COLUMBUS, January 6, 1870.
MY DEAR SIR:—In
reply to your favor of the 4th: I do not regard the organization of the [Ohio]
House as an indication of any new difficulty. The House
contains one hundred and twelve members as at present organized. One Republican
member represents a county which Democrats claim is not entitled to
representation. Mr. Blakeslee, of Williams County, feels confident that he
can't be ousted. One Republican seat is contested, viz., Mr. Glover, of Scioto.
I am confident he is also safe. The House therefore stands, and I think will
stand to the end, Republicans, straight, 53; Democrats, straight, 49;
Republican Reformers 5; Democratic Reformers 5. The Democratic Reformers will
probably all vote against the Fifteenth Amendment making 54 negative votes.
We regard it as
certain beyond contingency that three Republican Reformers will vote for the
Amendment making 56 affirmative votes, or exactly one-half of the House. The
other two Republican Reformers we think will vote for the Amendment, or at the
worst will refuse to vote either way. In either event the Amendment is
ratified. I say probably the Democratic Reformers will vote
no. Many of our friends are confident that two of them will either vote aye or
refuse to vote. They and others in the Democratic party want the
Amendment ratified. But I do not reckon on their help.
In short, I regard
the chances as good. If you can help us in any way, do not fail to do it. The
Amendment will probably not be ratified in the Senate until a week from today,
January 13. It then goes to the House, and the final struggle is there. I am
quite confident of success.
Sincerely,
R. B. HAYES.
HONORABLE O. P. MORTON,
Washington, D. C.
SOURCE: Charles
Richard Williams, editor, Diary and Letters of Rutherford Birchard
Hayes, Volume 3, pp. 81-2
