The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-12-28

ling ine Presidential MIDDLE,
II Possible.
(COr. ChlCaSO TrIbanS>
WAsuINoroS, December 2S.-Neither
marty has acknowledged that i de4ires a
compromisc Of The issues growing out Of
the Presidential complications. Yet both
Houses OF Congress have, without any
considerable opposition, appointed com.
mil.pcs which, by general consent, are
called the Compromise Com mittee. The
committees are independent committees
of tie House and Senate; but, in their
moral and practical effect, will lie Joint
Committee. Each committee is directed
to cooperate with the corresponding com.
mittee OF the ether House. Il Ia posi-.
Die from the composition Of the commit.
tees to determine something Of the spirit
Of the two Houses upon this grave ques'
lion, and to measureably ioreshadow the
action which such committee is likely to
take. The committee on the partioi the
Senate il: Edmunds, oil Vermont; Nor:
ion. Of Indiana; Frelinghuysen, Of New
Jersey; Logan, Of Illinois; Thurman, Of
Ohio; Baystd, Of Delaware; and Ransom,
Of North Carolina. On the part Of the
House il is: Payne, Of Ohio; Hunton, Of
Virginia; Hewitt, Of New York; Spring
er, Of Illinois; McCrary, Of Iowa; Hoarr,
Of Massachusetts; and Willard, OF Michi'
gan.
a glance at these Committees will show
that Vice.president Ferry has been in.
nuenced more by the spiritso compro'
mise in the appointment Of the Senate
Committee than Speaker Randall has
been in the selection Of the Committee 10
represent the House. The Republican
and Democratic members Of both Com.
mit,ees are presumed to represent the
different elements within the ranks Of
both parties. 1t is much.easier to make
classification ofthe Senate than OF the
House Committee. The Senate Commits
Tee. BY the public and private utterances
Of It's members, can be classified, as to
the Presidential question, in something
OF the following manner: -.
Conssrratipe Republicans -Elmonds and
tFrelinghuysen. .-..f
Radiea! Rtpublitans-Morto and Lo.
C0nseratire Democrats = lIayard and
Ransom.
Radical Democrat-Thurman.
The House Committee, tried by the
same test, would stand:
ConserrGiirc Dtmoeruts-Payne, and pos
sibly lunton. ,,,.,
Consermlirc Republioan--Willard.
ItatlicuL Democrats Hewitt and Springer.
Radical ReguLiicana-Hoar and McCrary.
Taking both committees together, the
two elements arc very nearly balanced,
with the possibility that The supporters
Of the more radical view may have a
majority Of one on joint ballot. These
gentlemen now consider themselves ~
Judges OF momentous question, aud
will not l,e disposed to make public their
opinions unlilthey give them deliberate
expression in their reports. The public
will, for the present, therefore, be COM
PEELED 10 content itself with tho knowl.
edge Of the views Of these gentlemen AZ
expressed in debate in Congress, or
stated privately since the Electoral Gem;
pIicatl6n arose. The only recorded pres
sions must, necessarily, I've found,ih the
debates OF lilo last session in tlie Senate
upon the Constitutional amendments,
and in the incidental expressions Of this
session in the discussions OF the Louisi-
ana and Oregon cases and OF the joint
rule. II will, probably, he difficult to
find that ell OF The Commi.teetnen yhaye
taken any definite position. The views
OF the Senate Committee upon the "rights,
privileges, and duties Of the two Houses"
can he ascerLained with some degree Of
deiiniteness. With! perhaps one except.
ton, they have all made record OF their
opinions upon Al least one branch Of
this important inquiry. The syiews, as
nearly as can be stated are these:
Senator Elmunds feels the gravity Of
the situation, and already at this session
las proposed conpronIise measure In
the forrl Of u constitutional amendment,
submitting the question 10 the Supreme
Court. This was defeated in the Senate
by a large vote. Eiuunds can, be con.
siicred Us the leader Of those who deny
The existence OF the Twenty,second joint
Rule, and who think that some new rule
should be devised for adjusting the diff.
culties between the two, Houses. ayr
Morton claims the Jexistehces Of 9the
Twenty.second Joint Rule, and maintains
the right OF the President Of the Senate
to count tho vote. He is the most pos:'
, tive leader OF the class who. entertain
. this view.
Bayard is. a very able, earnest, conSsi
entious and positive man, Of the inos'
extreme State Rights school. lie feel:
J the dangers OF the situation, and has in
Dictated desire to do liispart in avertiug
, them. Rayard is completely committed
OIL record against the existence OF the
Joint Rule. lie i. radically opposed tc
Thurman upon this question. Bayard
maintains that it is in the power Of either
the Senate or the House 10 retire from {
joint rule at any time, and TO simply givt
i, notice OF the fact to the other branch o.
Congress.
Thurman is directly opposed TO Bay.
, ard upon this question. lie believes the
'rwenty.secOnd Joint Rule exists, ant
claims the right Of the President OF the
Senate TO count the vote.
Ransom's views have.not been publicly
stated, but he is considered friendly L
compromise. ...,# ..
FreIinghuysen has taken no pronounc
ed position Ut thls session upon the Ques'
ton Of the right Of the Vice President Il
count. Attic last session he said In de
bate: "The tribunal 10 count the vote
is the representatives Of the people il
Congress assembled" "The counting
must he left to the two houses, to deter.
mine what are the votes, and who has thI
right to count the votes"
OF the House Committee, Payne, tn
Chairman, ia understood TO maintain tina
the votes must DO counted by the two
houses, substantially according 10 III,
princil rIo Of tho TWenty.secOnd Join
Rnle.
llunton has not defined his views. II,
was a good Confederate soldier, and Is !
partisan. But he IL generally considered
fair man, and has n judicial mind. liz
would so long way 10 secure the elcc
ton Of I'ilden, however, and is not one o
those Southern men who SympathiEl
with the movement against forcible re
, SiStance to the inauguration Of Hayes.
, Tidcn himself might as well have beer
placed on the committee a. Representa-