Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-24
WASIlINGrnN Inn |

w AolllNhlON, JdL' IL.
Yesterday the report of the joint com
mttre on the electoral question presentc
bill to both branches Of Congress. and
little besides this bill has been talked of OF
thought of in political circles since, Thc
bill was signed by every member Of the
Joint committee, except Senator Morton,
but it is air ady evident that it will not be
received with like unanmily by the two
Houses. 1t woul be amusing, if the
question were fraughL with less serious
possibilities, to hear the uncompromi,ing
partisans of both parties, Those in the
lIousc say that the Senate committee has
bull .dozcd the House committee into con-
cpssions. while extreme republican Spna-
tors charge the Senate committee with
having surrendered, to the extent of their
influence, the constitutional right of the
Vice. President. Mr.. Morton did not, as
is customary in cases Of non-concur-
renee, present u minority report, but it S
unters oOd that he will, al IN early day.
rive reasons for his dissent in great
speech from his seat in the Senate. Of
coulse 1t is impossible to predict with GER
tainly, hut after having heard the opin-
ions of leading men of both parties,
am disposed to think that the compromise
will be finally agreed to. The fact that it
has The warm approval of such st,unch
rppu ilican- us Senators EdmunlS, Conk-
ling and Freinghuyscn; and Of such
pl ointment democrats Us Senators Thur.
man and Bayard. will powerfully recon
mend it to thoughtful men Of both parties.
The scene in The House and Senaue We
'crday on the reception Of the report of the
select committee was, in lis way, one OF
most exciting ever with ssed in either
body. The announcement made in the
morning papers had prepared every body
for the important event, and there was thu
most intense curiosity to know the precise
text of ,hc measure that would be pr, pos
ed. When the members of The committee
entered the Senate Chamber, II few min,
utes before one O'clock, they were sur.
rounded by senators who shook them
warmly by the hand and congratulated
them upon the satisfactory completion OF
their laburs. Mr.. Edmmds Of VermUnI
was the last to enter and he carried in hi.
hands the long longed-fnr bill Senator
Morton was IN his accustomed seat ling
an APPLE u dissipation in Which he frequent
~ in,luges. Mr.. EdmunAs in present
inc the hll made a brief speech, referring
to the Il flicult and delicate dulcs of til,
committee, Of the obstacles it had to con
Irnd against. of its aims, and, finally, 81
81 hat it had accomplished. He in-i,td
that the bill was not II compromise hat -
measure Of Justice; that no member of the
committee had been called upon to sacri-
flee his views or opinions, as the claims oI
neither parry had been surrendered. lie
said that the bll would probably he called
up ON Saturday or Monday for consder.-
tim.
The bill was read in the House and
heard with the most intense interest. AS
before intimated, it IS evident from the
discussions in the hotel lolbics, aud in
political circles, that the measure will not
pass without strong opposition from both
Democrats and Republicans, but the 0pn.
ion prevails that it will finally he passed
over all opposition, by II coalition of men
from both parties into party of eXpedi-
ency. There are those. and, it is believed
II majority in both the House and Senate,
who desire Il peacPable settlement of this
question; they desire to avoid any excuse
for civil war; they consider it their duty
TO do every thing in their power to almy
the dangerous excitement of the people
and they think that this compromise is
! perhaps the only peaccable solution Of the
unhappy dispute. The bill will be oppos.
ed by those who insist that the constitu.
| ton clearly defines the mode of the elec.
tion of president and that Congress cannot
change the plan of the constitutional pro.
vision by legislative enactment. Another
class will insist that the power 10 open
and count the electoral vote belongs ex
cusively TO the President of the Senate
and that that power cannot be taken away
from him. Ia short, keen prognosticaton
have foretold that there vii be division
into at least five # rent parties, each o
them opposing the bill for reason suflicien
10 itself.
TIE SIXTEENTH AMENDMENT.
This day has been remarkable for M
avalanche Of petitions demanding six
teenlh amendment to the constitution O
the United States, prohibiting any state
from DISTINGUISHING United States citizens
on account Of sex. No less than twenty.
- five members arose from their seats and
presented petitions from their respec-
tive states, 10 the above effect. The pc,
tilions were signed by nearly seven thou
sand names and the amendment has many
friends in Congress, and is urged by Il
powerful though inprcunious lobby con.
sistng of the National Womans Right,
Convention which has for the last weeE
held session in Lincoln Hail.