Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1876-04-19
correspondence.
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., APRIL 10, 1876.
PRESIDENTIAL FIGURING,

PRESIDENTIAL FIGURING.
For several months previous to presi-
dental election, the leading dailies gener-
ally indulge themselves in casting the
horoscope as to how the various States
will throw their votes IN the ELECTORAL
college. The calculations OF the New
York World have been, in the past, singu-
larry accurate; and its predictions as to
the next race strike one as particularly
50. 1t says that, Of the Southern States,
the Democracy will carry, without doubt,
l27 votes. Its candidate will also get tho
II electoral votes Of the Pacific States,
and those Of Connecticut and New Jersey.
1t will, therefore, only be necessary to
carry New York in order to elect Demo-
cratic President, with several votes to
spare; as the three States just named car
ry so votes which, added to the others,
will give 1879, something over the neces-
sary number. The lessen in this esti-
mate, which appeals to every mans COM
mon sense as founded upon experience
and knowledge Of facts, is that New York
must be carried, at every hazard, and that
upon its 35 electoral votes hangs the sue
cess of the Democracy next fall. That
State has, in the mutations of parties and
politics, become the key without which
no presidential candidate can enter the
electoral college with any assurance ofbe-
ing It's choice. Blaine evidently feels the
Importance of this fact, and his anxiety to
ingratiate himself with the leading repub-
licans Of that State explains the haste
with which he left the House lately, and
journeyed toward the political Mecca.
Conkling had been endorsed, Il few days
previous, by the Republican Convention
which met at Albany, and Mr. Blaine
found it necessary to stop, for time, his
scheming to hamper the Democrats in the
House, and 20 to New York, in order that
he might unite all disaffected elements on
hiuoCli' 4Ne" LOfn, tHtNi ""os w S"''e" ,
and the ability Of a candidate to perform
this should be, in conjunction with sther
qualities which fit him for the position, a
pre-. requisite to his nomination by the ST..
Louis Convention. Such man, with the
South and Pacific States shoulder to
shoulder for him, which they certainly will
be, will be perfectly invincible, and his
election forgone conclusion.
HOW MUCH WOULD HE HAVE STOLEN ?
Just before Belknap's downfall, he SUBJ
mitted, in reply to resolution Of the
House, his budget for the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1877. It amounted to some
S26, 900, 900, or about 81 900, 900 fer each
regiment in the service. The House now
calls for q new estimate from his success
sor, and no little interest Is felt in his re-
ply as 1t will exhibit, among other things
exactly how much Belknap calculated to
steal during the year.
ARADlCAL GOVERNOR IN THE BALANCE.
The late developments before the House
Committee On Expenditures in the Post
Office Department have brought to Wash
ington Governor John l.. Routt, Of Color
ado, formerly Creswell's Assistant Post
master General. The Governor is charg-
ed with having received $40, 900 from one
F. P. Sawyer, an extensive mail contrac-
tor, in consideration of his good Office in
securing certain profitable contracts for
said Sawyer. Routt, as Second Assist
ant Postmaster General, had the letting
Of all mail contracts, and it was during
his incumbency that the corruption sub
sequently unearthed took deep root; ex-
tending to every contract OF importance
in this country. On his retirement, this
state Of affairs was made manifest by @
slight investigation; but nothing was ev.
err made public duplicating Routt until the
other day, when witness before the
Congressional Committee testified that
Sawyer told him that he had paid Routt
$40, 900. As matter Of course, Routt
denies this most strenuOuSly; and, as
Sawyer Is dead the charge cannot be d.
rectly substantiated. The Governor
will consequently go back to his territory
duly "vindicated."
GRANT "sICK"-wHAT Is THE MATTER WITH
HIM?
Gen. Grant was seriously indispoSed,'
the local papers reported, for several
days last week. would not consider the
fact worthy Of mention, where it not OF
some significance just at this junction. II
is rumored that the President has become
seriously disturbed in mind, since the re-
suits of some Of the recent investigations,
and is now subject to frequent fits Of sin.
disposition" Many persons, who profess
to know Grants habits, attribute these at
tacks to the effect of undue alcoholic slim
ulation; but it is difficult, in such cases
to determine definitely which Is cause
and which, effect. Yet the President Ger.
tainly has reason now, If ever man had
for mental perturbation and distress. He
sees the great body OF the people who
once honored him as successful soldier
ready to despise him as the companion
and defender Of thieves. He beholds thu
members of his cabinet falling, one by one
beneath the axe Of Investigation; and al
administration begun in honor and glory
amid the plaudts Of the multitude, going
down, in Its eighth year, ignored and dis
graced, followed by the execrations of /
country whose confidence he has so lons
abused. Is it any wonder that he shOulC