Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-17
Democratic EndecisiOn.


WASHINGTON, December 12.-Freer conference
and fuller Information confirm the ground taken in
these dispatches yesterday, that the caucus Monday
developed no policy and outlined no future course for
the majority In obedience TO the Instructions Of
the caucus, the judiciary committee this morning
prepared two resolutions for presentation TO the
house, one looking to the appointment CT a joint
committee, with five members from the lower
chamber. 70 confer upon the powers and proceed
ngs Of the two houses In the approaching electoral
count, and the other providing for house commit
tee of seven to report upon the prerOgative Of the
popular branch and Its duty In the approaching
emergency. The resolution for Joint committee Is
somewhat more direct and immediate IN its appli-
cation than the Crlrg resolution. as 1t Is known
which Is now before the house That embraces In
its phrase constituting the powers OF the proposed
joint committee the general subject Of d PfeSidei-
tial choice, embracing both solution OF the pes
ent difficulty and the adoption Of system for
the future. The Democratic resolution has
reference to the present deadlock only. Il con-
stituteS the first formal step taken by the
majority OF the popular branch toward opening he
gotiatGns with the seniite ana II VIII De noticed
that like the action or the caucus, It defeS action
to negotiation, and seeks terms from the senate and
not settlement. Mr.. RdndalS ruling uN0n the
Joint rules and their force 1T the present time re
mains tie only definite step forward in any direction
taken by the Democrats To that step but four SEN
atOrS assent, and large number of the house are
faint In its support As I'm the past the majority of
the house rests upon Its rights under the cOnstiu
tion and abideS by any issue raised upon them. but
for the present definite prediction Of Democratic
policy is premature. TO say the least No better proof
Of the floating and feeble opinion of the average
member can be adduced than the desire for an
early adjournment and long recess. Instinctlyely
be feels the danger Of staying where he may blum
der, and the necessity of going home, where he can
learn something.
EGmunGs and COnILlfng.
Whatever may have been Senator Edmunds's mo-
tive in suggesting an appeal to the supreme court,
his resolution has been hOptleSSY butcherad In the
house of his friends. Senator Morton objects to
OSensiby because il still leaves the electoral college
In full force and sets up precedent meant for this
brltr tarI gf
II for time TO come. He Is Joined in his opposition
by statesmen of the Patterson, COnOVer and Spencer
kidney, their enmity being based their fears TO
take the risk of letting go the advantage they assume
to have in favor of any other tribunal Senator Ere
linghuySen objects because the constitution in vest
Ing congress With the power TO Vote also conferred
the power to ind way, and hence this resolution Is
unnecessary. Democrats in the senate are ex-
pectlng good results from this split in the party.
Senator COnklng was long III consultation
with Senator FdmundS after the opposition to
his bill became apparent, and il Is believed the
latter may be nettled into Independence by this de
feat at the hands of his friends. Democratic
senators discard all constitutional arguments OF the
question. saying the interview with Justice Miller
Just published In the Chicago Ti8leS, shows such
strong partisan bias that the country will be con-
vinced that the supreme bench is not a safe OF i'm
partial tribunal MI EdmundS, at the beginning OF
bis argument In support Of his bill declared that ne
would express 10 opinion upon the question OF tilt
powers OF congress- or of the powers Of the respect
i've houses but would cOniine himself To d succlnct
statement OF the actions heretofore taken Dy con-
gress in regard TO counting the electoral vote and
the Views of some of the most eminent statesmen OF
the past He however, did have something TO say
about the power OF the president OF the senate to
count the votes while the two houses looked on as
spectators. This was said not as his own opinion
but as the views of others; but 1t was clear from the
manner in which ii was spoken that the senator
Goes not hold that the president Of the senate Is in
trusted with such great power BY the constitution
one OF the reasons which he said might be urged
with great force against this theory was the fact
that the VicePreSdent of the United States Was the
president OF the senate, and it might happen again
~ the future as 1t had happened In the past that
tns Nice-PreSident was candidate for President. It
would certainly not be held that the trainers OF the
constitution ever intended to make any man pTaGt
0ally the judge OF his own election. 1t is said that
Senators EdmundS and COHklng are not the only
Republicans in the senate who hold that the tHO
houses alone have the p0Wer to canvass the returns
and that In the performance of this duty they can go
behind the returns from the State authorities
The Sherman Brothers.
There 1t good deal Of quiet cOgitation going OIL
among the more farsighted men OF both parties as
10 the attitude and intentions of two per5ones VINO
bid fair to play much lager part in the political
drama now unfolding than has been hitherto sus
pected These are Senator Sherman. of Ohio. and
his brother, the general eonmander-n-chief of the
army Senator Sherman, as the World advised its
readers TWO days ago Is now hard at work to secure
the displacement Of Senator Ferry, and his own Sc
lection president Of tine senate Ii Is well known
that Mr.. Hayes Is wax in Sherman'S hands. II was
Sherman who first suggested the candidacy OF HAYES
eighteen months ago, and he holds over him the
power of a keen. cold. INSCRIPTIONS intelligence
over weak and well-intenti0ned nature. If SheT-
man IS made president OF the senate, he Will take
pains to prevent any official declaration of the eec-
tiOn of either Hayes or Tden, and ne will do this In
the interest OF nobody but himself and his broth
ar. Neither Senator Sherman nor General Sher-
Iuan has any respect or liking for President
Grant. In fact, 1t is notorious that they both
dasplse him. Il no regular declaration OF Presl-
dent IS made, Or If two Presidents are declared Sen
atOr Sherman at noon on the fourth Of iIaTch viii
claim 10 be, as president OF the senate. which is
continuing body acting President Of the United