The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-10-20
Washington Letter.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,
Oct. Ii 1881.

Oct. Is, 1881.
The election of Senator Bayard to
The Presidency of the Seoate was very
distasteful to the Republicans. Not
that the Delaware Senator, bearing a
naue ingpished and bonored in
cur national politics fos three genera,
tions, is personally objectionable, be-
cause he is very popular. Mr.. Bay
ard is man of fine ability high per
soma! character and fair sample Of
the dignifed cultivated gentleman
who graced the chair of the Senate as
be would that Of the Chief Executive
of the country. But dEring the
war be was earnestly opposed to the
dominant party and some Of its meas,
ures, and is in consequence to this
day bitterly denounced as ''rebel." "
It is pretty hard work for those who
do not yet acknowledge that the war
is over, to reconcile themselves to
the elevation Of one of that class
whom they we're pleased to call "cop'
per-heads" to a position in the direct
line of succession to the Presidency.
When these things are understood
the desperate opposition to Mr.. Bay
ard is explained. He was the caudi-
date of bis party last spring before the
Senate adjourned, but Vice-President
Arthur refused to vacate the chair to
give an opportunity for his election,
though he would have done So had
Senator Harris, Of Tennessee, an ex
Confederate, been the nominee.
Senator Edmunds is doing all the
talking on the Republican side Of the
Senate so far, and is giving fresh evi-
deuce of his aptpess at special plead.
ing. 1t was amusing to hear his
emotional tone of voice as he stood up
aud argued against the disfrauohise-
ment of New York and Rhode Island
in the vote for presiding officer.
And when this failed to produce the
desired effect he sneeringly taunted
the Democrats with taking advantage
of assassination to obtain power. But
smart as be is all his efforts lost in
effect when it vas remeu bered that
he would have been just as cute and
earnest on the very opposite side of
the question had the interests of his
party required it. Senator Vest re-
minded Edmunds that four States had
st ore time been entirely disfrau.
chised and their representatives kept
outside the chamber for days and days
a. his own motion and the act of his
own party; that the Democrats were
not taxing advantage of assassination
because their majority dated back to
the foolish action Of two Republican
Senators from New York, when the
candidate they Dow presented
was nominated, and would have been
elected and this extra session !en-
dered unnecessary but for the course
ofa Republican Vice. President. When
be concluded this thrust with ref
erence to Mr.. Conkling's speech abont
the rights of the "constitutioDal ma
jority" there did not seem to be much
left of the ether side of the arg ument
and EdmuDds rather gave up the
sponge. The scheme to oust Senator
Bayard from the chsir, by the election
Of David Davis, was last resort of
the Republicans, not 50 much for
the good Davis might do them in the
chair as for the purpose of obtaining
his indirect aid in securing the rest
of the organization. By placing him
10 the chair and thereby rendering it
probable that he would withhold his
vote the tie is broken in favor of that
side. Many Democrats have beld
that Davis should have been captured
by making him their candidate.
Cabinet talk still prevails and it
is not improbable that by the time
this reaches you the new Cabinet will
be announced. Secretary Lincoln, it is
DOW positively stated, is to remain in
charge Of the War portfolio, and Fre-
linghaysen of New Jersey to be Sec
retary of State. Judge Folger Of
New York has been as positively
named for Secretary of the Treasury,