and Tribune
WASHINGTON, D. c., !
Eehrnorv 10 1919

ma more uneasy, unsatisfed body than
the Democratic force in the House of
Representatives, This, too, at q time
when that party has no other department
oil the Government, and is, in this, pc,
cularly on its good behavior. The like
discord in the army of General Lee, or
Stonewall jackson or Joseph +. Johnston
or Hood, would have ended the rebellion
IN the first two years; but those earlier
Democratic leaders had ideas of discipline
which Messrs. Holman, Hill, Cox. Kendall
and Morrison have seemingly never
thought of. Indeed, of all these leaders
IN the House, there is not one who has
not at some time since the opening of the
sesslon, pat himself in position where
he was not only laughed at by the enemy,
but snubbed by his friends. The latest
is MIR. Morrison, who went out of bis way
to call man scoundrel because, after
being forced into the Democratic p.
| mean the rebel army, he left it AID en-.
listed on the other side. After Mr..
Morrison concluded, and was laughed at
all around, the relief asked Got by the
man was voted without opposition. The
truth seems to be that the ruling party in
the House is going on blindly, without
understanding within or control from
without.
The only thing agreed upon, on,apparanlly
is that every committee of the House shall
be an investigating committee, and shall
look into all the expenditures of the past
decade, and shall sit with closed doors
Investigation is we'll, and the Republicans
have continually investigated themselves
for the benefit of the opposition, for ses.
slons past; and. what is more, have OPEN
ed the doors Of the committee rooms and
invited friends, enemies, and newspaper
men to be present. What the new order
OF thlngs-the Star Chamber inyestipa.
tlons-may mean, is hard to tell, unless
oil the committees intend to make parti.
san reports at time too late, before cleo.
tlon, for successful Republican refutation
With open doors, as has been the custom
the public could daily receive both sides
oi the story; as managed by this masked
battery party, the Democrats will get
their official buncombe to the people in
time to influence the election, and too
late for the Union Ar mean the Re,
publican party-to answer them effect.
ually. Look out for frightful reports of
fraud and extravaganza, whenever these
committees think it necessary.
The New York World has comparison
in the style of Johnson's Dryden aud Pope.
OF Morton and Hendricks, in the position
of rival candidates for the Presidency.
Couceding the unquestioncd ability of
Senator Morton, the World claims that
Hendricks is the safer man of the two
1t is not thought unlikely that this ability
of Senator M. will be strongly shown |
within the next week in q successful re.
suit Of his earnest advocacy of Mr.. Pinch
backs admission to the Senate. Whatever
the result, Senator Morton has managed
his side of the question with wonderful
shrewdness AMI tact, and has certainly
made capital for bis party while advo.
eating cause in which that party is not
united.
Jefferson Davis has made his contribu,
tion to the discussion of tho amnesty
question. His letter is a more damar.
ing document to the Democratic party
than even the speech of Ben Hill. What
is any rational man-Republican or Dem
ocrat to make of such an expression as this;
"Lee no longer lives to defend the cause
and country he loved so well;" or this.
relating to time long after the war was
over: Confident of the justice of our
cause, and of the rectitude Of my own
conduct, l declined" &C., &c. This man
has not changed his mind : he is not less
Secessionist to-day than he was twelve
years ago he does not care for the Union
he hates it; he waits only for an appor,
tuDity to destroy it. Who shall pledge
him-who shall pledge the seventy Con-
federate officers in Congress, or the people
these men represent, to future allegiance
to the National Government? National
Government not one Of them in twenty
believes there is any nation, but simply
cOnfsdercy of sovereign States, and the
war was to them but momen.ary defeat.
1t is hoped that all Republican papers and
committees will give to every expression
Of Southern opinion, at this time wide
circulation. They can hardly make
mistake in The chnica nf rnata.;al