Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-30
FROM OUR WASHINGTON LET
TER, tf.

Ten days ago the pardon of An
derson was confidently anticipated
here, and southern members say his
pardon would have been granted if
any reliable assurance had been
given that he would be removed
from Office as Deputy Collector of
the Port of New Orleans. There
was much fear at the South that
that the prosecutions of the Return
ing Board would "fire the northern
heart, and this apprehension was so
strong that authorities in Louisiana
would have been glad, at any sacri-
fee, to have gotten rid of its
menagerie of elephants, at any sac
rifice short of retaining them as
public functionaries. Southern men
say that Wells and Anderson would
not have been brought to trial at all
but for the prOvocatiOn committed
by the admission of Kellogg to
seat in the U. s. Senate. They in
sist that this was the first infraction
of the compromise entered into
with the Presidents special COM
missioners last spring. There is
much gossip and wrangling in the
matter of the Returning Board trial,
and an increasing undercurrent of
rumor that the question of the dis
puted Presidency is to be reopened.
1t is impossible, of course, to predict
the surprises of future, but, taking
into consideration the recent utter
ances of public men whose voices
and votes would be influential in
such an emergency, and especially
of Mr., Hewitt, the supposed keeper
of the conscience of Mr.. Tilden, no
political event is more improbable
than a reopening of the Presidential
question. Propositions for a revival
of the controversy have never found
favor with a large majority of
southern Democrats, many of whom
have been placated with a little of
that patronage for which they have
so long hungred and thirsted. They
would resist any movement to I'M
seat Mr.. Hayes by every means in
their power. But it is certain that
a very strong Republican element
would rejoice to see him unseated.
The dissatisfaction of theparty with
his administration is SO intense
that there is not the least doubt
that majority of Republicans in
both Houses of Congress would pre-
fer Tilden to Hayes to day, and
would rejoice at any miracle that
could produce the change without
compromising their jewel of consist
ency. Failure to get control of the
offices is at the bottom OF this. dis
satisfaction among Congressman,
but it is not the whole of it. The
Presidents distribution of offices is
considered no better basis for civil
service reform than distribution by
members of Congress, and it is very
pertinently urged that it will be
much less likely to strengthen the
party. 1t is charged that the Presi-
dent has not only broken up
venerable system of distributing
appointments, but that he has sub
stituted nothing in its place, and, in
this way, done much to weaken his
party. The President, it is said,
does not see the force of this Objec-
ton, but there are those in his cabi-
net who see it, and who are con-
WINGED that the present antagonism
between the Administration and
the Republican party cannot con-
tinue for three years longer without
producing a collision of violence
sufficient to disturb the peace that
Feigns between the President and
himself. What the denOuenaesat Will
be no one can tell. 1t is too late for
Mr.. Hayes to return to the 'sgood !
old system" of assessing Office hold !