Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-06-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington. D. C.. J,me /, 1876

The show of opposition to Gov,
ernor Tildcn in New York was a
first surprise to those persons her,
who are not familiar with New Yorl
politics. The fact that he had beateE
General Dix, the Republican Govern.
or who preceded him by 50,317 ma,
jority-Dix having been elected two
years before by 3,451 majority. Q
change of 1O3,768 votes in Governor
Tilden's favor-had been accepted as
an evidence OF his popularity with the
voters. That Gov. Tilden's friends
have absolute control of the party or
ganization in the State. was also as
sumed here, from the fact that, out OF
128 districts only 10 or IL were carried
against him this spring in the prima-
ries, and that in the Utica Convention
all opposition was abandoned, the res
olution declaring that his nomination
at st. Louis would insure the State of
New York to the Democratic party
was passed by a unanimous vote
Some weeks afterward the news came
that there was dangerous opposition
to Gov. Tilden in New York. Some
of his supporters here set to work to
learn the real facts, and it is now
pretty generally known that the only
men opposing Tilden are those who
have fought him bitterly and continu-
ously for the past five years, and who
have been just as continually beaten
by him in every nominating conven-
ton, and every election in which they
have opposed him. They are the
members of the Tweed and Canal
Rings and their friends, led by few
respectable gentlemen who are per-
sonally inimical to Gov. Tilden. How
much influence or power they have
may be judged from the Utica Conven-
ton. The seveTest fight ever made
against Gov. Tilden was made for the
control of the Utica Convention, and
ended in an absolute defeat of his en-
emies, and their unconditional surren-
der The combination of few discon
tented politicians, backed by the most
corrupt ring of political plunderers
that ever existed In any State, cannot
avail in a population of 5000, 900
against a man who has by his official
action, saved the taxpayers nearly
$S,000,00 and reduced the rate of
taxation more than One-h0J, in little
more than one year. 1t is denied by
the friends of Gov. Tilden that either
he or they have any knowledge of the
circular recently sent to newspapers
by an advertising agency, offering to
pay for the publication of newspaper
extracts favoring Gov Tilden's nomi-
nation at st. Louis. The circular was
sent out by a firm, the members of
which are extreme radical Republi-
cans, and was mailed to several papers
widely known to be violently opposing
Gov. Tilden.
THE CHARGES AGAINST SPEAKER
KERR.
Even Republicans are unwilling to
believe In the story that Speaker Kerr,
when In Congress some years ago, ac-
cepted $3.50 for the appointment of
one Green to lieutenancy in the reg
ular army. In conversation with
Judge j. M. Edmunds, Secretary of
the Republican Congressional Com
mittee, last evening, he related the
following incident. But first let me
say that Edmunds is a radical of the
most ultra stripe, and as a rule, would
rejoice in the downfall of any promi-
nent political opponent. Said he II
confess / am doubtful about Kerr's
guilt, Notwithstanding the positive tes-
timony of Harvey that he paid Kerr
$3.50. The case, it is true, looks ugly;
but although Kerr is Bourbon, he
has always borne an enviable reputa-
ton for personal integrity. Last
night" continued Judge Edmunds,
while several of us were discussing
the matter on the Post Office steps,
(Edmunds is city postmasterO John
ID. Defrees came along. Defrees, as
you all know, is a Republican, was
Government Printer under Mr.. Lin
coin and Mr.. johnson, and skilfully
procured, as you all remember. the
nomination at Chicago, for the Vice
Presidency of Schuyler Colfax in 1868.
Well, we asked Defrees if he had read
the testimony taken that day (29th
inst in Kerr's case. He said he had
not, and we gave him the points. De-
frees, who is an Indianian, was mad,
and said, i don't believe Kerr guilty.
/ have known him for the last twenty
FIVE years, and although have always
been opposed to him politically, truth
compels me to say that no one who
has known him has ever doubted his
personal integrity. | will not believe
the story unless it is corroborated.'
All good men here, irrespective of
party, hope that Mr.. Kerr will be able
to disprove the charge. Should he be
found guilty, he could not be i'm
peached members of Congress not be-
ing regarded, in law, as Officers of
kbo G0uarnuoonk He r,.o;s mani
would therefore be either the censure
of the House, or expulsion. If the
charge against him is false and mali
cious, no punishment would be too Sc
we're for its author. Mr.. Kerr is IN
delicate health, and the annoyance to
which he is being subjected is certainly
not calculated to improve his physical
condition.
IMPORTANT DECISION OF THE sU-
PREME COURT ON INTERSTATE COM
MERGE.
The United States Supreme Court
has just declared that the inaction of
Congress in prescribing rules to gov
ern Interstate commerce as required
by the Constitution is equivalent to
Congressional declaration that such |
commerce shall be free from restric-
tions. This is one of the most impor- !
tant decisions ever rendered by the |
Supreme Court of the United States,
and ought to do away, at once, with
all the annoyances to which CONNER
cial travellers are subject in travelling
from one State toanother with their |
samples of goods. 1t was one of the
arguments in favor of the Union of the |
States that commerce among them was
to be entirely free, and clause was
put in the Constitution requiring Con-
gress to pass laws to regulate it. AL
though we are in our Centennial year,
Congress has, up to date. failed to per-
form this duty. The Supreme Court
properly interprets this remissness
into declaration in favor of absolute
freedom of trade.
1t will be interesting to your readers
to learn the comparatively trivial cir
cumstance which directed the official
attention of the u. S. Supreme Court
to this subject, and brought forth
from that august body decision that
affects the individual interests, directly
or indirectly, of every man, woman |
and child in the country. This is how |
it came about:
THE STATE OF MISSOURI.