Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1881-12-15
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, ID. g.,
Dec. 10th, 1881.


readers the glad tidings that the
South has been recognized in the
organization of the House Of Rep
resentatives of the United States,
by the election Of Colonel Walter
Z. Br0wnlOw, Of your. town, to the
office of Door.keeper. This well de-
served compliment is a matter of
congratulatiOn to Southern men
generally and to the citizens of
Tennessee particularly. 1t proves
that our Northern brethren have
discovered that the policy Of keep
ing Southern Republicans out in
the cold is not a good way to build
up a strong following in the South,
and that a new and more liberal
policy will be inaugurated. OF
course you will understand that this
change was not brought about by
a happy operation of Nature. 1t
took work, hard, untiring, patient,
skillful work, and the men who
brought the change about are en-
titled to the lasting gratitude OF
their fellOw.citizens. l refer to the
Republican members of Congress
from the South, mentioning among
the number such stalwart Republi-
cans as Houk, Pettibone and
Moore of our State, Urner, of Mary
land, Hubbs, of North Carolina,
and others.
Now that. the entering wedge
has been firmly lodged, it will not
be many days before Southern Re-
publicans will stand on an equal
footing with their Northern breth.
rem in the matter of public patron
age,
Col, Brownlow's position is by no
means a bed of roses. Although
but four days in office his rotund
form is ''growing small by degrees
and beautifully less" The cares OF
the office weigh heavily upon him.
He had about $50 appointments to
make and about ten applications
for each position. The result is that
he is besieged from "early morn to
dewy eye' with visitors, all pleading
for Office. 1t is in vain that he as
sures them that he must apportion
his appointments among the AS
Republican congressman who voted
for him, that he can not appoint
personal friends, that the offices be-
long to the party and not to him.
They will not believe, they come
with petitions a mile long, with
fearful faces, with O%utstretched
hands. Some OF. them tell tales of
distress that would melt a heart OF
stone, yet he cannot help them.
Just picture all this to yourself and
you may possibly have some faint
idea of what an ordeal he is pass
ing through.
The Presidents Message has met
with universal favor. 1t is pro-
nOunced the most sensible and
business-like document of the kind
ever presented to Congress. The
people are gradually coming to the
conclusion that the man who bore
himself with such refined dignity
during the critical period in our
history, when our late President
lay dying in the Capitol, will not
disappoint the expectations then
formed of him, that he will give
the country an ADMINISTRATION that
Americans may well feel proud of.
1t is too early to predict anything
as to the legislation of the present
session. The apportiOnment bill
will probably be the most important
measure to engage immediate at
tention. An effort will also be made
to pass some law that will secure
an honest ballot and a fair count in
Southern States. In this cOnnec
ton it may be well to mention that
a prominent Southern Congressman
is being pressed for the Chairman
ship OF the committee on Privileges
and Elections. IT the movement
succeeds woe to the "bulldozer."
DR.. p. Fl. Prince, of Gallatin, will
probably be appointed postmaster
of that town in the course of the
next week.
Harry Griscom, of Chattanooga,
is making a hot fight for General
Wiider's place. Arch Hughes is
mentioned in connection with the
Columbia post office.
The Memphis post Office will soon
pass into other hands. 1t is not yet
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