The Portland daily press., 1877-02-21
Washington Gossip.
The Democratic Caucus-The New Cabi.
net A Batch OF Rumors.

Inc Washington correspondent of the Bos-
ton Advertiser thus describes some scenes In
tne democratic caucus Monday: Mr.. Springer
OF Illinois offered resolution that no appro
priations be made for the army, except ON CON.
dition that troops should not be used tn nm.
hold the Chamberlain or Packard government
in South Carolina and Louisiana Mr.. Ellis of
Louisiana made vehement speech in favor of
this resolution, saying that his people were de-
termined not to submit longer to an illegal
government; that it was life and death mat
ter with them, and that they had right to ex-
pect the Democratic party in Congress to pre-
vent the use of the army in maintaining their
oppressors in power. I'VE ask of you'' he
said, that no further supplies be voted to the
army unless it is to be strictly confined to its
legitimate occupation" upon which there
were cries of "Not dollar, not dollar" in all
parts of the hall A resolution was offered in
structing the Democratic members of the cleo
toral commission to refuse to serve any longer
on the commission, but this seems to have met
with little consideration. Upon a resolution
that it was the duty of the House to prevent the
completion of the electoral count by fllibuster-
ing, Speaker Randall made speech in which
he proclaimed his conviction that the manner
in which the commission had acted absolved
the House from all obligation to respect its
decision, and therefore it was the
duty of the House to resort to all
parliamentary means OF obstruction In its pow
er. 1t was, he said, the undoubted right of
the two houses of Congress to 90 behind the re-
turns. That power had been delegated TO the
commission, and there was no possible excuse
for its refusal to exercise that right 1t was
due to the people of country and to the House
itself, that they should not submit passively
to the treacbery which had been practiced.
The resolution was advocated by other mem
bers, chiefly from the West, some Of whom ex-
pressed the belief that the people of the coun-
try would sustain the House in an attempt TO
defeat the inaug uration of Hayes, stating in
support of this belief that they had received .
great number of dispatches from their coustit-
uents, urging them to adopt such q course.
Several of the ''submissionists'', as they are
called by the itreconclables. spoke in opposi-
ton to this resolution, endeavorlng to show
their hot-headed friends the folly of their
course, and Johu Young Brown offered reso-
luton that the House proceed without upnec-
essary delay with the electoral count No ac-
tIou was taken on any of the resolutions SUBJ
mitted, and the caucus adjourned without q
decision until after the Oregon case Is disposed
of by the commission. The result is thus Inde.
cisive. The filiIbusterers did not accomplish
their purpose of reversing the decision of Sat-
urday, but 90 the other hand, there is a tacit
understanding that the question If still an open
one, and there is no doubt that the filhbusier-
ers are not only determined to carly their
point II possible, out quite hopeful of final
success. They are sure that the sentiment of
the party is in favor of Withholding appropria-
tions for the army, except on conditions men,
committee has been appointed, of which Sena-
tors Randolph and Cooper and Representatives
Hurd and Abbott are some of the members to
prepare ana ddress 10 the country.
This IS season of rumors. Among the
many that are Hosting about town, with little
or no foundation, are the following: That
Hayes will reconcile the South by making
Lamar Secretary OF the Interior; that the
House has information of character to lay the
basis for articles of impeachment against
Justice Bradley for bribery; that TIlden could
have received the solid support of the South in
flibusterirg movements, If he had indicated
that he would have allowed the Texas Pacific
Railroad bill to pass; that Tilden is in favor of
hlibustering and has SO indicated to his friends;
that Conklug would have voted with the Dem
ocrats to sustain the objection to the Commis-
siODs's decision, had b been in the Senate;
that Peltou will refuse to answer the questions
of the Senate committee and go to jail for con-
tempt; that Bob IngeIsoll will be minister to
France.
The Globe says: The propositions submitted
tr the caucus were substantially two, viz: One
to submit to the decision of the Tribunal and
allow Hayes to be counted in, and the other to
fihbuster and defeat the count by delays.
Some very hot speeches were made, and posi-
tive want of unanimity was developed. FL
nally suggestion wss made that before def
mite action was taken on either of the PROPOSE
tions above named, Oregon should be allowed
to go to the Commission, and when their de-
cision was rendered, if adverse to Tilden, o
recess should be taken to the next day, and the
course to be pursued by the Democrats IN the
House decided upon at q caucus to be then
held, to which time the caucus adjourned, thus
virtually concurring in the last suggestion.
The meaning of the caucus is an effort on
the part of Vance of Ohio and few extrem-
lists to prevent the inauguration of Hayes by
any means. There is no probability that the
extremists will succeed in any degree Ran
dali, Harris and Hunton, Hooker, Brown, and
Durham of Kentucky and Buckner of Missouri,
all spoke in the caucus in favor of peaceable
acquiescence in the result Of the Electoral bill
One thing probably will be done, viz: A clause
will be inserted in the army bill prohibiting
any use of troops to sustain the State Govern
ments either in Louisiana or South Carolina.
Mr.. Clymer presided at the session, although
Mr.. Lamar was present. Members are very
reticent as to what was said, but all admit that
the talk of some of the more fiery members
was very bitter. Speaker Randall is reported
to have made very warm speech, denouncine
the Commission and favoring fillbustering to
the end of the session. Mr. Proctor Knott is
also said to have spoken very warmly. The
fillibusterers consider that they have shown an
increase of strength by avoiding by adjourn
ment the adoption OF q resolution similar in
purport to the one offered by Mr.. Reagan of
Texas, and agreed to in the caucus on Saturday
night