Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-06
WASHINGTON Letter.

ship was ended at the caucus meetlnS
held in the House of Representatives
on Saturday evening. Up to within
few. hours of this time there was little
positive information as to which candi'
date had the largest number of pledges.
But in the course of the day the Car
Isle men mustered their forces, count
ed their votes and speedily let it be
known that victory was with their ban
ners. The workers for Randall and
Cox soon found this out, and as is usu-
al there was rush to the successful
man. When the meeting was called to
order by General Rosencrans there was
hardly voter to be found who had
been anything but all original Carlisle
man, and sure of his election from the
first. Nothing succeeds like success.
Mr.. Randall and Mr.. Cox took their
defeat with such equanamity as could
be preserved. The latter was remind
ed Of little story and was quite as
good natured and happy over it as if
he had secured the prize himself. In
fact his candidature has all along been
considered good joke in its way, serv-
ing a useful purpose too, for those who
wanted to see which way the cat would
jump, before indulging in that exercise
themselves. By keeping on Cox's side
they were able to 60 over to the sue
cessful candidate with the plea that
they were really for him all the time
but were pledged to complimentary
support of Cox. l really think that
Mr.. Randall was deeply disappointed
and disguised. He must have been,
for the Speakership for him opened an
outlook in the direction of the Presl
dency. With its loss, and especially
when lost under the conviction that he
was the best man for the Democrats to
have selected, he felt all the chagrin of
a personal disappointment, and the
disgust attending party mistake. But
he put a good face on it. lie accepted
the coincidence Of his devoted followers
with smile, and an unmoved nerve,
and readily joined in the proposition to
make the nomination unanimous. The
Democratic leaders have thus set an
example of personal courtesy towards
each other which presages we'll for the
amenities, during the stormy session
which will surely ensue. 1t is to be
hoped that both parties will follow the
good beginning thus made.
On Monday at precisely II o'clock
the first session of the 4Sth. Congress
began. The occasion was brilliant
one, as early as Q o'clock the galleries
in the House began to fill up, and by
eleven there was not a vacant seat to
be seen. A sea Of faces, and the hum
of conversation was all that the late
conner could see or hear by climbing up
and stretching his neck to geta glimpse
of the inside of the House. The halls
outside were soon literally packed with
people who were hopeless Of getting in
side, but who were 10th to leave the Vi
cinity where so much excitement pre-
vailed. There was a more quiet and
subdued air about the Senate chamber
and galleries, but they were equally
crowded. The Senators came in one
by one and exchanged greetings with
great cordiality. Senator Edmunds
who Is as taciturn and emotional as us.
ual, was the especial center of interest,
occasioned partly by the doubt as to
whether he would preside. Senators
Logan, Beck, Anthony, Allison, Harri-
rison, Brown of Ga. Ingalls,, and all
the old favorites, as the programmes
say, were on hand. In the House there
was revelation. The habitue of the
the Reporters Gallery looked down on
an army of strange faces. This was not
so peculiar in itself but it was singular
indeed to miss SO many we'll known re-
publicans and to notice how the demo-
cratic side of the chamber Was densely
populated, while the republican side
looked as if it had recently come thro'
a cyclone. But at precisel y twelve the
eager audience were hushed to silence
by the rapping of the Clerks gavel.
Then, escorted on the one side by his
democratic predecessor and late oppo-
nent Mr.. Randall, and the other by the
late Speaker, Mr.. Eeifer, Mr.. Carlisle
walked gracefully up the main aisle
and took the Speakers place. Accept
ing the gavel in his right hand, he gave
a sharp rap, and then addressed the
House in few well chosen words,