Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-12-20
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON Dec.


ences to the record of "peace Demo
Gratis" during the war of the rebellion
were equally enjoyed by Republicans
and ex-confederates, who more than
once since the beginning of the session
have taken occasion to remind their
"copperhead" abettors of their deser.
ton of the Confederate cause, after
leading the South into the slough of
secession. On Wednesday the advent
of the Presidents special message,
transmitting formidable mass Of tes-
timony relative to the murders, tortures
and bulldozing of the Reform party in
Louisiana, gave the Democrats of both
Houses such turn that they have not
recovered their equanimity since. In
the House Mr.. Wood attacked the
President with recklessness and feroc.
ity that could only be accounted for by
Mr.. Blaine's absence. A motion to
print the testimony aroused the leaders
to their danger and it was successful ly
resisted; and in their desperation they
appeared ready to endorse the barbar-
Gus and Infamous methods adopted in
the South, in Nebraska, in Vermont
and in Oregon to compass the defeat
OF the Republican nominee, Democratic
Senators restrained by their humanity
could not be wholly induced to endorse
the cruelties visited upon the perse.
cuted Republicans of Louisiana during
the late campaign, but confined their
efforts to discrediting the cloud of wit
nesses who testified before the Return
ing Board at New Orleans. After
some factious opposition the evidence
was ordered to be printed. The COM
rlications surrounding the Presidency
have induced several Senators to in
troduce resolutions looking to an
amendment to the Constitution to cure
the present defects relative to the cleo
ton of President and Vice President;
and Mr.. McCrary, of Iowa, has moved
the appointment Of a committee in the
House to meet like committee of the
Senate to devise some satisfactory
method for counting and declaring the
result of the late election. Mr.. Atkins
has reported annual pension bill, ap
propriating something over So, ,0O0,0 900.
But the almost universal opinion is to
the effect that most Of the arpropria-
tons will have to be provided for by an
extra session. The vote in the Senate
sustaining the decision of the presiding
officer of that body that the twenty.
second joint rule has no longer an ex-
istence, was surprise to almost every
one, and very demoralizing to the
Democratic members of the House,
under the lead of MIR. Randall who
have declared that it is still in exist
ence for the purpose, it would appear,
of aiding them to put Mr.. Tilden into
the White House in opposition to the
f85 votes recorded against him. Merri-
man, Whyte, Wlthers and one other
were all that could be found in the
Senate willing to publicly take such an
untenable and absurd position. The
disccuraging effects Of the vote is
everywhere observable in Democratic
circles.
The usurpation of Governor Grover
caused breeze for . few hours; but
q al the circumstances connected with
i become known, even tho most ardent
friends Of ,"Tilden and Reform" hesi.
tate to commit themselves to the sup
port fsuch . palpabls disregard of
the specific provisions of law made to
provide against just such contingency
10 occurred in the case Of the ineligible
elsctor. The action Of G rover will be
pretty. thoroughly ventilated by the
Senate committee on Privileges and
elections. Yesterday, Senator Ed
munds made very able speech upon
his resolution for = Constitutional
amendment, and was listened to with
marked attention. In the House q
proposition BY General ::McDougall
looking to an investigation Of the late
election in New York and some Of the
adjoining states was promptly voted
down by the Democrats.
The evident dislike Of Tilden by
many Of the ex-Confederates in the
House, their disinclination to be used
asa cats paw Is they were in 1861 by
Northern Democrats, aud their plain
manner Of indicating their low estimate
Of that class of patriots with the al
legged preference of many of them for
Hayes, has had the effect to exasperate
Northern and Western Democratic
Representatives a. they have not been
maddened for years. Southern mem.
bers sre credited with restraining them
from undertaking to do = good many
foolish things in the numerous caucuses
held during the past week, among
them theimpeachment of the President.
In conversation with an agent
Of the Associated Press, President
Grant revealed something of the "true
inwardness" of the two interviews Mr..
Hewitt had with him, and which have
been used to color innumerabls reports
telegraphed from this citv besides no