The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-03-21
WASHINGTON LETTER.

From our regular Correspondent
Mr.. Blaine heard from again and
again-An interesting exposure Of
the schemes of some dnti-beUum
mail contractors-Gosstp about
anderson, Wells, and the Return
ing Board pardons-What the rw-
morS of a revival of the Presiden-
tia1 question amount to-A major
ity Of Republicans IN both Houses
in favor Of wnseatiing Hayes-but!
Since Congress has completed the
dry and heavy silver legislation. it
has returned to its prestine liveli-
ness. Mr.. Blaine has been giving
assurance of the old vitality, by his
attack on the fisheries award; his
denunciation of the report ofthe Sec
rotary of the Interior in relation to
depredations of government timber;
by his vigorous defense of those
whom it is said have been stealing
the government timber; and by his
effort to so amend the Military Acad-
envy bill that the decendents of Off
GERS of the U. S. army only shall re-
ceive appointment to the Cadet corps,
by the President In the House
there has been an interesting expos
sure by Mr.. Willets, of Michigan, Of
a scheme of Southern mail contrac-
tors to be paid twice for n ti-bellum
mail service-once by the Confeder-
ate government, and o again by
the United States. Mr.. Reagan, of
Texas, who was the Confederate
Post Master General. alleged that
the Confederate government had
made no such payments; but Mr..
Willets proved from the confederate
Archives in the War. Department.
that the payments had been made,
and subsequent examination has fix
ed, beyond question, the identity of
many of the present claimants with
those who have been previously paid
by the confederacy.
Ten days ago the pardon of An
derson was confidently anticipated
here, and Southern members say his
pardon would have been granted il
any reliable assurance had been Civ
en- that he would be removed from;
office as Deputy Collector of the port
of New Orleans. Their was much
fear at the south that the prosecu-
tinos of the Returning Board would
"fire the northern heart" and this
apprehension was so strong at one
time that the state authorities ir
Louisiana would have been glad a
any sacrifice, to have gotten rid of it;
menagerie of elephants at any sacri
flee short of retaining them as public
funetionaries. Southern men say
that Wells and Anderson would no
have been brought to trial at all bu'
for the provocation committed by thu
admission of Kellogg to a seat in th'
U. S. Senate. They insist that thi'
was the first infraction of the com
promise entered into with the Presi
dents special commissioners las
! spring. There is much gossip AM
!, wrangling in the matter of the Re
turning Board trial, and an increas
ing undercurrent of rumor that til
question of the disputed Presidenc,
is to be reopened. 1t is impossible
of course, TO predict the surprise
, of the future, but, taking into cor
sideration the recent u%tterances G
. public men whose voices and vote
$ would be influential in such an emel
gency, and especially of Mr.. Hewitt
e the supposed keeper of the c~onscienc
!, of Mr.. Tilden, no political event
more improbable than a reopening {
the Presidential question. Propos
n lions for a revival of the c%ontrovers
t have never found favor with a lare
majority of Southern Democrat
:. many of whom have been placate
with a little of that patronage f
which they have so long hungere
S and thirstet. They would resist an
movement to unseat Mr.. Hayes |
every means in their power. But
n is certain that a very strong Repul
&C lican clement would rejoice to 5,
him unseated. The dissatisfactic
e of the party with his adminis.ratie
It is SO intense that there is not tt
l. least doubt that a majority of Repu'
% licans in both Houses Of Congre'
i would prefer Tilden to Hayes to Ola
y and would rejoice at any miracle2th b
} could produce the change withoI
J. compromising their jewel of consis
ency. Failure to get control of Il
- offices is at the bottom of thisdissa
:, isfaction among Congressman, bl
> it is not the whole of it. The Pre-
q idents distribution ofoffices is consi
cred no better basis for civil servi'
ii reform, than distribution by mer
~ bers of Congress, and it is very pc
tinently urged that it will be nut
Ii less likely to strengthen the part
1t is charged that the President h;
not only broken up p venerable sv
TEN of distributing appointment
but that he has substituted nothir
in its place, and in this way do
a much to weaken his party. IT
e President, it is said, does not see t
:. force of this objection, but there a
those in his cabinet who do see
!, and who are convinced that the p1
:, sent antagonism between the admi
u istration and the Republican par
I'd cannot continue for three years Ion
n err without producing a collision
III violence sufficient to disturb t
> peace that reigns between the Pre-!
' dent and himself. What the denoa
T. ment will be no one can tell. 1t
I'd too late for MI. Hayes to return
eff the ''sgood old system of assessil
office holders for election purpose
~ and dividing spoils among membe
~ of Congress. The average Congress
man, no doubt, longs to be placat
ar in this way, but so many promis
8 have been made to institute thoroue
,s radical, and complete reform, that