Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-12-21
Correspondence.
Letter From Washington.
WASHINGTON, ID. c..

WASHINGTON, ID. c.,
December l6, 1875. :
Mr.. Edmands's proposed Constitutional
AmendDaent-The attitude Of the Senate
t0,cdrts Mr.. Ferry's decision reldtire 10 the
TceHty-secoRd Joint Rule - The .Saver
BiU-Sonthern Comn,iuees- Wade Hdmp-
toR-Democrdtic defeat in the Senate tchen
they admit fraud and Intimidation.
Mr.. Edmunds' speech is conceded to have
been a very able presentation Of his views, but
the very decisive majority against his proposed
amendment conclusively proved that his meth
cd of settling the matter of the disputed Presi-
dency. does not generally recommend itself to
his Senatorial associates; and public sentiment
As reflected by visitors here, would appear
equally averse 10 the plan advocated by the
Vermont senator. The two points most per-
sistently urged against it, aud which were
forcibly stated by Mr.. Morton. were the reten-
ton of the electoral college feature of our
present method, and the danger OF prostitu-
ting the Judicial branch of the Government TO
partizan ends.
The unexpected support from the Democrat
ic side Of the Senate accorded TO President Fer
" AAt tAA>AtuNS VI tue NNNb-
ty-second joint rule, is troubling Democrats Of
the lower House not a little. Under the lead
of Mr.. Randall. they had determined 10 make
the fight for it, recognition a last-ditch contest
for what looks now like another lost cause"
The vote in the Senate revealed only four SEN
ors,-MaNey, Merrimon, Withers and Whytc.
and neither OF them regarded a. very effective
champions-willing TO commit themselves to
the advocacy Of this very forlorn hope. Dem
ocraiic senators have thus far proved rather
unreliable in their support Of their political
friends in the House. Their refusal 10 contest
the admission Of the Colorado senator, was a
cause Of scrou, oicnse, while the uuserupu-
lous rcformers Of the House refused to ADM.
Representative Bedford from that State. and
have kept him waiting up to date for his seat
To- which hc i a, clearly entitled II Mr., Ran
dali /. to his. Then their defense of the cocen-
iric whims and methods of the ''bull-dozers"
in Louisiana where the whole reform pro
gramme was sought to DC carried through by
numbering or frightening from the polls all it,
opponents. seemed very much like the apollo
ge,ic words of men convinced that they were
arguing from wrong premises. But what the
senate lscks In zeal In Mr.. Tilden's behalf is
fully Aioned for In the House. where the most
partizan measures are endorsed without word
Of protes; among his followers.
The passage OF the silver bill. has, it j. satd.
made Judge Kelley supremacy happy 1t PRO
yides for the coinage OF silver dollars. makes
them q legal tender and receivable for all debts
not specially agreed to b. paid In gold. What
a.. q IL. f1a hand. If tho M
one seems justified 70 predict,
The annual pension appropriation bin which
passed the HOUSE thi, week. Ia, not Yet brcn
considered by the senate Committee: but it is
understood that it will 60 through substantially
as il came from the House.
II /. the desire Of many members Of Con
grc.s 10 take general holiday recess; and. n"
doubt. many OF them need 1t, for, AMER their
dcbiaating Summers session. they immediate
Is entered upon active campaign work, which
wa only fairly ended when they returned here
where their duties have been exceptionally ar
duou..
Public interest has followed the various
House and senate Committees In their mission
Southwark. II i asserted from many sources
that the Democrats have found South Carolina
and Florida very unfruitful fields Of labor, and
thsi their efforts will Be chiefly confined 10
suppTessing the actual facts relative 10 the con
duct OF the Democratic canvass Ia tho.e two
States. This may De partizan statement, but
the Republicans have and do challenge the
closest scrutiny, confident that it would yindi-
cate them and their causc in the estimation u
every intelligent man who regard, the rights
Of manhood as superior 10 the claims II party.
The rudcness and browbeating propcnsi,ies Of
some Of the committee sent 10 New Orleans,
Do not appear TO intimidate men who have
been subjected 10 that style Of bullying, often
while looking straight down pistol barrel,
without finching. More zenilemanly means
would prove more effective.
one point in Wade nampton's speech amer
going through the form Of Inauguration, i 80
VIGOROUSLY false that the fine effect hoped from
it IN misleading the North, is DEFEATED. lie
sOlcmuly announced 10 the assembled rifle
club, that the United States army has been
brought into the State and used in aid Of 4 po-
litical party. Now the Democratic party has
been repeatedly challenged by the President,
and by Republicans in Congress and elsewherr.
10 show, ia one instance where the presence Of
troops has operated TO deter a single legal voter
from freely expressing hi- preference at the
ballot box.
Years have been aeco rIed them in which TO
make good this stale charge. mouthed by Wade
Hampton yesterday, and they have siguAlly
failed tina, it As come to be regarded the
most stupid peryerson OF facts which any man
OF average regard for truth ought to feel asham-
ed To feilerate. What can be thought OF his
sincerity when utteranees relstiye to the &c,
ceptance BY the Democrats Of his 5 tate Of all
the Constitutional amendments, when It Is re-
membered that the brutal Butler. now under
indictment for murder, was the fsvorte OF all
the candidates for United States Senator, voted
for by the members Of the Wallace Legislature,
simply because Of his (Butler's) leading share
in the inlamy enacted at Hamburg on the
fourth day OF last july Contrast his utterance
concerning the ballot box, that great court Of
final resort with the scores OF political muir
ders officially proved against his party friends
during the past i've years, In that State, to pre-
vent the CHASTITY victims awaiting themselves Of
'that great court Of final resort for the redress
Of their wrongs. II is by every one admitted
that the Democrats In the senate were yester-
day driven into . good many ia maging admis,
sions as TO frauds and intimidation in the sonth
which they charge to Kellogg's inefiieiency.
LOGAN.
Letter from South Carolina.