Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-07-18
Our Washington Letter.

tsan topics, party lines have become so dimmed
and blotted by the persistent efforts Of the present
administration, that It il almost impossible to dis
cuss a mere party question. For what is the
DISTINCTIVE PARTY ISSUE
between the democrats and the Republican,
When the people talk Of the necessity Of supporting
either the Republican ordemocratic party, what do
they mean2 And STILL despite the difficulty found
in answering this question, 1t liz apparent to the
candid thinker upon the political situation OF to-
day, that some of the great questions now inyoly-
ing the interests Of the people Of different sections
must be made issues in the next campaign. But
is It possible to mention one Of them upon which
the Republican or democratic party may agree
without causing partial reorganization Of both
parties2 We think not For this reason then
political breakup is imminent We have posi-
bly, reached crisis when old democrats will fol-
low principles, which affect local and national in |
terests, into the Republican or some coalition
party; and when Republicans true to their local |
constituencies or other ideas of national policy, |
may conscientiously leave their party for another
We are perhaps approaching conflict of new
issues, and it may prove healthfu reaction for
the people 10 be doing the work Of the present
rather than living upon the interest OF what they
did in the past. 1t is more important to the
voter to-day that his representative in Congress
should represent present wishes and purposes
than that he should have been representative Of
the past There was time when Morton, Banks
and other leading Republicans were democrats;
they followed their principles into the Republican
party, and they have lost none of their self-re-
spect by so doing. The time may come when by
the issue of the currency question, for instance,
staunch Republicans Of to-day--which means hard
money and speedy resumpton-may become di-
rectly opposed to that very important plank of the
Republican platform. Perhaps may all OF us
keep our party and our principles together but If
not, we need not lament unless we are afraid to
follow the principles where they may lead us, and
defend our interests under whatever party banner
may be raised in our behalf
The great need of our American politics at this
time is political charity. This is especially true
as to discussions relating to the affairs of the
| South. Mr. Blaine is now conspicuous and
almost isolated example, among the eminent men
| in Congress- of narrow-minded, fanlt-finding
| spirit, which is wholly at war with that generous
| policy Of reconciliation which the people Of the
country are demanding at the hands of the gov
eminent.
|
contains no word of kindness even justice for
the South. 1t is not only unjust, but unpatriotic
as well, for he not only misrepresents the facts Of
history, but imputes reasonable designs to a
people who are now cheerfully and peaceably
| obeying the laws Of the nation. Never was there
a more groundless charge made by public man.
We will say nothing of the wilful injustice which
Mr.. Blaine does to the administration by assuming
that it favors an acquisition of Mexican territory.
On this occasion we only ask him upon what all-
thority he charges the South with favoring such a
policy, Can he find any evidence of such desire
in the spirit of the Southern press? Who are the
Southern leaders who are advocating, by word or
deed, the conquest of Mexican soil? On the con-
trary, the South is conservative upon this sub
ject as the North. The South doubts very much
that it would benefit her. Such dr. acquired ter
rtory would be at once filed with population
from California and the Northern states, and like
Colorado, Oregon and Nevada, they would be fal
more likely to become Republican than demo
cratic states. In his zeal to make out a case
against the South, Mr. Blaine misstates the iacts
of history by saving that in making the Ashbur
ton treaty, and the Oregon boundary treaty
Northern interests were sacrificed by the South
The facts do not justify any such conclusion The
Ashburton treaty, which concerned a matter Of
special interest to New England, was negotiated
by Daniel Webster, the most eminent of New
England statesmen, and if he did not take of tn,
national honor and welfare, the South surely wa,
not to blame Nor is the South responsible fol
: the result of the Oregon boundary negotiations
for President Polk a Southern man, resisted
strenuously the demands of the British govern
| a..
party which compelled him to make the con
cessons which he did. But the gravest erroi
which Mr. Blaine makes is in charging that gen
raj and dangerous hostility to national unity ex
sts n the South. He makes this charge, too, il
, the very state in which the Infamous Hartford
Convention was held-in the mnkest democratic
copperhead state in the Union-whose Senators anC
Representatives in Congress are nearly unit fo
rebel supremacy, and far more bitter enemies 0
! the Republican party than are the most radical o
the Southern democrats. Yet notwithstanding
this Mr.. Blaine does not doubt the loyalty o
Connecticut because, fOrsooth, it is North Of Ma
son and Dixon's line. Why is he not as charita
. BILE to the South Does he not know that the!
cherished the doctrine of state rights chiefly be
cause OF the dangers with which Northern hostil
ity to slavery threatened that species of property
Now that slavery is abolished she has no specia
interest in that doctrine. And that she is &C
= corded local self-government the national gov
) eminent cannot but be regarded in the South a
the benign of peace and material prosperity
Sensible people have come to the conclusion
that all this loose talk about
TESTING THE PRESIDENTS TITLE
to his office is meaningless and trivial. Soon al
: ter Senator Conkling's departure for Europe
was asserted with an air OF authority in prom
inent New York paper, that at the next meeting
of Congress he proposed to introduce u bill pro
vdng for judicial inquiry in this direction
This Of course was denied the next day, and is
like all other such reports, but the merest twad
die Senator Conkng is too shrewd man t
place himself in position where he would an
tagonize not only majority OF his party, but Q
the country as well. Prominent democrats al
over the country are expressing themselve
against the idea of attempting to disposess tn
l President. All the Southern leaders are frank Il
opposing re-opening of the question ON tn
ground that it would be to the serious detrimen
of the country.
DEPARTMENT AND CITY ITEMS
: There are now upwards Of seven thousand az
j plications on file in the State Department for al
pontments as consuls although there is not singl
salared consulship vacant, except that of st. Pau
/, de Iando, a very unhealthy post on the coast. q
Africa 1t is the intention of the Department t
> fill vacancies in these consulates by appointment
t for approved merit and experience in this service
S Mr.. Mcpherson, the new chief OF the bureau q
e Engraving and Printing, says he will not receiy
suggestions from outside the bureau touching pre-
motions or have any communication with Con
7, gressmen OF others on the subject.
5 Secretary SEIZURE has already saved a million q
q dollars to the government in stopping surveys G
lands which are utterly worthless, and must Away
= remain So These contracts have heretofore bee
given to political fayortes, who will now be gu
Of job,
= Marshal Bob Douglass, of North Carolina, so
y of the late Senator Stephen A., has satisfactory
: answ cred the charges made against him by polii
, | ital enemies Sol.
:, KANSAS CITY il the birthplace and residenc
81 ,hat ,iaohiavous nd t,lented vonng lady ~ hf