Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1878-07-26
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.

Tbe Cincinnati Enquirer, one OF the
brightest Democratic papers in the country,
laments that "the Potter Committee is not
doing.very good work just now," and OBJ
serves that 1.-THE interest in its proceedings
has quite died out"
The representative in Congress from the
sixth district Of Texas, Mr.. Schleicher, is
having hard time in securing 9 renomina-
ton. The convention from which he sought
it was in session five days and nights, and
had $50 ballots and adjourned sine die with
out agreeing upon candidate.
Vicksburg, Miss, has a new postmaster,
ex-senator Pease, white. having been sue
ceeded by ex-Secretary of State James Hill,
black "a man," according to the Demo-
cratic Herald, "who is thoroughly respected
wherever be is known"
The New York Democrats are anticipat-
ing great gains from the Presidents sus-
pension of the Custom House officials. The
New York Star says: "The Republican feud
ought TO be turned to such account by the
Democrats as to give US clear majority in
the next legislature. The opportunity is so
favorable for securing Democrat in Mr..
Conkling's seat, that nothing but the grt S.
sest indifference or neglect can deprive US of
the victory"
In the testimony, on Wednesday, before
the Potter b-committee, in New-Or-
leans, John S. Dula, a parish judge. con-
fessed that E. L. Weber had offered him
$500 and position as school teacher if be
would follow Weber's example and confess
that his affidavit alleging intimidation of
voters was not truthful statement. The
witness had promised Weber to do this. but
at II late hour his conscience would not allow
him to become perjurer. He believed that
the two witnesses who recanted" were
paid by Weber. He also understood that
the money to procure this false testimony
was furnished by gentleman in New York.
The witness had already received S45 of
Weber, who is thus presented in a new char
acter-that of Mr.. Tilden's deputy con-
science manipulation.
The New York World tries to figure out
the official status of Arthur and Merritt un-
der the tenure-of-ofice law, with this re-
sult Collector Merritt is an officer de factO,
but not de jure until confirmed. General
Arthur is out OF office de fdcto but has q
faint contingency de Jure. By article l76S,
should Gen. Merritt be rejected-as the late
Theodore Roosevelt was-then the President
may send in another name, and can keep
on maintaining the suspension anG ''send-
ing in names" until the Senate, like buyers
Of lottery policies. can make hit. When
the nomination of Mr.. Roosevelt was made
there could not be suspension of General
Arthur, because the Senate was in session.
President Hayes could of course, have pre-
sented another nomination, but it is pre-
sumed he found that Conkling-to borrow a
figure from his favorite game-could euchre
any antagonist presented against Arthur.
But should the Senate reject Merritt. Gen.
Arthur will not return to ofhce-there will
be a vacancy, says article 176S. If, how
ever, it should so happen-and the contin-
gency may be called remOte-that next
March, when there is another senatorial re-
cess, neither Merritt nor any ono else has
been confirmed as collector, then the suspen-
sion ends, and Gen. Arthur would return
pro -torma. to be, perhaps, again hacked at.
There is a suggestion Of Senator EdmuEds
for President Mr.. Edmunds is strong,
acute. big-5rained. sound-hearted man. His
service in the Senate is of incalculable value
to the country. lie is independent; he
wants no favor; he has no difficult and div
ided home interests to deal with; he has
nothing to hamper him in striking bodly
against every wrong; and all this, with his
superior knowledge of legislation, puts him
in the best possible position to protect the
public interests. He is the remorseless foe
of all crude laws and improper schemes, is
always yigilant and never afraid to obieet.
He is too useful man in the Senate to be
lost from that body in tie Presidency or any
where else.-Abany Journal.
Gen. Garfield has had long conversa-
tion with the editor of the Cleveland Herald
in which he has defined his views. He
believes return of the Democrats to power
would be the restoration of the Southern
leaders to as absolute control as they had in
Buehanan's time. Their purposes would
be; "First, to fertilize their impoverished
country with streams of appropriations from
the national treasury. Every pretext for
spending money in the South-levees, rail
roads. harbors, rivers, public buildings. and
the like-will be seized upon. Last session
the Northern Democrats entreated and swore
to no avail. The Southern men were i'm
movable. Some admitted the political folly
IF their course, brit said their constituents
demanded liberal appropriations, a1d they
dared not resist. Second, suppo,e they
will assert in some way the righttulness of
the principle of secession. JET Davis said
in speech the other day that he hoped to
live to see that principle vindieated. The
Southern Congressman already show great
senstiyeness about calling their war re-
bellion." Az far as the contest between the
two old parties is concerned, the general
believes the Republicans are united and
have an undoubted advantage. The com
munistic movement he has little fear of, and
only breads the greenback movement be-
cause Of the danger that it may bring about
the taxation OF government bonds. lie
believes the initiation and reputation advo-
Gates should be sharply assailed by the
whole force of the Republican organization.
"Ours," said he, sis a party of eonserya-
tism and honesty Cd national finance, and is
pledged to maintain the national honor, and
to insist on the performance of all the
nations obligations"