Year: 1877

avcrse TO all this They have been credited with . de-
termination TO crush every effort looking agree
ment OF the two houses. They hlling their
organs all the country nth assertions that the
Vice President has the constitutional right to count
and thus preparing the publ, mind to sustain their
open opposition any plan the joint committee might
produce, and meantime they we're using party terror
ism and all other to prevent an agreement in
the committee. They pointed to the silence oi she
country as evidence that ''nobody wants Q plan
agreement" and they had already, by few days OF
underwriting work, cowed some Senators and
puzzled others tina. doubtful whether any plan
or agreement could pass the Senate.


The Chandler Morton theory was that Il Is better to
provoke q now war than TO give up the power they
possess They held that the democrats would blum
der; that the Vice Presidents count would be
copied by tho country, At any that which had
the most plausible appearance OF loyalty; that II
democratic mass meeting assembled here Il would
thorize and produce republican demonstra-
tion and tha, with the federal power. forces and
arms in their hands, they could crush any movement
here, while II u should extend become general
outbreak, they would thank Heaven rebellion,
IN which they moan, to DO the 70 enforce peace
anc carry out the lawa


II s not difficult that this scheme full Of
strong points II the democrats submitted then
Chandler would have carried his point, and he Nor.
ton and Sherman would reckon tho necessary graf
itude Of Hayca II tho democrats resisted-as they
undoubtedly would, and force influence
which could be used could prevent them from DONG
then hurrah tor new war, vast raid ON the South
In the name OF peace; and these leaders, who carried
on the last canvass . crusade, believed the people
would follow them, or, rather would spring arms al
democratic demonstration.


The one thing feared by Chandler Morton aud Shcr.
man was IN agreement by the two houses upon
plan-any plan-for a count Of the vote They were
not plan which should leave the decision
concerning the disputed States TO committee COM
posed entirely OF members OF the two houses. Tho
members Of such committee would have beon chosen
by party caucuses, and II was well understood that
Mr.. Morton would manage that men should bo ap-
pointed from the republican side who would disagree.
to everything But she proposition now adopted to
bring In legal experts and those judges OF tho supreme
Court, was different matter. The republican leaders
could not hope that these judges could be deceived
that they would decide partisan grounds the ques
tons to constitutional methods, and weight OF
evidence which will now before them Mr.
Chandler and his allies not blunderers; they have
perfect knowledge Of the facts In the disputed Saes
they know that their case in Florida and in Louisiana
will not bear even slight investigation by men
trained to this work and impartial in their udgmen.





Of calling in judges Of the supreme Court; and the
Immediate renewal of tho cry oil the republican
organs that the Vice President must count Hence
the threats that made hero prior the agree
ment that any man in either house who even weak
ened this question should be considered traitor
to his pary should be opposed at homo and denounced
everywhere, aud should be summary expelled from
public life. Such threats have moro effect hero than
you think, as q multitude of Congressmen hold their
places by precarous need at cvery cleo
ton tho help Of the party. They also have friends and
allies in local Offices, and they have been accustomed
to follow their leaders.


But therc not the least doubt that the adminisra


on leaders conceived that their strength lay in
the supinenesa of the public. Daily and ,riumphantly
they pointed their followers TO the fact that nobody
demanded an agreement or plan.


"The people don't care" they urged swhy should
you move-how dare you move against your partys"


The low amiable politicians sent here from New
York and other cities for honest settlement only
excited their contempt


'They wcrc signed by sorcheads, )" they said ''The
party js unit Stand still and Il will all bo right"


The Senatorial elections In ILLINOIS and Massachu.
sets attract extraordinary interest," because tho re-
suits there would give evidence of popular feel
ing. II Mcssrs. Boutwell, and Logan are reelected It
would be held by Chandler and Morton as a clear in
OOrsement Ot tuetT coursc LOT OOtn boutwell, and
Logan have committed themselves TO the most OK.
trcme measures even to q war-if that would bo
necessary to put in Hayes, and Mr. George f. noars
course, which is moderate and judicial, had already
caused him to be privately denounced q traitor and
better than fool


say to you, therefore, that unless the two houses
had agreed upon plan before the 14th OF February
mono would have been adopted; and in that case my
deliberate advice to everybody would be TO prepare for
new and bloody war | do not say this hastily; you
know that have uncommonly good means for know.
Ing what goes here below the surface The danger
was not greater In 1860 than IL has been In 1871 l
have given you not mere impressions; tho Tears
have expressed and the schemes have related werc
the topics oil private consultation mere daily among
members OF oil classes. War was In tho air. and
despondency gained tho one hand among men
anxious for peace whe tho other side grew more
boastful and assured Of Happily all this cloud
Of doubt and danger has been dsspaed by tho agree
ment Of the joint committee peaceful cons.tu.
tonal settlement Of the question ISSUE Tho coun.
try has been rescued from terrible peril and our nsti.
tuons receive renewal Of strength from tho fact that
they have withstood such tremendous strain