Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.

WASHINGTON, March 2, 1877.
Since Saturday last the political
situation here has been a critical one,
it being perfectly evident that dis
affected minority has meant mischief,
and would resort to every parliament
tary trick and device in order to de-
feat the declaration of Mr.. Hayes as
President. 1t has been further evil
dent that nothing short of the com
bination of all the discreet and con-
sentative elements of both political
parties in the House would suffice to
defeat the schemes of these disatfcc-
ted, who, under their asserted prefer
ence for "anything or anybody but
Hayes" were determined to prevent
his Inauguration Oh the 4th of March.
But today all doubt and apprehen-
sion is removed by the patriotic ac
ton of a large majority of the House
assisted and turthered by the coura-
geous and statesmanlike rulings of
MIR. Randall, who, as Speaker, took
the ground that he regarded the pro-
visions Of the Constitution, which
enjoined count of the electoral vote,
as peremptory and higher and more
positive than mere parliamentary
rules and technicalities, and that he
would not, III so far as he had the
power, entertain any dilatory resolu-
tons Intended merely to prevent the
final count. Yesterday was the most
exciting and stormicst day which has
been witnessed in the House this
session. The question involved in
Vermonts electoral vote was before
the. House and the obstructionists
consumed the whole day with their
dilatory motions and roll calls; the
yeas and nays being ordered no less
than eighteen times. Though it was
evident that they could not meet
with successful results, inasmuch as
the Speaker was supported by large
ajority of the members in his rul-
ings, yet these obstructionists fought
like madmen all day long and until
O'Clock this morning, when they
succambed, and an end was reached
by Vice President Ferry declaring
| Rutherford Il, Hayes the duly elect
ed President Of the United States.
Our agony of suspense is now over
and we can breath freely again, The
whee.s of government and business
can now resume motion, and we can
fight our acrimonious political bat
ties without disturbance to the peace
and credit Of our country, lnasmuch
as we will have in the background
a strong hand to in;eppose to prevent
mere than contests OF words and
mimic warfare Of windmills. The
capital, during its yesterdays long
to be remembered session, was
thronged with visitors. Every nook
and corner was crowded with them.
On the floor of the House and in its
galleries there was hardly standing
room for the privileged and those ad-
mitted by card, and not less than ten
thousand persons were in the capitol
at various times. The spectator was
reminded, by looking at the excited
members below HIM who were rag
ing and vociferating like bedlamites,
in their endeavor to interrupt as well
as to continue the regular proceed,
ings, of the eventful aud exciting
contest tor Speaker during John
Quincy Adams Congressional career,
and the wish would constantly arise
in ones mind for some one man
who by his eloquence and power
might, as the Old Man Eloquent
then did, terminate a prolonged and
dangerous contest of weeks by his
superior sagacity and courage In
perceiving and pointing out the way
to remove the apparently insurmoun-
table obstacle to peace and ad
justment, which one determined Off.
cial had persistently placed IN the
track of legislation. The announce.
ment of the Vice President was re.
received quietly, and without dem
onstration of any kind by either
members or spectators, and in a few
minutes thereafter, the Capitol was
deserted. At last the flag which has
been floating for thirty days over the
Capitol, is furled. and the longest
legislative day since the foundation
of our government is at an end. In
old time, Rome kept the doors of her
temple to Janus open to show that
she was at war, and we have kept
our unfurled flag upon our Capitol,
that the people might see we were
not at peace. 1t is down at last,
thank God, and now will be unfurled
only as the emblem of peace, and
absence of attempted revolution. In
the past, when facing danger on the
battle field, and shot and shell were
carrying death on all sides, the real
horror Of the situation, never came
till the shock OF courage was over,
and in the quiet of our camp fires, or
the terrible exhibition of the fl I'D
hospital, We realized and appreciated
the narrow escape and how slight a
step 1t was from life to death. So
now, that this political battle is over,
we can perceive how easily the life
and death of nation may be deter
mined by few resolute and dis
affected men, and it is with thankful
ness, we turn from the turmoil, dan
gen and agitation OF the past week,
to the assurance that we have once
more the strong arm of undisputed
government over us, and that our
glorious flag will feat upon the
breeze over truly united nation,and
only in and for peace, The country
owes dent at gratitude to those
who placed themselves in this con-
test just ended,upon patriotic q ounds
and circumvented those who seemed
to prefer chaos and ruin other than
government with a head, and to
no one is more due than Mr.. Ran
dali, who, as Speaker, could, had he
so desired, prevented the reaching
of any contamination.
| INAUGURATION.
Active preparations are being
| i i !