Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-02-14
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9. 1877

WASHINGTON, Feb. 9, 1877.
The third House, as the lobby is called,
is about the only branch of the legislative
department that takes any interest in what
is going on in Congress just now. There
is barely quorum in the House and Sen
ate. The electoral commission, that holds
its sessions in the Supreme Court room,
draws many members and senators away
from their legislative duties. 1t is not
every day that representatives have the
opportunity 10 hear Charles O'Conor,
William M. Evarts, Judge Black, Matt.
Carpenter. and other scarcely less distn-
guished luminaries on so momentous a
subject. The. Supreme Court room is
crowded to its utmost capacity, many in
fluential men and women sue in vain for
admission, while all the doors and corrd-
ors are surrounded and filled by Il crowd
which, if less respectable, would be called
a mob. Every transient visitor to Wash
ington imagines that it is the duty of his
omnipoent representative to secure him
admission to the Supreme Court room,
while the fact is that the representative is
frequently unable to get in himself The
great interests involved and the intensity
of feeling and excitement on the subject
Of the count finds expression in unrca-
sonable dependency or citation ut every
slight oscillation of the scale which the
blind goddess is said to hold. At present
the dependency is with the democrats,
while the elation is with the republicans.
Whatever may be the final result of the
count it is certain that it will decide the
political fortune of others than Tilden and
Hayes. If it is decided against Tiden,
the democratic party will neither forget
nor forgive Thurman, Bayard, Payne and
others who were so earnest in urging the
measure. On the other hand, if Hayes
should be defeated, the republican party
will charge it to Conkling, Edmunds,
lIOar and Frelinghuysen. The politicians
who are happiest now are those who vOt-
ed against the bill.
The Investigations into alleged election
frauds have, to some extent, lost their
interest since it has been decided that
the commission will not 90 behind the re-
turns. Before that decision, they had been
prosecuted with great vigor by the com
mitteo of which Mr.. Knott is chairman
and it was expected that the ties imony
Of Litlcfield and Maddox would be
brought before the commission, but, the
decision in the Florida case, it is conceded
will cover that Of Louisiana also, and there
will be no inquiry except into the right Of
the Returning Board under the laws Of
that state to count the electoral vote, and
also into the constitution of the Board. The
democrats insist that the law requires that
it shall be composed of men from botl
parties. A final decision in the Florida
case will probably be reached to-day, and
it is not improbable that the two Houses
will meet in joint session on Monday and
continue the count until the state OIL
Louisiana is reached. The general opin,
ion here is that the Louisiana case will moi
require longer time for consideration thar
has been given to Florida, and that after
next Thursday the Houses in joint session
will again be ready to proceed with the
count, without interruption, until they CONF
to Oregon; though, in the opinion Of
many, Mississippi will be referred to the
commission The Supreme Court la:
been adjourned until the l9ih inst, and il
is expected that, by that time, the feveriSl
agony will be over and the great question
irrevocably decided.
AS the season of Lent approaches, socia
gayety becomes more abandoned ant
reckless than ever, and it seems in strange
contrast with the gloom and anxiety whicl
pervades the country. Masked balls ar,
attended by all classes. The masks ar
worn until about twelve O'Clock at night
when the butterfly sheds her domino, an,
comes forth resplendant in real diamonds
and marvellous upholstery. The domino
is the favorite, as it is the most effective
disguise, for either sex, but there is n
end to the variety, beauty or grotesque
ness of the costumes. c.