The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1876-12-14
Washington Matters.
DEMOCRATIC ADDRESS,

DETACHABLE ADDRESS,.
WASHINGTON. ID. G.. Dee. $. The special
committee OF eleven. MessrS. Hewitt, Randall,
Payne. Holman Sparks, Wood Warren, At
kinS, Natterson, Stephens and Lamar, appoint
ed by the Democratic caucus to consider the
general political situation, and submit some
plan Of action in regard to the presen; crisis.
met this evening, and We're in consultation till
! O'Clock. Mr.. Lamar was the only absentee.
The situation was freely discussed and looked
at from all possible standpointS. AS the caucus
had defeated the proposition to present articles
OF impeachment against the President, it was
decided that any similar aggressive measures
| could not be entertained, still it was necessary
in some way to call the attention of the Ameri-
can people TO the gross outrages Of the Presi
dent on the constitutional rights of the people,
and accordingly statement was prepared to go
| TO the country as the keynote and precursor of
| the Democratic tactics The address will recite
| the Illegal proceedings of the President. and
| the manifest intention of the radical leaders TO
count in Hayes at all hazards and ask the peo-
| pie to come together i'll mass meetings. without
| regard to party, and express their views. 1t is
| the design to get an honest expression of opin-
| ion on this important question from the cOnser-
| valve element everywhere, and the committee
| confidently believe that many Republicans will
heartily Join i'll protests against the highland
| ed interterenceS in South Carolina. There will
| be no action of the House on the subject. The
| address will be sent forth by the caucus au-
| thorty in case the joint caucus tomorrow
when the Democratic Senators will be present.
adopt it; and OF this there is no doubt, as it is
conservative i'll to@e, and l meant to draw forth
| popular opinion, by which the Democracy
| means to he guided.
! TIE JOINT RULES.
| WASHINGrON. Dec. s. If the 22d Joint rule
| was not already dead, it was beyond all doubt
killed to-day by the vote of Senator Merrimon's
appeal from the decision of the President pro
| tcnpore Ferry in the Senate, the decision be-
tb.,tn ,1f tl,a ,,int ,t
! in force. not even those which unlike the Odd
| have not been repealed by the affirmative
| action of the Senate; that, not having been re-
! adopted by the two houses at this session, they
| have no validity. The decision Of the chair
| WAS Sustained by an unexpectedly UVprWhelnt-
| ing majority. Eleven Democrats voted with
| The Republicans, and only four against them
| This is regarded by Republican as the virtual
| elimination of the I'D Joint rule from the prt,-
| DENTAL controversy
| INVESTIGATING COMMITTEES.
| " tSliINGroN, Dee. 9. A lengthy session OF
| the senate Committee on Elections was held to-
| daN. TO determine the heSI method of conducting
| the investigation ordered by the Senate under
| Nh ElmundS' resolution, whether in any OF the
| elections held i'll lSrI or 1876 in the states of
| South Carolina. Georgia, Florida. Alabama,
| Louisiana and Mississippi, there was any de-
| Mai OF infringement of the rights OF any per-
! sons To vote, and if so by what means and to
| what extent such denial or abridgcment was
| enertcu. The committee We're also expected
| to decide whether OF not they should recon-
| mend the adoIio by the senate Of The reSolu-
| ton submitted by Senator Mitchell and refer
! red 10 the committee, proposing an nVeStiga
| fion by them OF the recent appointment of Pres
| dentia electors in Oregon. After some discus
| sion il WIS resolved to send subcommittee inn
| mediatey to Louisiana, Florida and South Car
| DINA, and they were appointed as follows;
| For Louisiana - Messrs Howe, Wadleigh,
Mcmillan, Boutwell,. salisbury and Mcdonald.
| For Florida - Messr-. Mitchell, Teller and
| Cooper
| FOR south Carolina - Messrs. Cameron ii
| WIS. ChriSlianey and Merrimon.
| II is expected that these sub committees will
| leave Washington for their respective fields Oh
| inquiry next Monday
| All questions OF law in regard to the elections
IN oregon, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia,
| and concerning the eligibility OF Presidential
| electors IN all the states We're referred 10 Sena
| Tor, Morton, Logan and Herman. a a aub-coln-
| miftec to report To the full committee at a tll-
| tufe meeting, until which time all further ac-
| tIon touching The lour state last mentioned is
| deferred.