The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-01-08

OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

Historical Legend-Washington tho Site
of an Ancient City The Electoral Count
Observation-Disclosures Changes in Con-
gress-Snuthern Coast Defences-Monrne
Doctrine-The Manning Kellogg Contest
Important Bills Likely to Pass--Capi-
tai Chips.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Dec. %, 1880.
EplToR CHIEF:
History, based upon legend, has it
that Washington City had all existence
long before the spot was selected for our
National Capital, by the man whose
name it hears. The narrative is to the
effect that, u century before the Revolu-
ton, the site where Washington now
stands was laid out and called Rome;
the hill now known as Capitol Hill,
where our Congress meets and wrangles,
was called the Capitoline Hill, and
small creek, called the Tibrr, flowed at
its base. A man named Pope owned the
land ap,l staked off the "city." Probably,
if some Schliem.,, were to excavate the
present city of Washington he would
find a rnined city Of which this Is the
| successor aud the seat of mighty EN-.
pire, This was undoubtedly known by
Washington and the other cnnscript
fathers who named this city fer him.
They should not have changed it; or, so
doing should have Ilonored the mean who
discovered the continent, Columbus. But
those who are entitled to fame in this
world, generally get the least of it, and
rice rersa.
will now refer to Constitutional his
tory. The twelfth article of the Consti-
tuition, which provides for counting the
electoral vote of the States, first gave
; ris., to discussion in 1919. 1t has been
disc,issed pretty freely by nearly every
Congress since that time, but onr states
mrn are no nearer a solution of tie
problem now than then. Which shows
is IL very good thing until All emergency
arises, and then We wonder how in the
world We sailed along so smoothly with
it. OF course, it IL not rs defective as
the present Constitution of your State
but an we progress in the science of gov
ernment, or, more correctly, political
trickery, we find that it is not explicit
enough fora nation of scheming pOliti-
clans. The twelfth article provides that
the electoral votes of the States shall I've
opened by the Vice President in the
presence Of the two Houses. 1t does not
say he shall or shall not count the votes;
neither does it Nay that Congress shall.
1t makes no provision for false returns
These thi,gs did not happen in those
days. In 1865 Congress lrgislatcd upon
! the subject; yet, in 1876, our statesmen
were still in doubt and settled the mat
| ter by q new device--the S-to-7 affair.
! But that is not IL fair illustration. The
| present joint rule allows the Vice Presi-
dent to count the yotes and pass upon
| their legality, in case Il contest is raised.
The Democratic House denies that the
Vice President has any judicial capacity,
and claims that Congress, in joint assem-
bly,, should count the votes and settle
any dispute. This seems fair enough,
for if Il Vice President should be re-elcc
| ted and Il contest arise hc would Sit ill
Judgment on his OWN case and very like
ly c"uns himself in, unless he is more
honest than the politicians of his genera
ton. The Republicans say they intend
to resist the passage OF this rule, pre-
tending that they see a Democratic trick
to throw ont the vote of New York, and
puesibly count III Hancock by some
means to them unknown. The Demo-
Gratis say they wa:,t the rule passed to
prevent Republican Vice President
from counting in a Republican President
forr years hence. They do not seem to
be aware that Congress, if Republican
two years hence, can repeal til. rule I;
and, if Democratic, can pass it then ,st
AS we'll as now, aud it will answer the
same purpose. So, it would seem, there is
no immediate necessity for Ibis rule, and
this discussion OH both sides is worse
than useless and delays the pnblic bnsi-
ness. But, politicians want to attract
the Attentions If the country.
In December, 1875, the House of Rep
resentativ-s WAS organized with a Dem
ocratic majority of TO- In December,
1891, it will organize with a Republican
majority Of nine. The Senate has de-
creased from seven Democratic majority
TO two. Six of the States represented
by Democratic Senators have Republican
Legislatures. So, an accident to one Of
those Senators that would occasion his
death, would place the third branch of
the government in the hands of the Re
publicans, rs the Senate would be tie,
and the Vice President would cast the
deciding vote. For the good of the
country it is hoped that the branches of
the government mag be more evenly
balanced. No ono party should possess
the three.
The River and Harbor bill appropri-
ates only $lG0,000 for the maintenance
repair, etc, cf our Coast defences. Al,
amendment WAS offered increasing the
amount to $500,000, and WAN warmly
supported by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston oi
Virginia, Gen. j. Floyd King and Mr.. E