The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-03-23
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.


alton here has been a critical one, it be-
ing evident that disaffected minority
has meant mischief and would resort to
every parliamentary trick and device in
order to defeat the declaration of Mr..
Hayes as President. 1t has been further
evident that nothing short of the COM
bination of all the discreet and con-
servative elements of both political par
ties in the House would suffice to defeat
these disaffected who, under their as
serted preference for ''anything or any
body but Hayes" were determined to
prevent his Inauguration on the 4th of
March. But to-day all doubt and ap-
Erehension is removed by the patriotic
action of large majority of the House,
assisted and furthered by the courageous
and statesman-like ruling of Mr. Ran
dali, who, as Speaker, took the ground
that he regarded the provisions of the
Constitution which enjoined count of
electoral vote as peremptory and higher
and more positive than mere parlia-
mentary rules and technicalities, and
that he would not, in so far as he had
the power, entertain any dilatory reso-
lutions intended merely to prevent the
final count. Yesterday was the most
exciting and stormiest day which has
been witnessed in the House this session.
The question involved in Vermont's
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 or
dered no less than eighteen times.
Though it was evident that they could
not meet with successful results, mas
much as the Speaker was supported by
a large majority of the members in his
rulings, yet these obstructionists fought
like madmen all day long and until 4
O'Clock this morning, when they sue
cumbed and an end was reached by
Vice-President Ferry declaring Ruther-
| ford B. Hayes the duly elected President
of the United States. Our agony of
suspense is now over and we can breathe
freely again. The wheels of government
and business can now resume motion,
and we can fight our acrimonious polit-
ical battles without disturbance to the
peace and credit of our country, inas-
much as we will have in the background
strong hand to interfere to prevent
more than contests of words and mimic
warfare of windmills. The Capitol,
during the whole of its yesterdays
long-to- aforementioned session, was
thronged with visitors. Every nook
and corner was crowded with them. On
the floor of the House and in its CALLER
les there was hardly standing-room for
the privileged and those admitted 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 raging and vociferating
like bedlamites in their endeavor to in
terrupt as well as to continue the regu-
lar proceedings, of the eventfuI and ex.
citing contest for Speaker during John
Quincy Adams congressional career
and the wish would constantly arise in
our mind for some one man who, by his
eloquence and power, might, as the Ole
Man Eloquent then did, terminate 6
prolonged and dangerous contest o
weeks by his superior sagacity anC
courage in perceiving and pointing ou
the way to remove the apparently in
surmountable obstacle to peace and ad
justment which one determined officia
had persistently placed in the way o
legislation.
: The announcement of the Vice Presi
! dent was received quietly and withou
demonstration of any kind by eithe
! members or spectators, and in fev
a minutes thereafter the Capitol was de
a serted. At last the flag which has beel
floating for thirty days over the Capito
= is furled, and the longest legislative da.
o since the formation of our governmen
a is at an end. In old times Rome KEEP
!, the doors of her temple to Janus open
\ show that she was at war, and we hav
= kept an unfurled flag upon our Capitc
n that the people might see we were nc
: at peace. 1t is down at last, thank Goo
: and now will be unfurled only as th
IS emblem of peace and the absence of al
y tempted revolution. In the past, whe
. facing danger on the battlefield, an
q shot and shell were carrying death o
all sides, the real horror of the situatio
never came till the shock of carnag
was over and in the quiet of our cam
" fires or the terrible exhibitions of til
je field hospitals we realized and apprr
y ciated the narrow escape and how sligf
~ step it was from life to death. S.
n now that this political battle is owe
we can perceive how easily the life an
death of nation may be determined b
., few resolute and disaffected men, an
re- it is with thankfulness we turn frol
1t the turmoil, danger and agitation of tt
a past week to the assurance that we hay
once more the strong arm of undispute
,e government over US, and that our glor
ID Gus flag will float upon the breeze ov
I. q truly united nation, and only in ar
If IL for peace. The country owes debt