Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-01-13
CONGRESS AND THE PEOPLE.

We publish below a most important
letter from Mr. Watterson to the Lou
isville Courier-J Journal. What he
states is what we have seen for some
time, that Congress is demoralized in
the face of the daring conspiracy which
is prepared to set aside its authority,
and, if necessary, to dispense with vio-
lence its members and nothing but an
exceptional demonstration of the peo-
pie can strengthen the hands of their
representatives so as to enable them
to rise to level with their great re-
sponsibilities.
Now arises the question, what is
Tennessee doing?" Four weeks ago
we appealed to such as we could reach
within the sphere of our circulation
to take part in the system of public
meetings which took place on Monday
throughout the great Western States
in our neighborhood; we called upon
our State executive committee to take
the matter in hand-unfortunately with
outsuecess. A few extemporised meet
ings will probably be got up in de-
taehed portions of the State without
previous notice, without concert, as
was the one in our own Courthouse,
of which we publish the resolutions in
another column, but no general motion
has taken place throughout the State,
and why? 1t is not that the people
are apathetic, we know the reverse, at
least in this community; they are in
tensely agitated and are looking for
advice and guidance to those whom
they have habitually recognized as
their leaders.
We now desire to enforce on those
who have been recognized as political
leaders in Tennessee, or who may de-
sire to be so in future, that they have
a duty to perform which cannot be
evaded. The will of the people de.
mands to be expressed and it is for
them to devise means for giving it
voice. We fear that throughout the
State they have given their attention
too exclusively to The United States
Senatorship.
Well, by the time these words are
printed We shall have determined who
is to go to the United States Senate.
Our politicians must then find time to
consider whether there is going to be
a Senate for him to go to when they
have had leisure to withdraw their
minds from the business of Senator
making, we commend to their atten-
ton the letter of Mr.. Watterson and
the alarming state of affairs at Wash
ington. 1t describes a state of things
which we believe to have been I'M
devastated rather thanover-stated, and
we ask them what are you going to do
about it? The question had better
come now than after the mischief is
done.
Correspondence of the Courier-JourhaIJ
EBBITT HOUSE, WASHINGTON,
Jan. 5, 1877.
Congress reassembles, after ten days
of useless junketing, to find the situa-
ton precisely what it was when it took
its recess, and, indeed, very much as it
was the first day of the session. Thus
far nothing has been developed at
Washington except the ways and
means bywhich the leaders of the Re-
publican conspiracy expectto count Til
den and Hayes in. The election of Til
den, the existence of the conspiracy and
the names of the conspirators are known
to-day no better than they were month
ago. The president, the secretary of
the interior and the secretary of war,
Senators Morton and Sherman and the
general of the army, embrace the list
in full. How they are to partition the
out among themselves af-
ter they have usurped it belongs to the
category of details which it is not worth
our while just now to attempt to faith
ON. Their organization and purpose
are clear.
1t is unlikely that the conspiracy
reaches farther among the leading Re-
publicans. The persons indicated have
constituted themselves into a close
They think that, with
the army at their command, they can,
by bold, defiant and lawless policy,
bring the Senate to their heels, and
compel the people to choose between
them and civil war. Hayes is a mere
incident; men like Logan and Taft
simple tools. Much encouragement
has been given the hopes of the con-
spirators by the pliancy of these, but
still more by the seeming apathy of
the country, which, in the vain hope
that Congress would strike out lead,
has waited upon the non-acting Dem
ocrats. Meanwhile, the Democrats,
unused to the responsibilities of power,
have hesitated, and not without reason;
whilst the Eastern press, representing
the wealthiest classes, has added its
influence to the prevailing irresolution.
The truth is that Congress is merely
reflector. 1t is not a breeder of ideas.
Time was, before modern appliances
had given the people the opportunity to
commune promptly among themselves,
when the men looked to Washington
for adyisement. Now Washington
looks to the country. The chief argu-
ment offered in favor of adjourning
over the holidays was embraced by the |
that members would come
back refreshed and reinvigorated by
contact with their constituents.
The people must act for themselves. |
Without their support the House |
Of Representatives is powerless. A
,orporars guard may disperse it. The |
arrest of half dozen of its members |
would demoralize it. Anything, every
hing is possible to those who oppose |
themselves to the conspirators. But |
unless the people act there will be no
need of violence on the part of the /.
They will proceed with
cut regard to precedents or facts with |
their plan to put the defeated candi-
date for president in the White House, |
leave Congress to pursue its policy of |
Impotent protest, and, having wealth |
cred the 9th of March, say with COM
placency to such a question, What
are you going to do about it?'
Is there no peaceful remedy? | |
think there's There is the right ofpe-
tition, which. adequately presented and
urged, becomes power. The Demo-
Gratis do not include civil war in the
list of their resources. Civil war is
not a red -tape affair. 1t does not come
Tho 10 fioD NOV No. iS e H.