Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-03-30
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Correspondence Of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON. March % 1877

WASHINGTON, March %, 1877.
The old questions which aggrava-
ted Grant during the last few years
of his administration, and which he
left as legacy of thorns to torment
the executive couch Of his successor,
have again doomed up, and in such a
manner that decisive action becomes
necessary. The Southcrners are be-
coming greatly exasperated over the
delay in settling the mixed affairs of
the dual-governed States. They
claim that it will be a breach of
good faith to recompensc their gen.
eous and tranquil acceptance of the
verdict Of the Electoral Tribunal
with the recognition of the unpopu-
lar carpet-baggers, Packard and
Chamberlain. After the tacit and
verbal assurances given by both the
outgoing and incoming Presidents,
and the chief leaders of the Republi-
can party, that the South should be
allowed to settle its own gubernato-
rial and State affairs, that United
States troops should be withdrawn,
and that honor, amity and peace
should be the hand-clasp extended
by the North to the South, it seems
to them (the Southern people, rather
strange that so much hesitation and
uncertainty should surround a pacif-
ic settlement of their matters. The
Republicans, too, in their turn, urge
that sufficient evidence is now accu-
mulated, under the united efforts of
the various House and Senate com
mittees, who have on several occa-
sions personally Investigated the sub
ject to justify prompt Executive ac-
ton. Nevertheless commission
has been resolved upon, headed by
Vice President Wheeler, and com,
posed Of five or seven members, to
leave Washington next week, and
explore through Louisiana and South
Carolina the 'ways that are dark and
tricks that are mean" to the South
ern question "peculiar." TO the gen
eral public, however, this high joint
commission proves quite acceptable,
leading them to hope that from their
united labors mutual satisfaction will
accrue to both parties. Many states
have been made out from the promi-
nent lists Of legislators, all of whom
will, however, have to take back
seats, as, on later consideration of
the question, it was decided unwise
to select any member of the Senate
or House for places on the Commits
sion, for the reason that Congress
might eventually have to decide up
on the matter, and hence it is regard
ed as certain that all appointments
will be made from outsiders. The
extreme Republicans insist that no
man selected on their side shall be
tincture6 with liberalism in any
form, and the Democrats want cham
pions equally pronounced in their IA
vor. These extremists have beset
the President and Attorney General
at every turn, while the liberals, con-
servatives and Democrats are hound
ing him at each step, and he is kept
going like football between the ul-
ira and liberal leaders. 1t is safe to
say that his sympathies are with the
latter class, yet he could see but one
way-a commission to relieve him
self from their incessant intrigues
and protests. In this condition he
may be likened to the unfortunate
Scotchman with a "bee in his bon
net" Thu selection of Ex-Gov.
Brown, of Tennessee, for place on
the Commission, shows the calibre
of the men who are to determine the
veXed problem. The Commission
will, as the Cabinet, be composed of
men OF different political biases.
sPEAkERSHIP.
Next to, and in n measure divid-
ing interest with the above allah
sorbing theme Of conversation is the
new Speakershlp. Though there are
several Southern Democrats who
would like this honor, 1t seems prob
able that none but a Northern Dem
ocrat will be selected, the others be-