The daily gazette., 1876-12-01
Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 90, 187

From Our Regular Correspondent.
In Washington there are but two
classes of opinionists on the election
question, the Government clerks who
insist that Hayes Is elected by majority
OF one electoral vote, and another class
whom Carlyle might call the " non Gov
ernment clerks" who says that Tilden
has majority equal to the combined
electoral vote of Louisiana, Florida, and,
perhaps, of South Carolina. There are
no compromise between them, and the
lines are 80 sharply drawn between
those who are in Government employ,
and those who try TO make a living hon.
estly, that it is hard for those of us who
look ut the situation from q Washington
standpoint to understand how any but an
officeholder can, in the face of figures
elected.
AS to the intentions of the President,
and the influential wing Of his cabinet,
there can, since his action in the South
Carolina case, be no doubt. BY the in
fiuential portion of his cabinet / mean
those political pdOcenus and adventurous
whosen fortune is identified with the
fortune of Grant-specifically Chandler,
RObeson, Cameron and Taft As for
Mr. Tyner he is plus quantity only SO
far as he represents his great patrou.
Senator Morton.
But the others have no political fu-
tlIre except in the chances of revolution,
and in this respect they represent the
desperate, and IN Jact only portion of the
Republican party that is heard at pres
ent. 1t is possible that when Congress
assemblies the calmer voice of wisdom
may be heard from men in the party who
have apolitical future independent of
Grant and Grantism, from such men,
for instance as Edmonds, Christiancy,
Cameron of Wisconsin, and perhaps
from Senator from Senator Conkling.
These distinguished men have so far
preserved silence that extreme Repub-
iicans cannot regard as otherwise than
ominous, and it is asserted by many that
when Congress assemblies they will come
to the front and condemn the uncon-
stitutional and unrepublican methods
that have been pursued in the Southern
States by the Executive and the State
authorities. One Of them at least, sfr
Christiancy, the Senatorial successor of
Mr.. Chandler, to be consistent with his
record cannot do otherwise than con-
denim the recent Federal usu1pations in
Louisiana and South Carolina. At any
rate it may be taken for granted that
their utterances and actions will neglect,
in n degree, the change in the public
sentiment of their respective States, and
this is believed to be very pronounced.
But, at present, it is quite apparent
from judicial usurpations in South Caro-
lima, and from the timid dispatch of
Chief Justice Waite, that the administra-
ton and judiciary are, to an alarming
extent, in the hands of the reckless free
beoters who are behind the throne.
Gen.>Grant Is the most efficient tool
with Which fortune could have favored
| them. They will fattcr and control him
in the future as they have done in the
Il ~. Al
| with the reflection, that the destinies of
the nation, IN this centennial crisis. are
in the hands of an Obtuse but well mean
ling president; make the fatal mistake
of ignoring the many selfish and desper-
ate political adventurous who lead him.
Influenced by them, he will not hesitate
to attempt, in Washington, the role he
| played two years ago in Louisiana, and
yesterday in South Carolina; indeed he is
making elaborate preparations for it;
more troops arrived last night; and the
country has by frequent enervate acquie-
scence been educated to submission
There is that in our psycho-political con-
dition worthy the serious study of the
philosophical historian, something that
sets at nought the supposed laws Of here
! dity; for we are the physical, i t not the
moral progeny of those who thought life
dear and peace eXecrablc when purchas-
| ed by submission to far less fragrant
abuses Can it be that the evolution of
enc or two hundred years has produced
such deterioration in the political de-
| cendants of Cromwell, and Washington,
| that we hear the powerful press and
enervate millionaire piping: ''better en-
| dure the ills we have, than fly to others
that we know not OFF"
| The situation is becoming quite inter-
esting here and there is much smothered
feeling. A number of members of con-
gress have arrived. Among them the
distinguished physical and political phn-
| nix, Hon. Alexander H. Stephens of
Georgia. Though weighing ten pounds
| more than during his recent illness, he is
still mere shadow, and his presence and
| conversation suggest forcib1y the idea of
disembodied intellect. He told your cor
respondent that he regarded the situation
| as very critical he left home with the i'm
preston that Florida, at least of the So
called doubtful states, would finally be
| conceded to Tilden, but that he is now of
the opinion 1t Is the programme of the
Radical wing of the Republican party, to
countin the Hayes electors; cost wbatitmay
He hopes however for a more peaceable
solution of the presidential question than
is apprehended by many, basing his hope
on the moderation and patriotism of the
people. As to the question of settlement
by Congress, he said emphatically the
Vice President has no more right to count
the electoral vote than have, his duty
Is simply, to declare the count after it has
been made by tellers appointed by the
House ond Senate. e. A. S.