Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-12-12
THE BURLINGTON, VT,


To the Editor Of the Free Press and Times
a DILL WEIR IN CONGRESS- SECRETARY SIER-
MANS EXPENSIVE LEGIsLATI"N.
WAsHSGToN, ID. C., Dee s, 1879.
The first week Of Congress has been dull.
The statesmen who crowd the galleries with
due advertisement of great effort have
not vet come to the front Their mutations
will be heard in due time The Southern
ghost will not down until after the next
census, and both members and Senators are
FREEING up for red hot ora,ory on the United
States Marslals deficiency bill The iinan-
cial question created a ripple of excitement
and developed strong opposition to the policy
suggested in the Presidents message. The
indications are that neither party is willing
to take the responsibility of action on the
Presidents recommendations, each preiering
that the Supreme Court shall settle the matter
by a decision in the Chittenden-B Ter case.
In fact it is more and more plain that, al
though Congress has a yearly session, it is
only the two middle years of every Presiden-
tal term which are really available for legis-
lation. The year before the Presidential
election is given to political man~uvring for
position, and the year after 10 distributing
spoils and satisfying claims.
The Presidential perspective is too nebu-
lous at present to justify confident predic-
ton but l may say that in the opinion of
the knowing majority, Mr.. Sherman has the
whip-hand. Personal popularity he has not,
his presence is repellant and anti-magnetlc;
his manners are frigid; he is wanting in all
those qualities that create enthusiasm in 4
following. But it has been more than once,
and very recently, proved in orr brief history
that the attributes SO essential To leaders in
romantic age are not necessary TO the highest
success of the American politician. Mr..
Blaine was much better known, loved, and
admired by the party than Mr.. Hayes, but
he failed by few votes. If Mr.. Sherman
fails to get the nomination he will at least
never have TO reproach himself for not try
ing to get it. The four thousand National
banks are in favor of his candidacy. A
powerful newspaper combination, the New
York Tribune, the Cincinnati Commercial,
Cincinnati Hazette, Chicago Tribune, and
many Others it is asserted have promised their
support. Ohio is for him; the President is
for him; and if the powerful Republican
delegation from the South does not come TO
the convention pledged to his support, it will
not be because the influence and patronage
of the Administration has been wasted there
in the interest of other asprants.
Colonel lngersol recently said that
the people of the United States were not
stupid enough to elect TO the Presidency
brother of the General of the Army, but the
people have too little TO do with selecting
They simply divide into two masses and
within party lines for the party nominee;
and if Mr.. Sherman carries the Convention
he will stand an excellent chance to carry
the election.
Nearly 200 bills were introduced in the
House last week, and there will probably he
the usual flood to-day, when the States are
regularly called for bills. A large number
of the bills are Of a private character, bills
which only cucumber the RocoW and which
should be referred to acommission especially
created for their adjudication. The settle
ment of private claims by debate and vote in
Congress is the most expensive process that
could possibly be devised. Yours, Nix.