Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-28
Our Washington Letter.

W NHhiNbibN, -. tss NtlNll -thHs i'''s
hessrs. Editors To-day has been, perhaps,
the quietest since the new administration was in
augurated The anxiety felt by all as to
THE ACTION OF THE CABINET
in regard to the settlement Of the South Caro-
lima and Louisiana questions, has been relieved
for the present by the invitation sent TO the South
Carolina gubernatorial contestants to meet at
Washington, and by the decision Of the President
and Cabinet TO send commission to Louisiana
The public mind Is in need Of rest on these two
perplexing questions, and will take II for day or
two, at least. Had the course to be pursued been
as clear as many Of the politicians here believed
1t to be- it would have been only necessary for the
President to write order for the withdrawal of
the United States troops from Columbia and New
Orleans, and the matter would have been settled,
so far as the President was concerned sometime
ago. With the President, however, the question
was not what this or that clique or party Mought
was right in the matter, but what actually
'cdS right; and determination of this question
involved careful inquiry AZ to facts. and careful
consideration of the facts when ascertained Had
the object of the President been to please or con-
ciliate one or the other Of the contending parties
the thing to be done would have been quite easy
to decide upon; but being incumbered with a
conscience and sense Of responsibility to the
country, he could not accommodate the impatient
gentlemen on either side who demanded sum
mary action. He has, however, lost no time in
taking the question up, and the plan of sending a
commission to investigate and report upon the
facts can admit Of no serious objection from either
side. 1t may be said that we have already the
reports Of the investigating committees OF the
Senate and House of Representatives, as well AZ
the visiting statesmen OF each political party.
But these reports were based upon observations
or investigations made during period Of intense
| political excitement, and by men known to be
eager for the OF their respective parties in
the great contest for the Presidency which was
then in progress That contest is now over, and
we have a President who has already demon
strated the sincerity of his desire to deal fairly
and literally with the Southern people. He seem,
to recognize above all else the duty of acting il
accordance with the facts and the equities Of the
respective cases, and will undoubtedly designate
the members of the commission with that sol,
end in view.
The commission will probably be named early
in the week and start for the South Immediately
1t Is believed that no member Of the last Hous
or Senate will be upon the commission, but tina
it will be composed Of representative men from
each political party and from different sections o
the country. Ex-Governor Brown Of Tennessee
Judge f. lockwood IIoar of Massachusetts, Hon
Iersche V. johnson of Georgia, General Benja
min Harrison Of Indiana, Hon. Kenneth Rayno
of North Carolina and Hon. David Davis of Iii
nois, are now prominently spoken Of as probabl
members of the committee
1t has finally been decided to call an extra ses
sion of Congress on the 18th of June. Great change
will be noticed in the composition Of
THE NEXT HOUSE,
when it comes together at that time. The larg
democratic majority Of seventy-seyen at the la.
session has been cut down to the small maiorit
of five. Many of the ablest men who fought tn
battles of the last Congress, on either side of tn
House, will be missed, while other men, no lie.
known to fame, will come to the front agail
Blaine, Ben. Hill, George f. Hoar, Lamar an
Frank Hereford have all been promoted from I'll
: House to the Senate and the places of four
them will be hardly filled in the next House. {
the two hundred and ninety-two members, OF
hundred and forty-two, or not quite one-half
the members of the old House, have been r
elected OF these such prominent leaders as Ga
field Hale, Frye Banks, Foster and Kelley on Il
Republican side, and Randall, Cox, Wood, Knot
Blackburn, Sayler and Tucker on the democrat
side, resume their old seats. In regard to losse
the state of Iowa drops from an exalted positit
of influence in the last House to mediocrity in Il
next. Three of the ablest orators lawyers al
Z parliamentarians in the last House were from tn
state and will be greatly missed These are Ka
t son, McCrary and Wilson. All refused a
nomination, but neither will be allowed to rema
long in private life McCrary has already be,
made Secretary of War. Kasson will be the ne
Governor of Iowa, if lie will accept, and in tv
= years will probably cross swords with Senat
Allison for the latters present seat in the Senat
Massachusetts may be said to have gained in h
, influence in the next Congress Although 81
i loses Seelye, Tarbox and Thompson she mo
e than makes up with Ex-Governor Clafin Gener
e Butler, Judge Walbridge A. Field and Dr. Lorin
t and retaining General Banks in the House al
- Mr. Hoar in the Senate. New York loses NJ
George G. Hoskins one Of the best parliament
rians in the last House; Mr. Scott Lord, one
the best lawyers on the democratic side, and NJ
Edwin K. Meade, who finds lucrative law pra
y tce more profitable. South Carolina loses Il
really valuable services Of General A. S. Wallac
who was defeated solely because he was Uni,
man throughout the late war, as well as Repu
lican General John Hancock, of Texas, is left
e home for the same reason. The only difference
that Hancock is democrat, but although II
e wavering in his devotion to the democratic part
/. he bravely refused to take the oath of aegian
to the conederacy, and hence cannot be trust
by the Texas democracy Ohio loses an at
Z, lawyer in the person of Mr., Hurd, and go,
fnancier in Mr.. Payne The retirement OF NJ
Lawrence of that state, is also great loss Illinc
dispenses with the services Of Barney Caulfel
, while the democracy loses one OF its ablest adv
- Gates by the retirement of John Young Brown,
= Kentucky
v THE NEW MEMBERS
, Of the next House embrace among them sever
who have already made themselves conspicuo
5 upon the floor of Congress, and three or four
/ these gentlemen will be likely to take a lead
. part in the discussions before the next sesso
{ Ben Butler has never failed to make himself t
!. most conspicuous man in the House, whilea mel
ber and it will be proud day for him when
returns to the scene OF his former glories, As
: leader on the democratic side there will retu
Clarkson n, Potter, of New York, while Thorn
Ewing of Ohio, will take a leading place both
an exponent Oh uelloCldCy anu huNocdte VI ss
D., money. Ex-Governor Joseph ID. Cox, of Oh
y Hon. Thad c. Pound, of Wisconsin, Hon. Hira
Price of Iowa, General j. Ii. Ketcham and &c
Il era A. &. McCook, of New York. will each Ia
n prominent position on the Republican side.
There are twenty-one contested elections
l. Congressman to be decided by the House on
y organization,
y PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.
The Republicans of this District hold ma
pt meeting at Lincoln Hall on Monday evening
IA the purpose OF endorsing the Presidents policy
ar paciication and reconciliation. Numerous d
ID tinguished speakers are to be present
1t is predicted here that the pastor of the Me
ropolitan church will keep ON preaching just
: though he had a President for listener STILL al
that the pastor of " Foundry" church twill he
:, his glowing furnace, melt his raw ore, and sw
his spiritual trp-hammer with new power,
The Republican Of this city advises the Repu
: licans of the next House to unite upon n SOU
" old-lino Whg who is returned to Congress as
n democrat and elect him speaker, with the he
II of Southern democrats.
lr There are five Misses Evarts a Miss Schul
who is described rs both lovely and accomplisht
bas oh