New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-02-19
WHY THE COUNT WAS POSTPONED.

WHY THE COUNT WAS POSTPONED.
A sAGACIoUS PLAN TO HEAD OFF FILIBUsTERING-
THE HOUSE COMMITTED TO GOING on WITH THE
COUNT.
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBCSE'I
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-The postponeInent yester-
day of the joint meeting of the two houses OF Con-
gress to continue the counting of the electoral votes
was triumph Of the conservative wing of the DEM
ocratic party that portion of it which desires to
repudiate the electoral compromise and resort to
revolutionary measures to prevent the inauguration
of Gov. HAYES. The disappointment and dlssatls-
faction of the Democrats with the decision of the
Electoral Commission in the Louisiana case was
none the less intense yesterday morning thah When
it first reported the night before. 1t Is the bit
terest pill which the Democracy has had TO swallow
since the Presidential campaign began, and 1t was
hardly TO be expected that they would accept IL
without at least making wry faces. a Democratic
conference was arranged for IL o'clock yester-
day morning for the purpose of deciding upon some
plan which should be agreed TO by the majority III
the House. i'll order that they might act understands
ingly, ard that no advantage by ll-cOnsldered OF
hasty proceedings might be lost.
At this meeting it was found that very small
minority of the Democrats in favor of allowing
the Joint session of the two houses of Congress to
take place at once, and of going with the cleo
toral count as rapidly as possible. larger number
were in an intense state of excitement which al
most untitled them for calm consideration OF any
proposed measure, and boldly pronounced them
selves in favor of resorting to any parliamentary
tactics for the purpose of pOstponing the final an
uouncemen of the result of the Presidential cleo
ton and defeating what they denOunce as the
greatest outrage of modern politics. Between
these two was a great body of cOol-headed men,
comprising majority of the representatives rom
4l.,rFt toto
who are equally indignant at the award Of the
Electoral Commission but desire to save any advan-
tace to their party which it may be possible to So
cure These men held the balance of power By
the aid of the class first named they succeeded III
passing resolution which they believe viii not
only facilitate the business in hand but Will also
prevent the occurrence of a scene of disorder ana
excitement such as would certainly have been WIT
messed IN the House yesterday, had an attempt been
made TO allow the electoral count to 90 on at once
What they proposed was first 10 offer to the House
a resolution fixing o'clock on Monday as the tine
when the next Joint session of the two houses should
occur for the purpose Of receiving tie award oil the
Commission and secondly, TO follow tins lmne-
diately with resolution for recess until 10 O'Clock
on Monday. The advantage Of the first resolution
is that by its passage the House commits itself to
the policy of a continuance of the count. Had an
attempt been made to bring the JOINT convention
together to-day the ultra men on the Democratic
side those who feel disposed to resort TO revolution
arv measures would have interpOsed objections and
ATTEMPTED 10 prevent it by flibusterng. This would
have occasioned much angry feeling, and many III
considered words would undoubtedly have been
spoken While there is little doubt that enough Of
the more conservative Democrats would have voted
with the Republicans finally to have ordered. the
count TO proceed, this would only have occurred
after a season of intense excitement. By the auop-
ton of the resolution which was passed, the House
has formally agreed that the count shall proceed
without anv such discussion and those Democrats
who are anxious that their party shall be guilty Of
no act of bad faith in connection with tins matter,
rs well as those Republicans who understood their
nrpose feel greatly encouraged at the success with
which they carried through their proposition 1t Is
now generally understood that by its action to-day
the House has placed Itself in position where II
will be unable consistently TO nterpOse obstacles 10
the counting of the vote of Louisiana.
While these are the real reasons for the postpone
ment of the Joint meeting of the two houses untl
next Monday, the one publicly assigned Is the de-
sire for time to prepare the necessary protests, and
10 determine how the question shall be treated when
II comes before the House For these purposes a
caucus was held last evening. This not only gave
the Democrats an opportunity TO arrange plan OF
future procedure but il also presented an occasion
for MANY of the more violent ones to make their
sneeches in private, which would otherwise be de
Gyered in the House, and the effect OF winch would
undoubtedly be far from good.
Nearly all of the Democratic leaders are earnest
and positive in their assurances that no hlDuserhg
schemes viii be cOuntenanced by majority oil Their
partv A prominent Western man OF great lillu-
once especially with those from his section of the
onntrv unon being asked how his party accepts the
ward of the Electoral Commission. replied: at
left Ms very little to accept; we admit that we are
beaten: we believe It has been done by trick but
1ye are honorable men and shall stand by our part
of tbe agreement We cannot afford to do anything
eIsen 4 New-York City Democrat, on being asked
II he would attend the caucus last night and make
n sneeeb replied that he had never yet IN his life
made a speech in a caucus, but he certainly would
Lot his voice be heard if there was any disposition
on the part of the Democrats to act in bad fath or
20 ,ravent the execution of the Electoral law, cs-
,oa;oIly a. il was a Democratic measure South
go, rerresentative. discussing the proposition of
some of the more ultra Democrats to flibuser SAID
,I+ tber is very little left to the Democrats, but
bo believes that the party will be wise enough 10
cow what il can out of the wreck. IL now has
nothing but its future he said, and he could i'm
ocne no act of greater folly than for his party to
throw that away by engaging in any unlawful or
unfair means TO prevent its opponents enjoying
their ILL gotten victory. The Democratic party, he
Thought will be stronger for the events OF the past
few weeks, provided it has the courage and manll
ness to act with moderation.
A PROTEST FROM OHIO.
., yv,v ELECTION URGED BY COLUMBUS DEMOCRATS
a