The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-01-16
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 11tb, 1877.
Congressional matters drag themselves
along at such a suail-like pace that for
bearance ceases to be a virtue, and gen.
eral impatience is manifest among citizens
of this vicinity. Very little, indeed has
been accomplished since the beginning of
the holidays, there having heen no quo
rum since that time, in eithei house, until
within four or five days. Neither of those
much vexed questions of the counting of
the Electoral vote and telegraph affairs are
yet disposed of, nor do they seem any
nearer settlement than they did two or
three weeks ago. Barnes and Turner, tel
egraph operators in New Orleans and
Oregon have both been arraigned before
the bars of House and Senate much dis
cusson has taken place concerning tele-
graph dispatches in general-their privacy
and publicity and the power of Congress
over them, and the arrest of Orton, man.
ager of the New Orleans telegraph and
President of the Western Union Company,
has been ordered but none of these ques-
tions finally disposed of
Both portions of the committee, on de-
vising some satisfactory method of count
ing the Electoral vote, have had several
meetings, but no joint session. Until late
ly, confidence has been felt that the delay
VI Iut bttbltUtub VI udbItT WAS u
favorable omen to ultimate harmony, but
recent rumor says that the committee do
not mean to accomplish any thing, that
they have agreed to disagree. In fact, the
idea of new election is fast gaining
ground among thinking people and it is
possible that Congress has the same thing
in mind, and considers that anything ac-
complished this session would have TO be
undone and would only be so much labor
lost.
The Presidential difficulty is still the one
great subject for conversation and conject-
ure. Republicans talk of president
Hayes that-is-to-be," and Democrats insist
that Tilden is Presdent-elect. A grand
Democratic demonstration was held at
Ford's Opera House, in this city, on We'd
nesday in which speeches were made, letters
read and resolutions offered--all to the
same effect-that Tilden and Hendricks
were elected and should be inaugurated on
the 4th of March, peacefully, if possible
forcible if necessary. An independent
daily paper of this city gives the Presi-
dents views upon the subject as follows
"The President has given close attention
to constitutional and statuatory provisions
respecting the political status of the Dis
trict of Columbia and the duties of the
executive in the protection of Government
property here, in the events OF pending
difficulties surrounding the political situa-
tion resulting in a revolutionary attempt
at a dual Inauguration. In advising him.
self of his duties he has had no consulta.
tions with Vice President Ferry, nor with
the Senate committee now endeavoring tC
determine on plan for counting the elect
oral vote. The President has made up his
mind as to his duty-simply to meet any
/ mil nf 20 H.
last moment of his responsibility as Chief
/ Magistrate. He says that whoever is de.
clared to be his constitutional successor, ia
him will he surrender the reins of govern
ment He very much deprecates the po-
litical demonstrations which are being held
in different parts of the country, as only
tending to unnecessarily inflame the al
ready agitated public mind, and thinks that
iJ is not the part Of patriotism at this
juncture to collntenance any such proceed
ings, but that wiser counses should pre-.
vail that tits unwise to foster apprehen
sions by attempting to create public senti
ment in the interest of either party. He
says that the only place for Inauguration is
in the city of Was hiDgton, so that sepa
rate Inauguration in any other city would
have no effect
The District of Columbia is by law the
seat of government, which cannot bt
changed except by the concurrent actor
of the two houses Of Congress. Therefore
with the laws standing as they do, an in,
auguration in any other place would bt
null and void. aud any attempt to exercise
authority under it could not be recognized
and any such recognition by any officer O
the government would be treason. He sayl
that his authority, in accordance with law
is as supreme in the District of Columbis