The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-12-01

,
MY DEAR rR:-Your favor Of the 18th
inst. Is Just at hand, I note the very
kindlysp In which you write, and as.
surs YOU j, appreciate your frankness in
writing, and 4 II turns out that cannot
do what you go kindly ask me to do, 1t
wilInot be because would not like to &C.
cent and act on your judgment.
Without first seeing personal friends,
members Of the house, who may feel that
it would be as much q reflection on them
ss on myself, for me 10 decline to accept, II
offered, the complimentary. vote ior
Speaker at the organization Of the Forty
eighth; q 5ngress, ] cannot decide the mat
There is no sacrifice Iwould not make
for the good of the Republican party, but
the question remains: would sacrifice on
nv, part do the party any good?
Would itnot only give the vicious per-
song who have 80 falsely and malicioutly
aRaailed me chance to assume that con.
iess lhat I did wropg and the Republicans
in the last Congress did wrong and failed
in Ipoint OF duty, &c? My withdrawal
might be interpreted as an open confession
Of all this and more.
The last Congress accomplished more.
than apy other that ever met in the way Of
legislation touching Tho moral and material
in,erpsts Of the country 1t passed Just
annortionment bill, which the preceding
democratic Congress failed to pass. 1t
nSssei me first act directly affecting polyg-
amy. It passed the first 3per cent. fund
inc act. II enacted law extending Ma.
tional Bank charters It passed law reg
Mating Chinese immigration. II passed q
mercliul act for the protection Of emigrants
a. AL, sea. "a and another Tor their care and relief
on landing. Itrevised the tariff Laws. II
passed many acts relating to public lands,
&c. Il was working Congress, and gave
attention to business matters. The House
dealt with election frauds in election cases.
NEVER sHlRkKD DUTY.
was in the chair every business day
(saye two) through the two sessions. I
shirked no responsibility, and no parlia'
mentary decision OF mine was oyeruled by
tbe House, though 1t was nearly evenly
divided politically. Golegislation was de.
Iaved an nv account, but when believed
wIae legislaiion, It was facilitated by me.
During the session OF the 47th Congress,
the 0uestion OF halfbreed or stalwarL ney.
ar arose among members. No such divt-
sion existed in the House. The organizes
tion of the committeeE for which l am re-
spopsible, shows that no such division was
Jndre Kelly, whose tendencies are and
have long been strongly independent, hut
Republican, was (andl claim nN8,salyl mace
Chairman OF the Commiltee on Ways ana
Means. Mr.. Hiscock (said to haye, been a
half.breed) was made Chairman ot; the
Committee on Appropriations in which
place he was faithful and efficient. Mr.,
Reed, Of Maine, man OF marked ability
and learning as q lawyer and statesman,
was put at the head Of the Judiciary.- Mr.
Harris, OF Massachusetts, 8 man eminently
qualified by experience and learning, wai
made Chairman Of the Naval Committee
etc, ETC., etc. pcannot 90 over the ltsi
now. g.
tion as Speaker was that ! was not q half
breed -of stalwart Republican, as diyis
ions were made in New York, but BE
. publican who never recognized any diyid
tnp point in the party. was supported
, bythe devoted and warmest friends ef thl
I he President Garfield, anG by others gen
l erally from the West and South, and b!
, still others nom the Elst who would no
recognizs party division.
Q PREVENTED VARrY DIVISIONS.
9 claim credit for preventing and avoid
J J ing party divisions in the last House.
i You speak Of ewide disagreemsnts Of th
last two Or three years" in The party