The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-11-10
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

months ago was caYortlng about his
district, detailing to admiring con-
stituents how he would revolutionize
Congressional methods if he was
sent here, he was a much greater
man in his own estimation, we may
believe, than he is to-day, after his
series of remarkable blunders. He
appears to have been taken at his
own valuation by certain of his Dem
ocratic associates of the anti-resump-
ton persuasion. The arrogant and
self sufficient manner assn med in at
tempting to cram his bill down the
Threats of a minority so large that it
approximate majority and includes
some of the ablest minds in the
House, has had its logical effect. At
first he refused to entertain amend
ments of any kind, but soon came to
understand that it was much easier
to annihilate an opponentin stump
speech to crowd of sympathizers,
than when actually confronting him
on the floor of the House. Finally
the Fort amendment which only re-
peals the date of resumption instead
of the whole section was accepted;
but Cancellation had been preceded
by such a show of superciliousness as
to preclude about all hope of the two
third vote necessary to suspend the
rules and pass the bill. 1t is only by
unanimous consent that it can be
taken out of the morning hour, and
unless important conc assions are
made that is not likely to be obtain
ed. Fillibustering, considered legit.
innate under the circumstances, can
be resorted to so as to kill time, and
it now looks very much as though
the bill might hang where it is all
through the session.
The conviction has become very
general that the interests of the coun-
try were never matters of greater in
difference to the Honse majority than
with that of the present Congress.
Three weeks haye been absolutely
wasted on horse races, in vancouver
ing for party advantage Or striving
for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, while
the business that was thought of such
an imperative character that it could
not wait the regular time for meet
ing, has so far been neglected that
much of it has not even been consid-
cred in Committees and it is impos-
sible to resist the belief that Mr..
Randall has been far more solicitous
in his distribution of Committee
patronage to make his calling and
election sure with the "Solid South"
dynasty now predominant in the
lower House, and to pay his debts
contracted in the Speakership contest
than 70 Ai-"haros our publications. e.
the survivors of the Indian cam.
paigns and the labor Instructions OF
the past summer, or to consult oul
commercial, industrial, educational
and social interests, the conduct Of
which have been taken from the
hands of their real representatives
and intrusted, in many cases, to those
of men whose obscurity and lack Of
reputation gives to his selections an
appearance of burlesque. Contrast
ing the sections most deeply interest
ed in one or more of those honored
with chairmanships and the next best
places, leaves the impression that
they were never more shamlessly
trifled with. 1t would require a long
letter to enumerate the names of all
the members of the House who have
introduced bills for reconciliation
but taking their number as some.
thing of an exponent of the wishes OF
the constituencies behind them, the
conclusion is irresistible that the
movement has made great progress
since last session and that it is confin.
ed to no particular section, but has
invaded communities heretofore re-
garded as strictly orthodox. Its final
contamination cannot, from present
appearances here, be doubted.
Partisan malignity stands abashed
for the moment in the presence of
the grim reaper who has again inva-
ded the Senate Chamber and smitten
with fatal effect one of the great
leaders who contributed as much as
any one man among the prominent
actors in our late war, to final success.
He thoroughly believed in making
treason odious, and it will never be
fully known how, by the force OF
innate heroism and patriotism that
caviled at no personal sacrifice, he
defeated demonstrations and made
them to ultimately react upon his
country's enemies. He has left the
impress of his great mind upon many
of most valued institutions and