, 1877-11-17
Cur Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Nov. /,

| EDITOR STsTESMAN 1t used to be sal.
| If President Grant, that when politica
eliques opposed each other, and bothere,
him in the offort to secure important posi-
tions, he put the names OF his personal friend
in hat and drew one out by chance What
ever name first came out of the hat WAS sen
| to the Senate for confirmation. This cours
might often disgust allthe politicians, bu
the element of fairness, IS between them
could not be denied. The nomination of Mr.
Welsh, as minister to England, seems to b
the rather happy result Of a similar experi
ment on the part Of MIR. Hayes. 1t is sal,
of Mr. Welsh, that he is shallow minded
ignorant Of many things . minister ought t.
know, vain and stubborn; but the politicians
who were quarreling over the office, had al
these faults and many far more serious ones
Let us thank God for the man who first i'll
vented hats. Let us encourage the use ol
hats in American politics.
1t is gratifying to learn, from the papers oi
New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Mass
aehusetts and Wisconsin, that the interest
in the result of the elections IN those States
is increasing as the 9th of November ap,
proacheS. The Importance OF those elections
can hardly he estimated, and this Is so thar
oughly felt in congress, that both parties
hesitate there to take any action, which may
injurioBSly affect their friends in the coming
contests With national and local disagree
ments IL the republican party, which must
affect its vote everywhere, the comparatively
harmonious democracy ought to achieve a
victory in all the States mentioned. With
proper effort such a result seems certain.
ln Virginia and Mississippi. holding elections
on the same day, it is only questions of dem-
Ocratic majOrities.
The Senate yesterday confirmed many OF
the important nominations, including ell
those made by reason of the personal friend
ship of Mr. Hayes. None to which objection
Is expected hav been acted on.
A curious letter is published, written by
Justice Strong of the Supreme Court, during
the session of the electoral commission. JUS
tiee Strong speaks of what he fears was the
great wrong of the Louisiana returning
board, but says an attempt on the part of
the commission to interfere, would have
been usurpation tending to Capitalization.
1t adds to honest democratic anger, to be
told now that even those who declared Hayes
to be President, knew that he was not
elected
The committees Of the House seem to give
about rs much satisfaction Is its committees
usually do In times when great questions art
to he acted on. Speaker Randall in a few
instances undoubtedly expressed in his ap
pointments, some of the i'll feeling shown ii
the caucus for the Speakership; but he i.
human, and the opposition to him was mo-
scrupulous in its use of means to defeat HIM
Though now fully organized in both branches
Congress, for a reason mentioned above, vii
not probably for several days do much NOR
than wait for its committees. The army ap
preparation bill will be reported this week
OF OH Tuesday neat, and it is understood
will be based upon the same number of mel
now in the force, Or less number. As ther'
is now no thought Of adjournment before
late IN November, We may expect genera
legislation to commence at any time aftel
| Tuesday, November 9th.
This District with taxable real estst.
worth about seventy-fve millions has deb
Of about thirty millions, most of it ereate'
under officers appointed by the Preslden
and not accountable to our people. In th'
last seven years congress has voted consider
able money to the District, but always in :
way to encourage our appointed rulers t.
still mare slavish expenditures. Unless th'
property of every poor man i'll the Distrie
is to be speedily contiscated in the way o
taxation, We must have a change Of treat
ment by the federal government
In connection with the English mission II
is told that in requesting the Pennsylvania
| delegation to name a man, it was expectef
they would select Wayne MeYeigh, Gamer
0n's son-in-law. Thus tbs administration
could compliment the Camerons, offend Bel
Butler, and above all the rest, reward ont
| OF the men who went South at the bidding
of Hayes, to smooth over affairs in LOulsi
ana. But the CameI0ns are of a breed thai
eats its own young. Hex.