Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-19
Our Washington Letter.


journment could probably be effected by the list
Of July. The possibility Of
AN EARLY ADJOURNMENT
had not been seriously thought Of until within
day or two, but Its promoters made good time in
their work. for resolution to adjourn on the 31st
inst. passed the house to-day by vote Of one
hundred and twenty-one to ninety The result
has seemed to take everybody by SURPRISE and
the explanations for such a course are varied and
some Of them amusing Washington people be-
lieve in long sessions quite naturally. as con-
ducive to their own good and, consequently, for
the benefit OF the country. 1t is stated quite
generally here tonight that this early adjourn
ment has been brought about by an edict Of S. J.
Tilden, and carried out by his congressional
henchman, Speaker Randall The Republicans
who voted for adjournment are taken to task for
aiding and abetting Tilden in his efforts TO cap
ture the Cincinnati convention and for helping
Speaker Randall choke Oft business. Whether
the resolution can pass the senate is, at this time,
quite problematic. as there Is such strong oppo-
stion to it from 30 many sources. The Repub-
llcan standpoint on the question was well voiced
by General Garfield in the debate which preceded
the taking Of the vote. One point made by the
opponents Of the resolution struck him with
great deal Of force and that was the importance
| OF settling some law relative to the counting OF
the presidential vote. II the gentlemen on the
other side, he said, would set any day or any
week, and give us any reasonable assurance that
at the end of that day or week or month we can
pass a law TO save and avoid controversy on that
| question, he would stay far beyond the dog-days
to do II. Several Democrats here shouted, 1--WE
will do it," But continued Garfield, you have
had four years since the awful imminent danger
arising from that question, which threatened this
country; and you have waited until this last SEES
| sion, and the last six weeks Of the session, and
| all at once 1t Is an important topic "Summer ia
past, and the harvest ended, and that soul IL not
saved" and there IL no hope that 1t can be saved
| by this congress. lie knew there were seventeen
hundred bills pending, and that many Of them
ought to become laws, but he was equally sure
that II they stayed till September there would be
twenty-seven hundred with larger proportion
that ought to become laws. Every argument
used to-day could be used next September with
exactly the same force and effect This congress
had been here six months, and was outstaying
the welcome Of the American people On the
| second OF June next
| THE PRESIDENTIAL CYCLONE
would strike the people, and In the course Of
few weeks it would involve both political parties
and forty-five millions Of people. II we stay in
side the scope Of that cyclone will convert this
body into vast political debating club, and, said
he, would not give one days legislation now for
two months of such legislation as that period
would bring upon the country. In closing, he
wished to ask the gentlemen II they willing
to stay here in that cyclone and part it, and
vert the whole body, in the presence of the whole
country into two political camps, making polit-
ical speeches.
There is much of truth and sound sense in the
position taken by General Garfield, and were
these the real reasons for the affirmative votes
cast the entire country quite possibly, would rise
up and say "amen" 1t is well known how the
session in the summer OF '76 was protracted into
August, and for the sole purpose. apparently, of
manufacturing political capital to be used the fol-
lowing November. This would undoubtedly be
the case this year should congress stay as Gen.
Garfield says and business legislation would be
OF the least consequence Yet, on the other hand,
there is a large amount Of business left over,
should congress adjourn on the 31st which de-
mands attention The need OF some legislation in
regard to the counting Of the electoral vote is
everywhere recognized, yet both parties seem to
he afraid to touch the subject. Senator Edmunds
has expended his best efforts to secure action
upon this subject ever since the last presidential
election, but the question has been allowed to
languish and nothing will now be done. Pos
sibly there would be possibility of anything be-
ing accomplished IL congress should stay right
through till December, but its importance re-
mains the same. A caucus OF Democrats was
held this evening for the purpose of interchanging
views on the adjournment question, and there
was shown decided feeling that the vote In the
house upon that question should be reconsdered.
Should the question again come up in full house,
| 1t might be defeated
| The senate has been engaged most OF the week
upon
| THE KELLOGG CASE
and the truth OF the fact as previously indicated
in this correspondence, to wit, that Kellogg can
not be unseated, is being confirmed from day to
day. On Thursday we were fortunate enough to
hear the arguments of Wade Hampton and Matt
Carpenter and were especially delighted at the
logic of the one and the eloquence OF the other
Wade Hampton fully sustained his reputation as
a conservative statesman by making splendid
argument in favor of the right of Kellogg To re-
tain his seat, in direct opposition 10 the majority
| OF his party in the senate. Hampton is a very
| fine speaker, possessing good voice coupled with
rare oratorical powers, and, although very modest
| and unassuming in manner, he does not fail to be
both interesting and convincing. 1t is refreshing
to note that he is not alone among the Democratic
| senators this side of the question, as Messrs
| Bayard, Pendleton, Butler and others are with
him. Senator Carpenters argument both
brilliant and conclusive lie paid his compli-
ments to Ben Hill, who had spoken against KEEL
| logg the day before, and successfully refuted
| every point which the Georgia senator had made.
senator once seated on the merits of his cleo
| ton cannot be unseated, though he may be ex-
PEELED The doctrine of res ddjudicdtd was as old
| rs the hills and had never been departed from,
either in England or In this country. 1t was the
| recognized rule that the senate could not go into
| the election OF member OF state legislature for
| that is In the jurisdiction of that body itself
Whatever might be the decision OF final tribunal
like the senate, whether right or wrong. it was to
the interests OF all parties that strife should cease
| and the decision be maintained.
The matter was informally laid aside yesterday
and possibly no vote may be taken this session.
PERSONAL AND POLITICAL.
Great interest is felt here in the decisions OF the
| different Republican conventions held next We'd
nesday, particularly that OF Illinois, as upon the
results OF that day rests, in great measure the
chances OF General Grants nomination at Chicago.
Should he the entire delegations OF Illinois,
Alabama and Louisiana, his opponents may as
well give up the fight.
The city is filling up with strangers and sport
ing men, who are gathering here from all parts OF
the country to witness the great boat race be-
tween Messrs Hanlan and Courtney next wednes-