Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-01-18
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.
from n Correspondent,
WASHINGTON, Jan. Is, 1877,

There is but one question OF real
interest before this Congress and all
others sink into insigni6cance beside
it, That is the question of the Presl-
dency. But there is no great excite
ment, and Of war and blood shed
scarcely word is heard. OF course
each party is very anxious for the sue
cess Of ITS own candidates, but at the
same time each party processes holy
horror Of any triumph tainted by
fraud or violence. This is the right
spirit and if sincere ought to hold its
sway throughout the contest and Sc
cure peaceful and satisfactory re-
suit.
The two great committees on the
electoral count are making satisfac-
tory progress, it is said, although they
keep their proceedings very quiet
They held their first joint meeting on
Friday last, when the Senate commit
tee presented plan, but the House
committee desired further time for
consideration. What the plan is can
only be conjectured as the committee
are pledged to secresy, but it is In
timated that the power Of the Pres
ilcnt of the Senate is limited to the
opening of the votes and that in the
case of States having but one return
the vote count cannot be thrown out
unless by the concurrent vote of both
houses. This would prevent the Sen
ate from throwing out States like
Georgia, Mississippi and Alabama but
would leave the question open in
States from which there are two re.
turns as in Louisiana and Florida
Both Houses must be agreed in all
cases. The committees are now ex-
pected to meet in daily joint session
until they complete their work or
agree to disagree. AS result of the
meeting Mr.. Hewitt is Sid to have
gone to New York to consult Mr.
Tilden.
The sth of January democratic
State conventions which were intend
ed to fire the northern heart and stir
up war feeling did not amount to
much the only two Of any conse-
quence being in Indiana and Ohio. a
proposition they made for holcing a
national convention in Washington Oh
the l4th Of February, which one
speaker said would bring hundred
thousand democrats here in arms, does
not meet with a warm response III
Washington. Mr.. Hewitt positively
declines to call such a convention or
take any sep looping to force or VIC
lence. President GRAFT is losing his
character as man Of silence. Every
now and then he gives utterance
quite freely to his opinions, which OF
course Immediately fad their way in,
10 print. His last public expression
of his views is that in the event Of "A
failure of the two Houses of Congress
to come to an agreement on the ques-
tion Of the Presidency prior to the
termination of the present admins.
tration, the Cabinet officers will re.
cognize the presiding officers of the
Senate, in accordance with the act OF
1892, as ex,otficio acting Vice Presi-
dent of the United States, and to him
will be transmitted the executive au-
thority. Any other course would pro.
duce disintegraton Of the government
The President has as yet taken nc
action toward recognizing either Of the
two contendlng State governments Of
Louisiana. So far there is no out
break Of violence in New Orleans. -
Senator Booth spoke at length in the
Senate yesterday in favor Of referring
the Presidential question to the Su-
preme Court. In the House they are
still at work on the telegraphc com
panies to compel the production Of
political dispatches. One Of the de
velopments in the Oregon affair is
that an $4,000 check went on from
New York, which was a heavy price
to pay for one electoral vote especially
as it is not likely to be received.
MlCAWBER