The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-12-28
The Bu!letin.
WASHINGTON LETTER.
The Amenities OF Enemies In Con
grcss-A Probable Settlement of the
Electoral OuesltOu-esen. RntIer's
NieWs-A New Naval BtlI-COmnO.
dOre Ammen's Marine Ram.
IFr0m our Regular Correspondent

Nothing surprises visitors to the ma
,lonal halls OF legislation so much As the
amenities of enemies. mean of political
enemies. Senators Morton and Thur
man are for instance, in state of chronic
beligercncy, always cropping each other
by the political throat, each showing the
other to be flimsy, false and illogical
each unable To look upon the sins and
heresies OF which the other Is the political
representative with the least degree of al
lowancc. But before and after debate
| they may be seen in the triendlicst con-
versation talking aud laughing like col
lcge chums. There is strife and enmity
of bitter personal character in both the
house ana senate, but it i the exception
rather than the rule. that this j. marked
by party lines.
The opinion that, after all, there may
be an amicabie adjustment OF the presi-
dental difficulty is just now very preya-
/ lent. The president of the senate has
! named Senators Edmunds, Of Vermont
! Morton, OF Indiana; frelinghuysen, OF y.
| j. Logan, OF H.. Thurman, Of ohio
| Biyard OF Delaware and Ransom, OF
| North CAROLINA: four Republicans and
/ three bemocrats-to confer with a com
/ mlttee from the house consisting of tour
I Democrats and three Republicans. The
I object ot this Joint committee IL TO de-
/ eide upon some method OF settlement Of
| the presidential difficulty and its simple
! appointment, even il it should not ac-
compli>h all that Is hoped. Is an impor
tant point gained for peace, since it il
! concession on the part Of both houses Of
! congress, and tacit acknowledgment
! OF their interdcpenlence. The personnel
| of the senate committee j. OF character
that gives reason to hope that sJtisfac-
tory result may after all be reached By
| arbitration. aud men u both parties look
to it to rescue the country from the per-
ii. which overiIang il. Mr.. Randall will
appoint the member. OF the house com.
nlittee to-day.
GEN. BUFFERS VIEWS oN THE SITUATION.
Gen. b. I Butler has been in the city
for day or two, and, In a conversation
yesterday concerning the presidential
trouble, stated that he did not think it
probable that any compromise would be
effected. He thought that there was so
much faint attaching 10 the legality of
the proceedings in some OF ,he states
connected with the late presidential cleo
ton, that, in his Judgment, it will be i'm
practicable Tor either party 10 purge It.
self o. the wrongs alleged against it,
The general suggests that congress shall
Immediately pass a bill for new election
to take place in May next, and to have
such safeguards thrown around the polls
as TO make the imputation OF unfairness
impossible. In the meantime he thinks
the acting yice-president of the United
States, Mr.. Ferry. could conduct the gov
eminent until the inauguration OF the
new president.
PROPOSED NAVY BILL.
\ bill was introduced yesterday to reg
ulate the navy. It embraces some i'm.
pOrtant and excellent features which
your correspondent heard suggested by
Commodore Ammen, L. :. NJ, several
Years ago, but it is 10 be regretted that it
does not provide tor some defense spccif-
ically Us suggested by. this distinguished
officer and ,arant. Commodore Ammcn
is the inventor OF a marine ram of won
derinl strength and swiftness; it is pro-
posed 10 use it mainly for port and coast
defence, and lis advantages are that while
il costs mere pittancc in comparison
with the heavy armored vessels of the !
European nayies, ii will surely sink any |
ship with which it might collide. its |
construction has received the highest APP |
proval of naval engineers and also of Mr. !
Eads, the protector of the Mississippi |
jetties, and its advantages Of cheapneSs
and effectiveness are so palpable, and the |
importance of the defence of our extern |
slye coast so tar transcends every other !
service for which our navy can be en- f,
ployed, that it is almost impossible |
10 understand why congress will appro- |
pirate millions to keep fleets cruising in
European and AsatiC waters. while sure
and economical precautions for the de- |
fence of our own coast are neglected |
Six or eight Of the rams proposed by |
Commodore Ammen would make 1t im- |
possible for those otherwise resistleSs |
heavy armored ships like the "lron |
Duke" and" ivan Guard To come within |
range oil Boston, New York, Philadel- !
phia, and other large cities, and, yet,
they can be built and equipped Tor less ,
than one-tilth of the expense Of the |
heavy armored vessels. il may be proper
to add that what have said about this /
ram Is without the knowledge Of the in /
Nentor, whom have not seen for more
Than year, and further, that snow |
that he does not expect or desire pecuni.
AIRY remuneration Tor his invention, but |
Ia present it "a he presented another in.
yeItion at his (the l.ile-Saving Balsa) TO /
the service which he loves. and with
which his life has been identified.
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FOur Pounds