Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-03-03
THE SITUATION.

Much excitement and great uncer-
tainty at present characterize the ac-
ton of both parties. The Democratic
party is deeply disconnected with the
result, and the number of those who
are in favor of protracting the proceed
ings beyond the 4th of March is rapid
ly increasing. The expediency of do
ing so however seems to depend upon
the ability of the Democrats of the
Senate, in concurrence with the mod
crate Republicans there, to elect Mr..
Conkling President Of the Senate.
On the other hand the Radicals are
threatening that if dilatory measures
carry the decision beyond the appoint
ed time, they will elect Mr. Morton
President of the Senate, and recognize
him as acting President for an indefi-
mite period. 4 measure is under con-
sideration by the Committee on the
privileges of the House, making pro-
vision for the performance of the exc
cutive functions in case of a failure to
elect a President by the fourth of
March, in which it is to be provided
that the President Of the Senate is to
act as President till q new election
shall take place, which event is to be
fixed for November of the present
year, the new President elect to enter
on his Office in November 1873. Last
ly the extreme of the Radical party
threaten, if delay is interposed to elect
a President themselves and place him
in office by military force. This latter
/ is considered a mere threat which no.
body really purposes tC carry out.
We have gwen all these floating ru-
mors, conscious that only one on the
spot an divine the truth about them;
/ they rather show the unsettled state of
mems minds as to the result than any
settled purpose.
With regard to the policy of delay
they have to decide on two questions
before they adopt it, its justice and its
expediency. Its justice, if expedient
depends on one question, have the Re-
/ publicans fulfilled their pledge in such
a way that they can call upon the
/ Democrats to fill theirs? We have
been assured by those who profess to
know that in the joint committee which
drew up the Electoral Bill, the Re-
! publican members did pledge them
! selves that its provisions allowed of
/ going behind the returns, while in a
recent debate between Mr. Hewitt and
Mr.. Hoar the latter gentleman stated
/ that an opposite position had been
avowed by them. A categorical state
mens On this subject by the Democratic
members of the committee seems to be
/ demanded, as it Is crucial question in
determining the right OF wrong of the
proposed Democratic action-the Dem
ocrats cannot afford to place themselves
/ in the wrong.
/ As to the expediency of the proposed
course, II lusthable there Is one weak
point in every proposition they make {;
every one of them presupposes in some
way or other the concurrence of some
imaginary number of moderate Re-
publicans with the Democratic party in
the Senate. During the progress of
the Electoral Bill we have lost all
faith in moderate Republicans, and
still more so in the possibility Of any
Republicans acting in good faith with
Democrats so that on the whole, pos
sessing what light we can get at this
distance from the field of action, we
see no feasible plan for the Democrat
lie party but that of remaining as they
are, awaiting future developments.