Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-02-08
Thursday, February s, 1877
Letter from Washington.

came here to learn something worth
imparting to ON readers, and after
serie of vigorous attacks upon the
celebrities of the federal centre l was
able to conclude with degree Of GER
tainty almost absolute that the presi-
dental contest is now between Tilden
and Hayes. With a view Of learning
the odds. we visited the halls of con-
gress and interviewed promiscuously
till the time for counting the electoral
vote arrived. Being provided with a
Observation-Disclosures we found
our way to the gallery, and watched
with eager interest the solemn proceed
ines. From a Bedlam Of confusion in
the hall below suddenly broke from the
Speaker the sllencing announcement,
The Senate Of the United States"
The members instantly arose and re-
manned standing while the senators
fled i'll and took their seats. Ferry
assembled the platform and without
much ceremony commenced the open
ing of the certificates. Six states were
called without interruption. II alpha
betical order, Florida was the seventh.
From her there came three sets Of GER
tificates, all of which were opened and
read BY the tellers. Then objections
were offered under the compromise ar
rangemcnt, signed by several senators
and members. and ali were referred,
with the papers, to the Electoral Com
mission, without debate. Then the
two houses Of congress parted company
TO await the decision Of the umpires.
Here the matter will likely rest for
week.
In the mean time who has the best
chance We pressed this inquiry to
democratic head quarters. where we met
Field. Tucker, Jones, and others of the
directors. and some of the most dis
tinguished of counsel. Tucker says tell
Walton. st Is all right" Jones inv
ted us to a seat on the sofa for square
talk. He gave US many reasons for the
faith that is IN him. He said that the
republicans had majority Of the judges
on the committee, but he has conf
Gence in the integrity Of one of their
number. which would give Tilden the
presidency. Pressing our inquiry still
further, we found that most men Of both
parties looked upon the issue as doubt
full. Florida is claimed and conceded
TO be our best case, Notwithstanding the
larger nnaiorities in Louisiana AID the
still more fragrant frauds in the Latter
powers %ithh6uhe nf eEssa faudffEhorty. In
Louisiana, strange to say. the board has
the power, under the law. which it ex-
ercised il throwing out votes. Hence
the primQ faci5 case from Louisiana is a
good one until the frauds come up to
vitiate the returns ; the effect ola con-
sideration of which will most likely be
the exclusion Of the vote. In Florida
the returns gave US the majority; the
board gave it to the republicans. The
courts sustained US. and democratic
state government was inaugurated with
out contest. Should these Supreme
Court Judges hold with the judiciary of
the state, the vote Of Florida must be
counted democratic, electing both
Tilden and Hendricks.
Another splendid opportunity for
interviewing was afforded lis at our
breakfast table. We had the good
fortune to be seated with FIVE democra-
tic congressman. We asked about the
chances, One answered for all: Til
dens chances are improving; until yes
terday he had very small prospect be-
fore the compromise bill passed he had
none" Why? we asked. because
Ferry was going to count Hayes in
and Grant was to sustain him with the
army aud navy" Said one "They
bullied US right out. They advanced
inch by inch, and for every inch that
they advanced the democrats retreated
foot. Hewitt leading in the interest of
bonds and calicoes, until a compromise
OF the rights Of the House became
necessary to save us from shameful
acquiescense in outrageous usurpation."
Why, we asked. are Tilden's prospects
Frightening since yesterday? Little
fields evidence is conclusive of the
frauds IN Louisiana and the Judges can
not shut their eyes to them if they
would Strange to say, this group had
no hope Of Florida. But | struck them
at the same table again. Maddox and
Pickett had been upon the stand letting
out all the secrets of the Wells bribery
business. Then they were jubilant,
and all agreed that Tilden's chances
are best.
Now, if anybody can get more out Of
this matter by visit to Washington
than is given here, they can take our
pencil. We were in the senate and
house, before the committee taking
evidence on the frauds, at democratic
head quarters, saw the returning board,
met Grant walking on the Avenue saw
Conkiing trim his finger nails, heard
Thurman blow his proboscis. was in
troduced to Pelton, shook hands with
David Dudley, and the aggregated
opinion, analysed and pared down to a
point, seemed to be, that Peter Cooper
is out of the question and that the con
tests now squarely between Tilden-
aad Hayes with the preponderance of
evidence and law in favor of one and
judicial bias squirting toward the other.
The commission is now in session.
Great speeches are being made, but no
decision is anticipated for several days.
In the mean time O'Connor, Davis,
Tucker, Harris, Walker and Withers
think Tilden is the assured president.