The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-04-13
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
The old questions which aggravated
Grant during the last few years of his
administration, and which he left as
legacy of thorns to torment the execu-
tive couch of his successor, have again
loomed up, and in such manner that
decisive action becomes necessary. The
Southerners are growing greatly exas-
perated over the delay in settling the
mixed affairs of the dual-governed
States. They claim that it will be
breach of good faith to recompense their
generous and tranquil acceptance of the
verdict of the electoral tribunal with
the recognition of the unpopular carpet
baggers, Packard and Chamberlain, af-
ter the tacit and verbal assurances
coming Presidents and the chief leaders
of the Republican party, that the South
should be allowed to settle its own
gubernatorial and State affairs, that
United States troops should be with
drawn, and that honor, amity, and
peace should be the hand-clasp extended
by the North to the South, it seems to
them (the Southern people, rather
strange that so much hesitation and un-
certainty should surround pacific set
tlement of their matters. The Republi-
70 IN, Iaiy f.,r hof
cient evidence is now accumulated un-
der the united effort of the various
House and Senate committees who have
on several occasions personally investi-
gated the subject to justify prompt ex-
ecutive action. Nevertheless, a COM
mission has been resolved upon, headed
by Vice-President Wheeler, and COM
posed of five or seven members, to leave
Washington next week and explore
through Louisiana and South Carolina
the "ways that are dark and tricks that
are vain" to the Southern question
peculiar" To the general public,
however, this high joint commission
proves quite acceptable, leading them
to hope that from their united labors
mutual satisfaction will accrue to both
parties. Many States have been made
out from the prominent lists of legisla-
tors, all of whom will, however, have to
take back seats, as, on later considera-
tion of the question, it was decided un-
wise to select any member of the Senate
or House for places on the commission,
for the reason that Congress might
eventually have to decide upon the mat
ter, and hence it is regarded as certain
that all appointments will be made from
outsiders. The extreme Republicans
shall be tinctured with liberalism in
any form, and the Democrats want
champions equally pronounced in their
favor. These extremists have beset the
President and Attorney General at every
turn, while the liberals, conservatives,
and Democrats are bounding him at
each step, and he is kept going like a
football between the ultra and liberal
leaders. 1t is safe to say that his SYM
pathies are with the latter class, yet he
could see but one way, commission to
relieve himself from the incessant in
trigues and protests. In this condition
he may be likened to the unfortunate
Scotchman with "bee in his bonnet"
The selection of Ex-Governor Brown, of
Tennessee, for a place on the commits
sion shows the calibre of the men who
are to determine the vexed problem.
The commission will, as the Cabinet,
be composed of men of different political
biases.
SPEAKERSHIP.