Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1883-11-21
from Our Regular Correspondent !
Washington Letter


: WASHINGTON, Nov II, SO.
About half of the senators are now
Washington enjoying the fresh fall weat
eli and getting comfortably settled
+ their domiciles before the active work
I the session begins. As rule senate
are as willy as foxes in eluding interview
/; ers, but just at this time their enforce
leisure is partially PASSED in gossip Owe
the political situation. At the rooms {
one of the western senators last niol
there was gathered little party of pei
sonal and political friends, and the CONVEX
sation drifted along until the senate
himself gave the following opinions, an
views respecting the probable politics
effect OF recent events. 1.-The elections" h
said, "have made quite material chang
in the aspect of politics. The result
show republican gain liz ali the eastern
states, a heavy loss in the amalgatiol
scheme of Malone; and some othel
peculiar effects which will be seen here
after. AS there is to be no importan
election until after the nominations fo
the presidency are made the figures
shown in the returns will have to b,
relied upon as basis of calculations. i
must therefore be admitted that the
southern vote seems entirely lost to tht
republican party, but the north shows q
wonderful gain, and almost entire disap
pearance of the discords which divided
the votes of the republicans. If the
tendency thus indicated continues, the
contest for the administration will show a
solid north pitted against solid south
and the north will undoubtedly win.
But will the republicans be able TO hold
the ground they have gained? Will their
voting power increase between now and
1854? What steps can the democrats
take to prevent their continuous gain, and
what can the republicans do TO augment
it? These are the vital and important
questions arising out of the recent cleo
lions. notice as the first effect of this
change in the political situation that the
democrats are forced to change their
'acJics. After the Onio election Mr..
Randall announced inaction as the policy
'i the parry. They were supposed to be
gaining votes, and it would be best to lei
well enough alone. There are divisions
in the ranks of the democracy over impor-
tant questions, why not, therefore, let
them remain in Statu ga until after the
presidential election. Randall openly
himself in favor of this policy.
SUI the outrages upon the colored voters
md the fact that the south has by hook or
rock nuiilied the southern republican
,ote makes it evident that, if the republi
ans can outline the ground of party
discussion they will raise the race issue. |
10 avoid it the democrats now confess
hat it must be outshadowed by discus.
ion of the tariff. Ii the democrats can
gree upon reform in this direction they
vii be their Inst effort. The elections
ave forced them to an aggressive policy.
Concerning the chances to the speaker
hip the senator remarked that the adyan-
age OF Mr.. Carise's position, fayoring
arm legislation. is improved by the facts
sierred to, but no doubt the other aspir-
n's Tor This Office will be quick in setting
lemselves right before their supporters.
oliIics cannot change position faster than
OPTICIANS can. Che Northumberland
men of II fortnight ago
re the most active taritf reform men of
day.
SIN lurIher commenting on the features ,
the shifting scenes the senator contin. ,
ID another effect is 10 be observed in {
c plans OF senator Malone. He proposes
take all tho advantage possible of the =,
awhile outrages. 1t is his purpose to b
IL for an early investigation, by the Sen, S
Q, into the causes which deprive the S
lored people of Virginia of their voting
ivileges, and this will no doubt precip-
lie long discussion Of the color oues. n
n. He claims that 2000 colored voters {
5istered in Dtnvile and near by, on :
'vember Sd, but that there were only 7
rty five of these votes cast on November G
l. This shows that 1855 votes were W
by the terrorizlng methods Of =
klux politicians y :,
But Mr.. senator will the senate give Or
lhorlly to investigate state eIection?" II
NO, he replied, not with view to any o
difference in tie results of that election, u
it is entirely within its province to b
luire as TO whether violence and intim Il
tlon were used at any time against any II
SIS Of citizens. l anticipate that a very IL
ter debate will be made over this uues.
n in the south " 4.