Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1876-11-29
Our Washington Letter.
wAsnrvoroS, D. c, Nov. %,

wAsHrNoroN, y. C., Nov. %, 1876.
Nessrs Ediiors.--The election excitement hav-
ing In q great measure subsided, nearly every
interested person has developed into constiiu-
tiona lawyer, and the principal topic now heard
on the streets is the Interpretation 81 constitu-
tional law to meet certain contingencies. The
dryness Of the subject is onliyeued TO some ex-
tent by
rnE PRESENCE or TuE MILITARY.
II Is reasonable TO assume that the President
has good reasons for bringing the forces here, or
they would not have been brought. There is too,
good reason to assume that some Information Of
alleged ncondary movements have been commu-
ncatcd to the authorities Gentlemen who as
sembe in bar-rooms and predict war, assassina-
ton or an uprising Of the South, In case Hayes is
declared elected, may, after all, be somewhat to
blame for the presence Of the soldiers, so dstaste-
ful to them The Ebbitt House is enli,ened with
the presence Of the officers in their snowy uni
forms They look upon their Quartering here
only in the light of obeying orders, and anticipate
no trouble As an illustration, however, Of the
ieyersh condition Of the public mind on this, as
well as other semi-poltical subjects, it may be
mentsned that the simple fact OF the engagement
Of rooms at the Riggs House by the members Of
the Maryland and Virginia Boundary Commission,
has been magnifed into a report, telcgraphed all
over the country, that prominent Southern men
were to meet at that hotel for conference ON the
political situation
TIM srrArioS or rur sorrii
is not one that presents a cheerful outlook in all
IT, phases The state Of South Carolina is liable
h be blessed with two legislatures ncxtweok. one
composed Of the Republican members returned n
elected by the Board Of Canyassers, and the
other of the democratic members returned, to-
gether with the candidates whom the democrats
claim were elected in the counties thrown ont by
the board Two gubernatorial inaugumtons also
seem inevitable Thus is presented possible re-
petition Of the disgraceiul Louisiana farce, en-
acted few years ago Of dual government in
one state, and an excellent prospect for little
blood-lctting at Columbia In that event It will
become the duty Of the federal government to rec
ognize one or the other Of the state governments
and II necessary, to sustain il. The prospect
therefore in that state is unpleasant one to
contemplate. Under such serious state Of az
fairs it Is interesting aud at the same time little
wonderful, to see the bravery and 6runess shown
in the person Of
GOVERNOR CHNMufHLAfN.
Even his political enemies must pause in their
plotting to admire the pluck Of this New England
carpet Dagger" lie must know that Just now
his life is in imminent danger every moment, and
that his sturdy defiance Of bis enemies is liable 10
increase the danger every dag he lives among
them. His friends are already expressing their
fears for his safety, but he will not give up the
ship Ills position is in such striking contrast 10
some others Of the Republicans who represent
those states in the United States Senate that he
stands out in bold relief to the admiration Of all
who understand the case lie has never deserted
his post, though often threatened with death
they prefer to stay in Washington through the
recess Of Congress ms merely "loekers-on in
Venice" instead Of facing the dangers that
threaten the so-called carpet baggers' Judge
Cartier, Of this city, has lately returned from Co
lumbia, and freely expresses his fears Tor the
safety Of Governor Chamberlain. while he, at the
same time, cannot but praise bis courageous
course In the midst Of the direst peril
In Florida the state is equally fortunate In hay
ing Governor who knows his rights. and know
ing, dares assert them Theretums show large
majority for the Hayes ticket, and this must be
finally declared when constitutional questions
have been sufficiently expouuded by the legal
lights Of the alligator state" The Louisiana
election Is liable to be held back until the very
last moment, owing to the gathering Of so many
Of the legal lights aforesaid, and to this state We
may finally look for the solution Of the yexed
question Of who is President
In regard to this Southern problem, taken in
its entirety, we would speak as from the dead lips
Of the great Sumner when we declare for mercy
to the confederate; yes, but justice to the negro
citizen also" Applying this rule to the South we
would not undo what mercy has done for the con-
fedeate We would however, add thereto wha,
justice should long since have done for the negro
citizen
THE sIGNIFICA SCE OF iL,Nrs' ELECTION
is found in the peculiar re cation he holds to this
southern question. He represents the happy
middle ground between those extremes Of politca;
feeling which necessarily resulted from such a
conflict as the people Of this country have had to
pass through, during the last fifty years, over the
settlement OF the slavery question. IN the final
adjustment OF thisloug drawn-out conflict we need
just such man as Governor Hayes at the head
OF the nation. lie will represent. on the one
hand, the conservative, peace-oyiug and mercy.
giving sentiment Of the North while on the other
he will owe his election TO that faithful negro vote
which was cast for the nation in It's hour Of direst
need in the face Of persecution terrorism and
death. The white citizens Of the South will find
in Governor Hayes a true friend Of the old Clay
and Webster school Of thought while the citizen
ship rights Of the negro will be covered with tile
sure guarantee Of federal protection SOL