Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-09-19
Our Washington Letter.


WASHINGTON, d. c., September 10, 1877.
Messrs Editors One month hence the extra
session OF the Forty-ffth Congress Is TO be con-
vened, and already the attention of the entire
country is attracted toward that interesting event.
foreshadowng, as It does, so much Of moment to
the financial as well as the political, interests of
Of the nation In view Of the fact that, at its ex-
ira session in October Congress IL to be called
upon to consider various matters of Importance
such as the Texas Pacific railroad, the labor ques
tion the financial policy, and other measures Of
and as the appointment Of the commit
tees Of the House devolves upon the new Speaker
to be chosen, the main question now is as to
WHO WILL BE srEAKER7
Several gentlemen have been anxiously canvass
ing the country for some months past in their
own interests, each believing that they, and they
alone, should be elected to that very responsible
position. Despite the earnestness with which the
subject has been discussed 1t still remains con-
undrum, even to those who should best know and
who are best able to prophesy, which of these
several candidates is to be victorious. The three
principal contestants for the speakership are Sam
Randall, the Speaker Of the last session, Sunset
Cox, of New York, and Milton sayler, Of Ohio,
All three Of these gentlemen have had more or
less experience in the chair during the last Con-
gress, and each have their own set of friends in
the next House. Besides these three candidates
there are others among the Representatives who
would be willing to accept the Speakership,
among them being Blackburn, of Kentucky, Nor
rison, of Illinois and Goode, of Virginia From the
fact that the South has a majority of the dem
ocrats in the next House, it would seem reason
able to suppose that they would present the
strongest candidate for the Speakershp from their
own section. But at present this seems not to be
the case. The three first mentioned candidates
are doing all the electioneering while the South
looks quietly on, holding, nevertheless, the power
to decide the question as they choose. Blackburn
has hot solitary element of fitness for the place,
and for that, among other reasons, will not be
presented by the South as their candidate Should
a compromise be necessary and n Southern man
be available, there is Tucker, of Virginia, and
Hooker Of Mississippi, either of whom would be
as acceptable from parliamentary point of view as
either of the candidates from the North Sayler
is the best fitted of any of the gentlemen in the
democratic party, being fine presiding officer
and very fair in his treatment partisan questions
The most important lever which will be brought
into requisition in this controversy for the Speak
ership will be the project of the Texas Pacific
road. Thequestion of the completion of this road
being, strictly speaking Southern measure, has
got to be the very rock on which the majority
must split, and from its standpoint alone are the
merits OF any candidate being discussed.
Randall is regarded just now the most formida-
bic candidate, and his strength has been secured
by being all things to all men He is in favor of
subsidies or strongly opposed to them, according
to whichever party he may be talking. He is an
nounced to be pledged for the completion Of the
Texas Pacific by Throckmorton, of Texas one of
the foremost projectors of the measure, who is in
favor of the willy Sam for Speaker, while Senator
Wallace, of Randall's own state, asserts that the
latter will have to go back upon his previous
promises to his constituents and his former record
in order to aid such a scheme. This, however,
would not trouble Mr.. Randall, for he has become
famous for political somersaults ever since he be-
came a member of the House. II Randall can
successfully hoodwink the Texas Pacific crowd
into the belief that he will help them in their
project If they will put him into the chair, he is
pretty sure to be put there.
Prominent democratic Senators who have been
interviewed on the subject of the proposed cap
ture of the Senate by the democrats mentioned in
our last letter. have made haste to discaim any
such intention, affirming at the same time that
THE TRIUMPH OF THE DEMOCRACY IN THE SENATE
is only question of time which time is specified
as the 4th of March, 1879 at the very latest. The
terms of twenty-five Senators will expire at that
time OF this number at least four Republicans
will be succeeded by democrats, viz: Spencer oil
| Alabama, Dorsey of Kansas, Conover Of Florida
and Patterson of South Carolina. In addition t.
| these, the term of one Of the Senators to be ad
| mitted from Louisiana will expire in 1879, also
| All the democrats are likely to be succeeded by
| democrats, with the possible exception of Barnun
of Connecticut There are four Republicans whos'
terms expire at that time whose states are gener
ally considered as doubtful just at this time, viz
Morton of Indiana, Conkling of New York, Mat
thews of Ohio, and Mitchell of Oregon. The stat
of California may now be considered as given NJ
to the democrats, who will elect successor t.
| Senator Sargent
As there are Mt present thirty-three democrats
thirty-nine Republicans and Independent
Davis of Illinois,, with three vacancies to fill il
the Senate, it will be seen at n glance that it
extremely necessary that the Republicans mus
hold their own, in this coming election of Sena
TORS III oruer 10 keep coh'ro vi 'ne 'ena'e III I'll
forty-sXth congress by 'ne Prop"oie iosS
spencer, po'ses' Oo"oNei anu i".'e,so" """'.
a gain in any of the other states the Senate woul
be controlled by the democrats. So it seems tina
the democracy really have reason for congratl
'a''ns '"e"'sei'eS u" ''e p'osPe'' "he"u H'e
cohceuihg 'he '"'''hc'es III oou'" N"to'in' an
L"uisn'h' !" ."e "epuoi'V""s III o0Vooel "n'e
would make the senate stthu' lof'y-.wo Hepup'
cans thirty-three democrats ana one ihuepehueh
stii' by the transfer Oh nVe hepnohcah seats
the democrats, 1t would give the democrats ma
Jorty OF one over ALL or oil three In the event Una
Davis, OF Illinois, should act with them'
10 counterfeit such victory as THIS wouio
Tor the democracy, the Republicans shouid III I'll
next two years secure majority oil the col
gressional districts to their party, so that VINE
again control of the lower House, even thong
hamnRrntG