St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-04-20
Our Washington Letter.
(From our Regular Correspondent

tFrom our Regular Correspondent
WASHINGTON, D. c., Apr. IA, 1877.
THE PRESIDENTS PoLICY-THE oTTMAN
TRIAL-CHAMBERLAI ABDICATIoN
BEN. wADE's LETTER-THE TURKo-
RUSSIAN WAR-wORK FOR THE UNEM-
PLOYED.
THE PRESIDENTS POLICY.
Within the memory of your CORES
pendent, which covers many years of
the past, there has not been manifested
in political circles at the Capital, so
much uncertainty as to the character of
the party lines which will hereafter di-
vide the prominent politicians of the
country as exists at this hour. Prior to
the Inauguration of President Hayes no
one clearly defined what would be his
policy further than was indicated in
the letter of acceptance. In that COM
munication he portrayed, in general
terms, the leading objects of his ad-
ministration if elected, but he did not
give utterance to the means he would
adopt to secure home rule to the South,
nor did he clearly define what his in
depreciation of home rule would be.
The one aud the other are now being
developed, and it is the approval or
disapproval of them by his political
friends which furnishes the themes for
discussion. All Republicans who worked
for the election of President Hayes
sincerely desire that success may crown
his efforts to restore prosperity to the
country; but it is not to be disguised
that many of the staunchest of his
party apprehend evil results. The
Pres ident, however, asserts that his
policy is only an experiment, and if the
future makes it manifest that he has
been wrong, he will retrace his steps.
Both those who have confidence in the
prognosticate failure are interested.
Hence the unusual anxiety expressed
by the enthusiastic and the fearful.
THE OTTMAM TRIAL.
1t has been said that nothing in life
is more certain than death, and it, may
with equal truth, be said that nothing
in the successive events of the day is
more uncertain than the yet unrender-
ed verdict of a jury. The second ar
raignment of Gilman on an Indictment
containing three cOnnts, the first of
which was for the larceny of S47 900
from the Treasury of the United States,
the second for receiving the same,
knowing it to have been stolen, and the
third for participation in the embezzle
ment, has terminated, as did the fist
trial, in a disagreement of the jury. As
to the first count, the jury was unani-
nous for acquittal, but as to the second
and third there were eleven who voted
in favor of verdict of not guilty, and
StubbOTnly refused to be guided by the
remaining one. Results like this tend
to make trial by jury mere farce.
Notwithstanding the community be-
lieve that Ottman is chargeable with a
guilty Knowledge of the criminal tran
saction, and that he was in possession
of large part of the stolen money,
there seems to be an absuIdity in the
ihSO thdb JIG JUN ou' VI 'NNiNC Nhh
defeat the rendering of il verdict.
CHAMBERLAIN's ABDICATION.
The succumbing of Chamberlain af-
ter he arrived at Columbia, and found
that he would have no support from
his fellow Republican State officials,
but, if he continued the contest, he
would have to do it single handed re-
minds us of an anecdote told of Il brave
soldier, named O'Brien, at the battle of
Brandywine during the Revolutionary
war. O'Brien was busily engaged load
ing and firing his musiet, thinking on
ly of killing as many of the Red coats
as possible, when his regiment was or
dered to retreat, but which movement
was not noticed by him, so engrossed
was he in the business on hand. The
result was that he was surrounded and
taken prisoner. much to his aStonish-
ment. Looking around him in sur
prise and not seeing any of his COM
rades he exclaimed, "by ijabels where's
the rest of u.s." The reader can apply
the simile.