The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1877-12-01
Our Washington Letter,

The Contest for political AScendency- TIE Republi-
cans out AanGurered in he Outset Of The Co,,tro-
rersy-A Brief VieWlof Circumstances preceding
Turman's Notion What Patterson and Conover
say for Themselre5-~THe PRESIDENTS Position
IiiGen to The Front t-Hilidrd and Sanford.
WASHINGTON. d. c., Nov. 2e, 1877
The desperate straits in which the RepUbn.
cans find themselves in the Senate is due entire.
ly to the bad management of their leaders Al.
ter car full survey of the situation, upon the
adjournment of the Senate on Friday. 1t is evl.
dent that the Democrats Rhave lshown vastly
more skillful tactics and PERCEPTION Of result
than their opponents.
When Congress met it was evident to every
one that The strength OF parties was so evenly
balanced that any mistake, on The part of those
holding control, would be attended by serious
consequences. 1t was also known, but seems
not to have been appreciated, that 1t would be
necessary for the Republicans to hold their
forces together, and to well understand their
plans, and to carry them out promptly ana ef.
fectively The success OF the Republicans
depended from the first upon the action of the
Committee OH Privileges and Elections. Before
that Committee were three cases of contests for
seats in the Senate. AT the highest the Re
puDlCans could not count with certainty upon
majority more than barely sufficient TO keep
their heads above water. For some months il
hai been known that Patterson in the interests
of his freedom from persecution in South Caro-,
| lima, intended to vote ior the admission OF But.
Ter to a seat in the Senate as aga INST COrbin. 1t
had also been known that for some time Demo.
| cratic Influences had been at work with Con.
over to secure his co. operation in the seating OF
| Butler. In the face of these facts, when Con.
gress met weeks ago. the Committee on Priv.
| leges and Elections started IN on au elaborate
| consideration of the Kellogg SpOffOrd case The
| minds of the members Of the Committee, at the
moment of their meeting were fully made up as
! to what acton they would take, so that the pal
AYERS IN which they have been indulging them
selves for the past thirty DAYS were so much
time wasted. The Kellogg case could have been
reported 10 lhe Senate weeks ago with the same
results, as when they reported 1t on last FRIDAY
at twenty four hour's notice This would have
placed tins question before the Senate, anC
would of course given IL precedence without q
contest.
Here the Democrats showed their EhTewdhess
| Instead Of reminding the Committee of their
tardiness IN reporting this case before them
they quietly permitted the time to pass on to-
WARDS the close Of the session, at the same time
watching Tor favorable opportunity when the
ranks OF the Republicans should be reduced by
the absence of a sufidieut number 10 warrant q
greaIei certainty OF success. Alta timely mo
| ment, Thurman, acting IN accordance with in
structiOn from this Democratic caucus made his
motion to discharge the Committee on Privi
leses ard Elections from the further consiaera
tion Of the case Of Butler II was now, for Tho
first tune, realized by the Republicans of tho
Committee that they had been playing a very
stupid part, and that they had been caught IL
their own trap.
The Republicans in the Senate, generally
had been so nusiy engaged in finding faul
with the President,,ard in trying 10 thwart hi
Efforts 10 organize his administration in hi
own way, that they had lost sight of the dana
ges OF Their own position III the body of whicl
they were members
This oversight they now realize, but there i
some danger that it Is too late 10 avnil them, A
all events It throws the balance OF power praC
ucally IN tie hands Ol Patterson ana Cunover
Neither Patterson nor ConOver vet admit tina
they have gone over TO the Democrats In th
Republican caucus on saturday Patterson, II
jusuneat.on Of his course iu the Butler case
made the following statement: That he calle
upon the President early afIer h Inauguration
and explained the situation Of Affairs and earn
estly recommended certain appointments whic
were designed to protect the Republicans 4
South Caro,uA from the vindlcuve spirit of IN
old rebel element that after the troops wer
withd avn from the support OF Chamber al
nothing wps dune,as suggested, SO that what h
then feared has now come to pass that NOrtl
rup, the District Attorney appointed at the it
stance OF Wade Hampton, as he must be lev,
, tn cover up the Il amOurg massacre, mas Of ,aI
been us'ng the whole pawer of the Coz ernmeu
: in a WHO esoIne ana unjust persecution OF th