New-York tribune., 1876-12-09
WASHINGTON.
CONGRESS IN A MORE SUNNY TEMPER.
SEVERAL THINGS CoyDUCE TO MORE AMIcABLl
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. r-OREGQN-IMPORrAN

CONGRESS IN A MORE SUNNY TEMPER.
SEVERAL THINGS CoSDUcE TO MORE AMIcABLE
TEEIINGs-IMPEACHMR -oREGoN-IMPoRrANT
SENATE DECISION ON JOINT RULES
TEY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l
WASHINGTON. Dec. S.-To-day there Is an evident
improvement in the political situation. Both parties
are in better temper. This is great point gained.
Almost no angry talk was heard in the cloak-roOms
and corridors on the Democratic side of the House,
and the number of good-humored conversations that
took place between Republicans and Democrats
during the progress of the dull business of private
bill day, showed that the irritated feeling of
yesterday had already begun to evaporate. Evil
IDENTIFY the failure of the hot-headed project
to impeach the President has had the effect Of
ing them to take q calmer view of what they are in
the habit of calling the crisis The backbone of the
Democratic party is in the South. Its Southern
members fatty refuse to place themselves in the
attitude of hostility to the Government or to take
any course likely to tho preiudices OF the
North. Last night of the Northern members
felt bitterly toward them but this morning there
are few who do not think it would have been bad
policy to assault Gen. Grant. Tho consequences of
such course, they now begin to see would be to
arouse on behalf Of the President the sympathy and
support of large class Of people who at present
indifferent or hostile to him.
The Republicans are also in better temper to-day.
Yesterday they were not all able to fOresee the re-
suits Of the Oregon fraud. They now believe it to
be mpotent. The forms Of law, and even the false
certificate of the Governor show that the Rerub-
lican Electors were chosen. They were majority
of the Electoral College, and their return is the only
legal one.
Another important point in the direction Of q
speedy settlement OF the disputed election was
gained in the Senate by the almost unanimous ac-
tion of that body in sustaining the ruling of its
President that the Joint rules not in force. Only
five Democratic Senators voted this notion
All the Republicans and majority OF the Demo-
Gratis reafirmed the position taken By the Senate
last session, that tho Tweuty-second JOINT Rule
passed out of existence when the Senate Informed
the House that itwonld no longer be bound byit The
only serious attempt made on the Democratic side to
maintain the existence of the rule was by MIR. Mcr-
rimon of North Carolina. who struggled in vain
against the network Of argument woven around
him by Mr. Edmunds and was finally completely
noorcd when his record of last ses Jon was thrown
at him. In that session Mr.. MerrIHnn signed the
report of the committee wIich the Senate acted.
This he explained to-day BY aging that he acted
hastily and without duo consideration OF the sub
iect. But the reading Of certain remarks made by
HIM in the senate after the report was submitted
seemed to take away from him this last resort.
Mr. Salisbury made a short speech in favor of
the existence Of the rule f; but Mr.. Bayarf, "a
might have been expected from his high character
for consistency, unwilling 10 stultlfy himself Tor
parts purposes, in compact and fOrcIblo argi-
mont completely overturned the theory OF DIR. Kan
dali and the House Democrats that joint rule can
only bo repealed by the action Of both Houses. Ho
showed that a joint rule differs from law in that
=, h,l, al IN IL and made
il clear that as soon as one of two coordinate bodies
ceases TO recognize the existence of joint rule u
necessarily terminates. because neither House can
coerco the other 10 obey it,
Mr.. Morton made Enthusiastically vigorous ar
ct,,pcut on the same side of tho question The only
Democrats who voted against sustaining the decia-
ion of President Ferry were Mossrs. Merrimon,
Maxcy, McCreery. Whyto and Withers. Mr. SaulS-
bury WAS paired with Mr.. Cameron, 50 that the
whole Democratic voting strength IN favor oi the
existence of the rule amounted TO six. Mr. Thurman
did not vote at all Tho following Democrats voted
with the Rcpublicans 10 sustain Mr. Fcrrys ruling:
Mcssrs. Bayard, Cockrcll, Cooper, Dennis, Eaton,
Herman. Mcdonald. Price, Randolph, and Wallace.
THIS action Of the Senate is Of the highest import
anre IL destroys the onlv foundation the Demo
crafts have had for their claim that the House can
OF its own motion refuse to count the electoral vote
of a State.
Not the least among the many hopeful signs OF tho
clearing up Of the political horizon which have re-
yralcd themselves to-day is the prompt acton oi the
House Judiciary Committee on Mr. McCrarys reso-
luton for Joint committee to report on the proper
mcthod of ascertainiug and counting the electoral
vote. The resolution was introduced only yesHr-
day. but was considered at the meeting OF the com
mittce this morning and ordered to be- reported
forthwith. 1t is understood that tho committee were
unanimously in its favor.