Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-09
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
NV AcuINr61mnn, n a NJ a

Correspondence of the Bulletin
WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 3, ~.
Jack Frost has not as yet visited us
though our parks and woods put on
their beautiful fall attire weeks ago.
and with crimson bushes tinting every
leaf, are preparing for the long sleep of
winter. The roses and geraniums of
our gardens and the Agricultural
Grounds still bloom as sweetly as though
the summers sun had not long ago bid
den them an eternal goodbye, We read
OF snow and frost in the North, but they
have yet to touch us with their icy fin
gers. Washington climate in October
is delightful, and the visitor can better
enjoy himself in this month than any
other In the year, particularly so when,
as now, Congress is in session. The ex-
element of official and private recep-
tons has not yet begun, but the inspec-
ton OF whatever curiosities the Capitol
offers to the visitor can better be appre-
ciated in October's calm weather, than
when winters storms shall house him
half his days.
Senator MOrton,s death causes much
comment among Democrats as well as
Republicans. The former have always
had great respect for his ability and
skill as an opponent, while the latter
have always regarded him as an able and
trustworthy leader. There has not
been more gallant, dashing, partisan
leader in the Senate since Henry Clay's
death than Mr.. Morton. He never
shirked a contest with any foe, whether
he had to lead forlorn hope or charge
upon broken, demoralized ranks, and
while he lacked that grace and charm Of
oratory and subtlety of intellect which
naturally made Mr. Clay leader, pre-
eminent Of men. yet there was in Mr..
Morton vigor and force of character, a
skill in organization and depth of re-
source that rendered him most formid-
able antagonist in the intellectual COM
bats OF the Senate and caused his recog-
milton as leader of the Republican ranks
Much as the Democrats have to gain by
his death, yet they freely accord him
fullest acknowledgment of his great
mental powers, through which he has
been able, in the twelve years past, to
control and shape the legislation of the
country No one doubts that to Mr.
Stevens in the House and Mr.. Morton
in the Senate are largely due the recon
struction policy of Congress- Both are
gone. Neither were orators, in the per-
sonal and magnetic sense. Their sue
cess came from pure strength of will
and character, infexibility of purpose,
most determined courage and sagacity
Henry Clay ruled through his persua-
sive powers, while the others led and
won by that force which compels others
tie concede their superiority and to fol
low their dictation.
Mr.. Morton's decease adds another
Democrat to the Senate, and reduces
the Republican majority to three, ano
as two, at least, of the Senator's are not
strongly partisan, but inclined to vote
as they please upon all questions, with
out regard to party interests, we look
upon party lines as pretty we'll Oblitera-
ted in the Senate, and think that meas
ures will now be acted upon in the con-
sentative sense rather than for partisan
ends exclusively. But who will assume
the leadership? now that the Old Cap
tain has laid him down in his last sleep,
is query we hear asked on all sides.
For the present, no one can mass the
forces of either party upon many meas
ures, inasmuch as there is too great di-
versity of opinion among themselves
Take finance, for instance; upon it sec
ton, rather than party, rules. We have
the East against the West, and he who
can assimilate the diverse views into
unanimity of opinion will be, indeed, a
leader. Tom Ewing, of Ohio, introduc
ed into the House his bill for repeal Of
the Resumption Act, which was at once
favorably reported back by the Commit
tee on Banking, to which it had been
referred. In order to control it and
prevent amendment by those inimical,
it was simply reported back to the
House, thus putting it upon the Speak
er's table for consideration only, during
the morning hour, On Thursday, Mr.
Ewing endcavored to secure its passage,
but dilatory motions consumed the hour.
and to his intense modification he found
himself in the hands of his enemies, for
a two-thirds majority was requisite to
take it from the Speakers table, and
this strength the bill did not command
Now he must return it to the Banking
Committee for report back to the House
in committee on the whole, where it
will become the subject of prolonged
debate, as well as indefinite amendment,
for while the great mass of members
are favorable to the repeal of the Re
sumption Act, yet there is a great in
congruity of opinion as to what shall be
substituted for it, and as a consequence
of this evident diversity of views upon
national matters, we are led to think
that no one will be able to harmonic
and consolidate either party into such
compact organizations as have control
led past legislation in Congress,
THE PRESIDENT.
Mr., Hayes speeches in Richmond
have gained him unbounded praise from
our Southern people. A Virginian has
Spartan's or a Frenchmans love for
his native State, and the statesman
who compliments the Old Dominion at
once secures the Virginian's friendship.
FELIX.