The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-02-17
Letter from Washington.
w.smNoTos. Feb. ilth, 1871.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 18th, 1871.
Can it be possible that any one cares to
hear any thing from Washington that does
not relate 10 the Presidential question: But
what Is there to writer Certainly nothing very
encouraging to those who hoped that the hrst
year OF the second century would ring Out
the old and ring in the new. The telegraph
may flash an agreeable surprise before this
reaches you. Ex-senator Matt Carpenter
seems to be confident Of winning Louisiana
| for Iiden, but very few Democrats believe
| there is any better fate for the country than o
continuation Of Zach Chandler and Oliver T.
Morton. One of the Democratic counsel,
whose reputation is national, told Your cores
| pondent that he had no faith in the honesty
of the umpire, Judge Bradley, and that he
| had SO poor an opinion of his character as q
| Judge and man that he was embarrassed in
| pleading before him, and this was before his
decision in the Florida case. As for the
Republicans they are seresely happy. Their
pent up polite exultation awaits only the
climax Of Louisiana.
Well it is pitiful A nation Of 40, 900, 900,
bound and led by such men as have bound
and led her for the last eight years, By q
supreme effort arose against aud overthrow
her oppressors. Overthrow them in the teeth
Of the army illegally employed to stiie her
voice in the teeth Of most mOnstrous and
corrupt civil service, illegally employed to
thwart her protest 10 spite Of the peoples
revenue turned away in brides aud hush
money, to compass corrupt ends; in the face
Of the atrOofous ISLANDERS of the New York
Times and the old wives fables Of Morton and
Blaine. Aud now this sublime appeal is to
be negatiyed by a technically, and q fraud
sanctioned in high place. Is il not enough
to make men cry out "a pox on universal
suffrage 2" What is the ballot worth If its
judgment can be set aside by the institutions
it has established2 Is there an honest man
in all the country, not fool that does not
know that Mr.. 1ilden was elected? Is there
well informed man that does not know that
his presidency, with all that il implies, was
and is a national necessity. Some optimists
have been congratulating themselves and the
country that this at least is the end of Grant
and Grantism but the end Of the ism is
not yet. The Supreme Bench has been
packed by him with weak, characterless COW.
ardly, parlisans, and there will be no end TO
Grantism until benignant Providence, or an
indignant people removes them hence.
There are signs Of change at the White
House. The President has ceased to receive
visitors in the forenoon, and devotes few
hours each day to the arrangement of his
papers, etc, preparatory to leaving. IL has
been reported that he would become Presi.
dent OF the proposed Interoceanic ship canal
company, Of the lsthmus Of Darien, but il is
now denied that there is any foundation for
the report. 1t is still his intention to make
an extensive European tour, sailing FROM the
United States early in the summer.
This Congress has been remarkable for sen.
sations, but yesterday we were treated to one
of the first magnitude. Mr.. Purman, Re.
publican member from Florida, rose to speak
upon the report Of the Florida Committe.
Up TO that time no interest whatever had been
taken in the debate, the other speakers hav.
ing addressed, for the most part, vacant seats;
but, when II became evident that Mr.. purman
favored the report Of the majority declaring
the Iilden electors duly elected, the Demo.
cratic members gathered around him and
frequently interrupted his speech with ap.
plause. He denounced the action Of the
Returning Board and went into the whole
subject OF the election in Florida, showing
eonclusively that It was fair and peaceful, say.
ing; IT seemed the peculiar privilege Of the
Republicans to win under all these adyan.
tageous circumstances but it is fact, sir,
"hieh cannot stand upon this iOOr and deny,
and which every man, woman and child in the
State knows, that Florida was lost by the Re.
publican party, in the late election, and that
the Democratic Governor aud tie 7Ilden cleo.
tors ioere truly elected. make this declara
ton now under the most solemn sense of pub.
he duty and from an irresistible feeling of
obligation TO the people Of my State, who
nave nave a right to expect that however partisan
iheir Representative may be in his political
faith, he should, at least, on questions of
public fact, be an honest man. | cannot re,
turn to my State and look my constituents in
the face If, standing upon this floor, and IN
the presence of the whole American people
anxious and entitled to know the whole truth
concerning this dangerous Presidential issue.
should shrink from the responsibility OF
dong justice to my State and defending the
honest political victory against the willful
perversion OF a bold, dishonest, inscriptions,
State canvassidg board.