The New York herald., 1876-12-20
Measures which Have Lost Their Merit
Since Last Session.
SENATOR MORTON ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
A Change or Base to Suit Pres
ent Emergencies.
GENERAL GRANT and The ILLINOIS SEyAToRSHR,
FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.

WASHINGTON Dec. 10 1870
PLANS SUGGESTED BY REPUBLICANS TO SETTLE
THE PRESIDENTIAL QuEsrIoN--MEAsuREs
WHICH WERE ADMIRABLE LAST SESSION
NOW QUITE THE coNrRARY-sExAToR NOR
TONS CHANGE OF BASE.
Tho republicans begin privately 10 propose various
plans settling the Presidential dispute OF
these which is spoken about to-day. is 10 hold a
election all the States Another Chief Justice
Waite decide ali disputed points In regard TO the first
project-thoso who suggest II even 60 far
point out that tho Revised Statutes contain clause
which could bc used by forced construction 10 bring
. election Section 151 declares that the only
evidence OF refusal TO accept resignation OF
the Office OF President vicc President shall bc an
instrument In writing declaring the and sub-
scribcd by tho person refusing TO accept resgning
tho may be, and delivered into tho office tho
Secretary OF State II ID suggested nat both the
ddates might be induced TO rciuse ncccp, thus
bring q election. But u is objected, very
reasonably, that tho law applies only President
really elected and where the result is in
dispute.
What strikes observers as odd ID that tho republi.
who suggest these different methods OF settle
mcnt mention tho twenty second JOINT rule,
which adopted by them and under which
they very c0ntcndcdly worked long as
suited their party purposes. They do not men
tlon Senator Mortons substitute for tho twenty.
second rule, which no advocated vigorously last
March and which adopted by the Senate on the
24lh OF that month, almost every republican Senator
voting for II, including Messrs Ferry Frelng-
huyscn, Logan, MITCHELL Norton, Patterson. sar-
gent, Sherman and Spencer Mr. Morton,s bill
thus adopted by the republican Senators
alter . protracted discussion, in which ali
tia ware al and dafor ~
AoAon and other prominent republicans, who seem
to have utterly forgotten both what they urged
and what they voted for less than nire months ago.
Mr.. Edmunds has rentroduced the Norton BILL which
had been reconsdered after its adoption, mono
OF the Senators who jealous for It's adoption last
March takes the least interest In II, and some
ofthem reported that II Is bad measure
who others arc straining their powers In nvcntIng
and constitutional ways to settle questions
In dispute. for oil Of which, as Mr. Morton repeatedly
showed last March, his bill fully provided.
There arc people here unsophistica.cd
as 10 think that measure which was in
every way constitutional necessary and sufficient
March, and which then got nearly every republican
vote in the Senate. besides democratic support
bc NO less constitutional and sufficient now and
these simple minded people wonder why the
republican Senators who then voted for
1t do not now hasten TO pass Il
again, and thus nllay tho anxiety and suspense OF
tho public. They wonder cvon more TO hear that
Senator Norton the author and defender
OF tho BILL declares that he does not think we'll OF
Il because tho circumstances have changed
THE COMPETITION OF THE SENATE AND HOUSE
COMMITTEES ON THE ELECTORAL vorE-THE
NUMBER OF MAJORITY AND MINORITY MEN,
BERs UNDER CONSIDERATION
It was believed this morning that Speaker Randall
and Vice President Ferry had agreed the two COM
mttces, which to consider and report method OF
examining tho electoral VOTE should be composed for
each house, OF four OF the majority three OF the
minority, instead OF ve and two, and this gave great
satisfaction 70 those who look for good results tho
joint deliberations Of the two committees This after
noon, however, IL is understood that Mr. Ferry has
been unable to definitely mako up his mind
the question Tho object OF having each committee
nearly emily divided to gvc opportunity for tho
selection OF the wIsess ana ablest In each house
from each party. Whether tho two committees stand
four and three five and two, OF course tho joint
committee will be tie politically. II is understood
that Speaker Randall will reflect the House committee
with great care, putting on II only mon OF moderate
views and parliamentary experience