Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-12-28
LETTER FROM WASHING TON.
WASHINGTON. D. {

here. The stores are well stocked with holiday
goods, and for the last week have been filed with
happy faces, both young and old, planning sur
prses for each other, or wondering, if children,
with wide open eyes, what should be brough
them by the bright-eyed spirit whose sleigh bells
or ringing wheels they hoped to hear, as laden
with the wealth of world he goes gslloping.
over chimney tops to make merry Christmas
everywhere. Even Congress is willing to permit
the vexed questions to rest awhile, and IN the
pleasures Of the season forget the dscomio forts Of
the times. So while it is nominaly In session
there are not many members here who can con-
veniently be ct home; aud the tacit understanding
exists that no business of importance will be trans
acted that would have opposition till after the
New Year.
The compiers Of the latest political news there
fore can do little more than revise the points
waiting decision, and repeat the statement that
there Is "notbing new Of importance. a fact thai
has already become as f. mi Jar at present as wa;
in war times the phrase :" llqu 1t on the Potomac
While there is much dis ussi = uncertainty ana
impotence, there is with a. he u peasantness OF
delay some good effect in the item oa that many
menSre giving to politics VIII, hav heretofore
kept aloof, with the idea that lusi less was
thing apart from election matters which they
could well leave to others. 1t must impress the
lesson on every mind, that the duty OF the chi
zen is to make himself felt In the direction bi-
conscience dictates is right, so far as be may and
that be can not be so far removed from the common
interests of his country, that bad government
or one badly administered, may not, even in
or unwise legislation, to say nothing Of greater
evils, cause him far greater loss than any atten-
ton he might give or dime he might spend to
secure wise and able and sound administration Of
affairs.
1t will, also, as has been suggested, call atten-
ton to the weak places in the machinery OF our
government and show how important 1t 10 TO be
fully prepared for any contingency that may arise
so that there cannot, at least be, even under the
pressure Of party needs, wide difference of con-
struction on material points.
Already it is questioned by many whether there
may not be better form Of government consist
ent vita the spirit of our institutions, and some
have notified meeting for discussion as to the
propnety of abolishing the Presidency altogether
and substituting in its place an Executive Council,
=, be composed of seven Councillors or Heads OF
Departments, four to be elected by the House and
three by the Senate, from members Of their re-
spective houses, for two years, each or all to be
removable by the house elecing them, and each
to have the right of q member in both houses, as
basis; with other checks and balances as might
seem needed, these being in some respects like the
government of Switzerland, in some like the Eng
sh system without the maintenance of royalty.
Evidently confidence in "the wisdom Of tho
fathers will prevent radical changes in spite Of the
opinion Of many who in their fondness for change
insist that 1--WE may safely dispense with the strife
of making selection Of President with auto
cratic powers every four years."
None Of these theories touch the practical ques-
ton OF the hour and the selection Of . Presi-
dent that should be made by any new plan or
strained Interpretation Of authority, seems to be
feared, not so much from the effect at this time
as from that which might happen in future cases.
by any recognition Of q right to change any Of
tho machinery of election, however cumbrous i
may seem to be or inefficient or weak or uncertain
in ito action, between the casting Of the popular
vote and the declaration of the election finally
made.
1t 10 fully recogniz ed that there is great power
which in this case 10 in the hands Of the presiding
officer Of the Senate, and which by an error Of
omission or commission might work injustice, but
a precedent established that involves change
from the usual and regular course may in the fu-
ture If not now imperl the life of the government
| or even liberty itself.
Even In the low plane of thought Of the politician
NH reuarda elertinn n q n moro race hefwee
two parties, to be won by all possible means As
such, the principle is recognized that there should
be no change of the rules between the time when
the race is begun and the result is declared, and
with considerations higher than this the import
ance be, ONES infinitely greater that such should
be the case.
Therefore while examinations Of evidence here
and there may change the opinion as to the means
employed to. secure this or that advantage in the
canvass in any State, the dry, cold, technical in
depreciation of the law as in existence when the
elections were had must govern, it would reason
ably seem, however much differences may exist in
form of returning results or errors in judgment in
the performance Of official duty. Outside Of this
the examination of canvasses and returns by COM
mittees of Congress and citizens will have its
proper effect upon the popular judgment, which
though sometimes misled for q time is r-
resistibe in its power, acting without buster or
disturbance by the use of that weapon which as
the poet puts it
Executes freeman's will,
AS lightning does the will Of God"
The talk Of war Is heard less than few weeks
since. Hill of Georgia adheres to his position of
peaceful solution of all difficulties, and very
considerable element of the South is earnestly
with him, and even those who have been most
noisy insist that the Northern democracy cheated
them in the last war, and now they will wait to
see them begin the trouble at home, and wonder
if the men who talked so much then and were not
to be found when war came are not now as then,
"invncible in peace and Invisible in war.
1t is very doubtful if this system of boasting
has been beneficial to to the democratic party with
the mixing men whose position must bear weight
in the councils of the nation. The assumption Of
the success of its candidate at the outset was not