The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1877-02-24
Our Washington Letter.
The Decision of the Florida
Case-PrOgress of the EIectO.
raj Count - Democrats De.
SpOndent.

E1hk NOumS - HBeHROCFaGS Ue1
spOndent.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Feb. IS, 1877.
EDITOR CHIEF:
Democracy is fearfully depressed.
There has only been feeble attempt
at reaction from the effects of the
noxious dose administered by the
Commission in the Florida case. From
the date of passage of the electoral
bill down to the hour of Judge Davis
election to the U. S. Senate, its individ-
ual members had been feeding on the
East wind which was sweet to the
taste, but became exceedingly bitter
and depressing in the subsequent pro-
cesses of digestion and assimilation.
The action of the innocent and stupid
marplots Of the Illinois Legislature
who chVckled at their shrewd instru-
mentality in Logan's defeat compassed
by uniting with disgruntled Repub
licans and so-called Liberals to elect
Davis. invited the first disaster to the
cause thought to be safe by the arbi
tration plan. Fields failure to make
a case against the Louisiana Return
ing Board through the testimony of
the moral lepers, traitors, renegades,
informers, vagabonds and soldiers of
fortune summoned here to testify in
behalf of reform, was unexpected and
well-nigh fatal. When Justice brad
ley was announced as fifth judge, the
enthusiasm by which the measure had
been hurried through the House visi-
bly, declined and the chief organ of
the party savagely assaulted him and
it. Nothing could be more exasper-
ating or humiliating than to suffer
their own creation. The oracles of
the party hurried TO the rescue; but
after an able presentation of their
case, it was found SO destitute of foun-
dation based upon facts or even rea-
sonable probabilities, that it broke
down utterly under the rigid scrutiny
OF the Commission. 1t was like the
house of tho foolish man, founded
upon the sands, and which was swept
away and lodged among the debris of
other air castles by the breath of the
first storm. The leaders have en-
deavored to rally their demoralized
forces and hold them in hand for what
they have yet to encounter, but their
success has not been reassuring. After
a vain effort on the part of the House
to reject the vote of the Florida Hayes
electors as counted by the Commits
sion ON Monday A. NJ, a joint session
of the two Houses began at / o'clock,
and the count of the electoral vote
was resumed. Florida was formally
declared for Hayes and Wheeler, and
the count went rapidly forward with
out objection until Louisiana was
reached, whereupon a large number
of elaborately worded objections were
filed. MI. Ferry then announced that
all the papers in the case would be
referred to the Arbitration Commits
sion, and when they should have
reached a decision the count would
be resumed. The Senate Immediately
retired to its own chamber and rou-
tine business engaged the attention
of both Houses until the hour of ad-
journment.
There occurred only one incident
during the count to relieve the pro-
ceedings of their tiresome monotony
and even this was condemned by
few as an insult that ought not to
pass unrebuked, but it was enjoyed
by most of those on the floor and in
the galleries. A few hours before the
time designated for the count to begin
President Ferry received by mail
set of papers from New Orleans, pur-
porting to be the certificates of the
electors of Louisiana. The whole af-
fair was a clever burlesque, but as
the papers were all regular in form,
Mr.. Ferry was obliged to act upon
them as though they were genuine
and their reading could only be dis
pensed with by unanimous consent,
which could not be obtained, Mr.. Mills
insisting upon their being read. Sew
eral John Smiths deposed that, after
being duly sworn by the g holy bull
dozer" they had cast their several