Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1876-12-21
I From q C)rreSpoa lent
WASHINGTON, DEC. Is, 1876.
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.

MY DEAR CLARION This is going
to be an exciting winter in Washing
ton and you will need a correspondent
to keep you fully posted in the say
ings and doings of Congress. There
may be other people, also, whose say
ings and doings Will be of consdera-
bic consequence. AS | propose to be
an attentive looker-on you may ex-
pect an occasional letter. The one
great paramount question now before
Congress is of course the Presidential
question. 1t bids fair to be huge
game Of bluff, the great players beng
in Washington and the people of the
country circled around as anxious
spectators. AS the matter stands
Hayes has apparently the winning
cards. But boldness, pluck and skill
on the other side often triumph IN a
game of bluff. There are Nhlsperlngs
in the air, however that these are
lacking in the Til1en ranks, That
there is no great trumpet-volced lead
er. that there is want of manlmlty
and organization. In the House, where
the friends of Tllden are all powerful,
they have already sent Committees to
inquire into tie alleged manipulation
of returns in favor Of Hayes in Loulsl'
ana and Florida. Much depends on
what these Committees are able to de-
velope, for it is great point to arouse
a storm of public indignation. eau
cuses have also been held to deter
mine the best plan of operations
Adherence to the twentyhrst rule on
the part of the House has been We
hemently proclaimed by Speaker
Randall, and Representative Wood
INDUCES in angry growls OF lmpeach-
ment of Grant. The Hon. Abr IN
Hewitt, chairman Of the National
Democratic Committee has issued a
short address in which he announces
the election of Samuel j. Tilden, OF
New York, as President, and con
GRADUATES the friends of Reform on
the result. But Mr.. Hewltts ad-
dress had scarcely seen the light,
when out comes the Hon, Zach. Chan
dler. chairman of the National Re,
publican Committee, with an equally
short but more pepnery address IN
which he denonnces Mr.. HEWITT
manifesto as "the last desperate at
tempt to prop a failing cause. lie
declares GOV. Hayes has been fairly
elected and that the Hewitt address
is an impndent and audacious at
tempt to prevent the public Judgment.
50 the game opens and the time from
now until the second "Wednesday IN
February will be devoted by both
parties to playing for victory The
republicans are bold and confident
I'll e democrats are bitter and denun-
ciatory but not united. On Thurs
day last in the Senate the question
was raised as to whether the Joint
rules Of tie two Houses were now III
force, the present Congress having
failed to re.enact them. 1t was de-
cided they were not in force by vote
of so to 4, all the republicans and II
democrats voting in the majority
On the same day, Mr.. Randall, Speak
err Of the House, ruled that the joint
rules we're in force. \ majority Of
the House voted in agreement with
him. Thus the democrats Of the Sen
ate and House are placed in direct
antagonism. The general impression
here amongst Senators and legal men
ii that the twenty-second joint rule
being repealed, there is no other pow.
er under the Constitution to count
and declare the votes Of the Electora
colleges, than that vested by the Con
stitution in the President Of the Sen
ate. Neithe, the House nor the Sen
ate rs a body are more than specta
tors, and have not even the right t.
offer resolutions, or debate any lssu
there. Should the President Of TIA
Senate declare that no one has ma
Ioritv, then it will be the province q
the House to elect, but until he ha
made that official notification the
have no authority whatever.
Meantime efforts are made TO agre
u,on some plan by which an amica
Die settlement Of the question can L
effected. One proposition was 10 haT