Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-30
Senator Eaton's Prophecy.

ScuACOr LbOtOu XEVRss0SJs
Mr. Eaton, of Connecticut, was the only
Democratic senator who voted against the
bill creating the infamous electoral com
mission of 1877. On the day after thai
bill passed the Senate, and before it went
to the House, he wrote to friend in
New Haven the following remarkable let
ter, which is now for the first time pub
lished:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 1877.
MY DEAR: need not say that a
letter of this character is, to a certain ex
tent, always confidential. Yet l shall say
many things that may well be posted at
the street corners of your city.
Before this the telegraph has told you
that alone of all the Democratic senators
have voted against bill which is fondly
called ''compromise measure.
would not submit to what regarded
as personal dishonor. would not consent
to vote for a public act which, in my sol
emn judgment, was in direct violation ol
the constitution ofthe United States, and q
direct abandonment of the powers con
ferrred upon me as one of the senators Ol
a sovereign state.
Connecticut-God bless her shall
never be dishonored by me. ] will stand
alone always. if it be necessary. in defense
of her rights when invaded, as l Iapprehend
they were by the bill which was yesterday
passed by the Senate of tho United States.
To me, as one of her representatives, were
confided her rights. In my hand was hel
honor. AS one of her representatives
have, or rather had, the right to say who
was the honestly elected candidate. to the
high office of president Of the United
States. This right was yesterday taken
from me. Thank God, it was not given up
by me.
did not permit, by my own act, mis-
cradle contrivance to take from me that
power. So much for that. On paper
cannot say all or half what ought to he
known.
should say this, however, for will moi
knowingly wrong any person: The sena'
tors Democratic who supported that act
l doubt not, believed it was for the inter.
est of the Democratic party and the coun
try. That several of them acted and
voted under protest is doubling the
constitutionality of the measure, but be-
lieving it was in the interest of peace and
good government; and, further, were, by
some means and in some way, convinced
that it would tend to procure the declara.
| ClOu Oh MF. 1uUcu dS Iuc 1ssllIy clcCIcU
president of the United States.
In that, in my Judgment, they will be
deceived when it is too late. The game
which they have been made to believe viii
be successful will result in the most utter
defeat. l pray not, but I do not SO hope
One week ago believed that Mr.. Tildel
would be declared, as I believed he had
been elected, the next president. To-day
1 have no srch opinion. He will bt
counted out, and We shall be compelled to
submit to defeat without the poor right t.
even complain.
So mote it be! So ought it to be !! Ther'
has never been, in my opinion, such rank
foolishness- miserable abandonment
of good cause.
But, as that wise old woman said, "Wt
shall sec what We shall see." pray ma!
be mistaken, but 1 have no such hope
My love to all. am sick and disguised
and were the Legislature Democratic
would resign to morrow. Good-by. God
bless you. EATON.