The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-04-12
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
About the Speakership of the Next
House of Representatives..
1t VIII BE- Either Foster or Democrat.
Especial Correspondence N. o. Democrat


TO an inquiry, Hon. Chas. Foster telsgraphsd
A. q. Buell. to-day from Fostoria, Ohio (his
home,) concerning his position as candidate
for the speakership, as follows:
'sIn the ordinary sense OF the term l have
never been candidate. In the same sense l
have never declined"
This correctly represents MIR. Fosters position,
inasmach a. his candidacy was never self-an-
nounced.
80 much has been sad in the newspapers OF
late touching Mr.. Fosters presumptive candi-
dature for the Speakership that an accurate state
ment OF his attitude becomes due both to him
and to the pub ie. When MIR. Foster says that he
has never been a candidate in the ordinary sense
of the term, he means that he has never soug ht
the place nor asked his friends to seek it for him,
which is the ''ordinary" style OF csndidature.
will state 90 briefly as possible the "sense If the
term" in which Mr.. Foster ia q candidate
FoR THE sPEAKERsHrP
Of the next House: Shortly after the adjournment
Of Congress- and when the new broom of Mr..
Hayes Southern policy was sweeping clean.
quiet but formidable movement was set on foot
to smash the caucus in the organisa-
ton OF the next House. Some thirty
odd Conservative Representatives began to
canvass among themselves the project Of aban-
doning' the caucus, which, 80 far as they could
see, existed for little else than to elect some one
of three or four Northern Democrats to the
| Speakership and to "keep Matt Adams and his
Kentucky colony" to use the words Of an emf
nent southern conservative, firmly fixed in the
meridian of the Clerks Office. It is not necessary
| to go into recanvass of the motives which in
duced there gentlemen to contemplate this, the
most important political step that has been medi-
tated sioce the Republican party was formally Or
ganized in 1854.
| THE MAIN MOTIVE
was in brief, conviction that there was no
longer any logic in q political partnership be-
tween the Democracy of the North and the Con-
seryatism of the South; the North contribu ting
or words to that effect.
Well, these gentlemen, believing that Mr..
Hayes policy meant what his words signihed,
proposed to give the Administration
THE ORGANIZATION OF THE NEXT HOUSE.
They did not contemplate giving it to the r Repub-
lican party, however; not by any means. Blu!
they reacaed sort of informal agreement thai
if a certain element, with which they cou Id moi
affiliate under any circumstances whatever, coult
be detached from the Republican caucus, ol
crushed into silence and out OF infiue ncs within
it, they could see their way clear to join in
composite organizatio Of the House. 1t Is no
pertinent here to trace this movement any fur
ther. Whether it win amount TO anything OF
not depends very much on what the next four
weeks may bring forth in Loui lana.
1t was tacitly agreed that, inasmuch as the Re
publicans would furnish the bulk of the votes il
this movement, they should have the Speaker
ship. and the question arose among the Southern
men:
WHOM CAN WE SUPPORT,
consistently with the present situation, an ] will
due respect to the situation in the past To tht
sugg astion of Garfield the answer was that nj
Southern Conservative could support q mar
wLose record embraced the Credit-Mobilier; the
Bloody Shirt in it's most diapidsted firm; whose
denominational value ss q statesman had beer
fixed by De Golyer and Mcclellan at $4,000: ant
who, to crown the achievements of a poll tica
career which began by descending from pulpit
and bid fair to end with farther descent intt
hell, had Joined John Sherman in q certificate O
good character to J. Madison Wells, ana OF chas
! tiby to
ELIZA PINKsToNl
To the mention Of Banks, reply was made by
, facetious Confederate of excelent fighting reput
during the war and Of unblemished pacific FAM
SINCE that while the Confederacy-p particular J.
the Gulf portion thereof-was indebted to Bank
for liberal supplies OF commissary stores apt
paper collars, Dick Taylor had abundantly dis
charged the obligation by letting him eseap
down Red River alive and that old score conld no
| be raked up again as q reason why the Soutl
: should support him for the Speakership. More
over it was further suggested that ipasmuch a
J it would soon be time for Banks to undergo hi
regular biennial transmogrifcation Of opinions
, or rs they say OF old hens. his regular moultin
, season.-it wonld be well to wxit until he coul
, grow his new coat Of political feathers and Sc
l wnst their color might be.
! Then Foster was suggested. It was objecte
that he could not command the entire Republica
: strength; to which reply was made,
: $50 MUCH THE BETTER"
: It was said that the carpet baggers, holdin
Q him largely responsible for having forged th
Z wedge that had split them, and for having pave
the way with his Louisiana report for the defes
. of the Force bill, which had completed their ruiz
d would bolt him; to which the response wa
sAmen The devil take theml" 1t was fnall
suggested that Ben Butler. tenderly cherishin
Q the memory OF Jane and sanborn, whom Fostt
, slew in cold blood, would bounce him; whereupo
! the cry was set up, God be praise Foster lis IL
q mani" For next to the memory Of Robert
/ Lee, the South cherishes the name Of that r
+ publican whose virtues commend him to the el
o nifty OF the carpet baggers, and whose hostili
8 to public robbers has earned for him the execr
~ ton Of Ben.
After Mr.. Foster had been duly weighed
. these balances. and had made them kick Il
a beam, it was resolved to use him as q candida
8 with whom to make certain individuals kick ii
g bucket. Then Mr.. Foster WAS informed OF Il
= f.et. was present at the interview in which
} was informed OF what had been said and pred