The Morning herald., 1878-05-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.

lFrOm our special correspondents
WAsHINGToN,D D. c., May Is, 1878.
The Democratic joint caucus met yesterr
day morning and decided to push the ina
vestigation of the frauds in Florida and
Louisiana in connection with the last Presi-
Dental election. Clarkson N. Patter was
deputed to present the resolution. The
preamble substantially recites that as Mary
land has complained that due effect was not
given her Presidential vote because of fraud
and as by affidavit and otherwise, 1t appears
that frauds were committed In Florida and
Louisiana whereby the voice of the people
OF those States was stifed, 1t is proper to
make inquiry to the end that the honor of
the Nation be vindicated and the truth be
made known. Conger attempted the role
of Republican leader without authority and
was left to urge his absurd points of order
quite unsupported. Hall put himself for,
ward in .that capacity aud was coached
through the hard places by Garfield, the
whole force from the Republican side rally
ing around this Senatorial aspirant from
Maine. OF course he was pregnant with all
sorts of objections but he was finally silenced
on his points of order when he came in
with his "chef d'eouvre " Ia the shape of
an amendment whereby 1t was prepared to
include large portion of the United States
IN the investigation. The allegations of
frauds upon which it was based consisted
chiefly of the old products of the "outrage
mills" and the " bloody shirt" yarns that
formerly preceded elections in the South
They had been revamped to adopt them to
the present occasion, but he failed, be
couldn't even get permission to have them
read. The feeling appears to be that any
specific charge of fraud, responsibly backed
should be included. But that it would be
foreign to the purpose of the investigation
to permit the Radical leaders to range all |
over the country for isolated cases of in>
timidation with which to offset and belittle |
the frauds by which whole States were de-
prived of their preferences and the results
Of q national election were wholly perverted |
Little more was done than to get the reso-
luton before the house yesterday and 1t
comes up on the expiration of the morning
hour to>day as unfinished business. A
struggle is anticipated but there are Demo,
Gratis enough In town tavoring the invests
cation to insure the adoption of the resolus
ion, provided they are in their seats at the
proper time.
Though delivered week ago to-day the
merits of the speech of General Gordon on
he repeal of the resumption act are still
)elug canvassed. He smats the contraction
SITS hip aud thigh, though never for mos
nent departing from the courteous bearing
Usual with him In the estimation of the
,rowded chamber and galleries it was a
nasterly arrangement of those responsible
or the financial legislation since the close
# the war. judging from the cheers OF ap>
'roval that again and again interrupted the
peech. He denounced contraction as Justly
hargeable with our PROSTATE condition of
O-day, all the suffering, wretchedness and 1
Misery following legitimately from the un. ,
ayural methods by which it was sought to {
1t us down from the imitation and artificial
alues of the war period. Those already
nth him In sentiment were confirmed, and
lany heretofore inclining to the contrac-
ion side had their views more or less radi.
ally modified. 1t must be ingcnius pleader
nd one thoroughly versed with his subject d
lat could make the experience of England
rance and Italy support tht contractionists
ews, after Gen'l Gordon's use of the facts
tortfy his own position, and they must .
ut their best men forward if they expect )
} neutralize the damaging effect of the
we're punishment inflicted by this dashiRg b
corgian.
I desire TO say one word in behalf of
.ithful public servant, Senator Davis, of
Test Virginia, in connection with the in~
sstigation of the book keeping methods of =
le Treasury Department. He forced 1t III q
he face of the jeers and gibes of the Radi- .
u crew which evidently hoped to make
i'm feel that his pernacity must be the re-
lit of stupidity, thus diverting him from
is purpose by ridicule. But they found
lat he was not to be thus intimidated.
heir explanations of the discrepancies in u