it is pursuing what, in the
opinion of the great masses of it, is a beneficial policy for the
country.

"So far as the southern question is concerned, I feel that the
President did right. The wisdom of his executive order as to office
holders depends upon the construction given to it, and he is not
responsible for a perverted construction not authorized by its
words or terms. As to the resumption policy, the law is plain and
mandatory, and, more than all, the law is right, and the Republican
party might as well understand first as last, that the question of
resumption is one higher than any party obligations and will be
pursued by our adversaries if we do not. We can gain the credit
of success, but we can gain no credit by retreating on this vital
question. While the law stands nothing is left but to execute it,
and for one I never would aid to alter the law, except to make it
more effective, and would be very willing to retire on this question
rather than to surrender.

"The only way is for us to go steadily forward, with a certainty
that public opinion in the end will sustain us if we do what is
substantially right. The Republican party has been in this position
many times and has never won success by retreat and cannot do so
now.

"Very truly yours,
"John Sherman.
"A. P. Miller, Esq., Toledo, Ohio."

It became necessary for the President to call an extra session of
Congress, on account of the failure of the passage of the army bill
at the previous session. Though the proclamation was issued on
the 5th of May, 1877, Congress was not convened until the 15th of
October following. Both Houses met on the day appointed. The
Senate was organized by the election of Thomas W. Ferry, of Michigan,
as president _pro tempore_, and Samuel J. Randall, a Democratic
Member from Pennsylvania, was elected speaker of the House by a
majority of seventeen over James A. Garfield, the Republican
candidate.

The message of the President was confined mainly to the circumstances
connected with the failure of the previous Congress to provide for
the support of the army, and to certain deficiencies in appropriations
required for the government, the President stating that as certain
acts of Congress, providing for reports of the government officials,
required their submission at the regular annual session, he deferred
until that time any further reference to subjects of popular
interest.

Congress, however, not being confi