St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1878-05-31
A Letter from Senator Morrill,.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., May Is, 70.
To Hon. George Nichols, Secretary of the
Vermont State Republican Committee,
Mortified, Vt:
Dear Sir: Through your favor of the
9th inst, have your invitation to be
present at the republican convention to
be held on the Odd of the present month,
but, while hardly insisting upon that,
You appear to insist upon a word from
me about the "signs of the times"
Without claiming to be an Interpreter
of such signs, it is clear enough to say
that the mission of the republican party
is not yet ended. 1t has more work vet
to do, and it alone can preserve what it
has already done. There can be no dis
pute, should this party lose its control
over national affairs, that many pages
of existing statutes would soon be miss
ed, and that the latest amendments of
the Constitution would be expunged as
Northern heresies.
1t is not only obvious that the South
ern democrats claim to largely out
number their Northern co-laborers, but
that they claim to have in intellectual
force and drilled men some other visible
advantages, and therefore can control
their party much at will. At present
they seek credit for great forbearance,
though it is that kind of forbearance
which never fails to treat itself at the
next opportunity. But the power be-
hind the Southern members, which
pOurs into the House of Representatives
a flood of bills claiming from the treas
ury sums of startling magnitude, though
the executive branch of the government
is known to present barriers, shows
what might be expected, if all branches
OF the government were to be in har-
mony with the confederate tendencies
of the House, and it does not much
mend the matter that the claimants an
pear willing to accept payment even in
wildcat money" if no questions are
asked.
At the beginning of the present Con-
gress the paucity of the democratic ma
Jorlty led them to seek reinfOrcements
by Ousting republicans and seating dem
0crats, in order to obtain a more un-
ftinching working majority, and because
persons not elected by the people but
by the House 'Know their masters
crib" and are very reliable partisans.
Even OF four colored men returned to
the present House only two have been
to remain, and one of them is
slenderly hanging upon the tender mer-
cies of those who are never blind to the
color of the sitting member. The col
ored population of the country are nm
merous enough to elect thirty repre-
sentatives, but it is doubtful whether
at the next election they will be peace
ably permitted, even by the conciliated
democrats, to elect so many as one.
Just now the House has started o
partisan investigation about pretended
frauds in the count of the electoral votes
Tor Mr.. Hayes, when they ought, as
they aver, to have been counted for Mr..
Iilden, and they have refused to in
yestigate frauds on the other side. The
bottom facts have no terrors for renub-
licans, but bottom facts are not wanted
by the partisans of the man who didn,t
pay his income tax. This desnerate
measure of men defeated according to
the sworn verdict of their own trihnpol
is to agitate the country, and start ms
In race of. anarchy and political vioS
lence as the peer of Mexico. And. when
we inquire who is responsible for This
revolutionary procedure, we find if is
the party whose component parts of
chief value were lately in rebellion
led by few Northern con,
splrators who hope to profit bv an nm
roar in the coming political camnaigp
No good citizen will consent that fba
industrial prosperity and good name Of
our people shall be wantoDly sacr;foa VI
by an unholy and unconstitutional 81