The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-03-27
THE Ft,hrY.rIrTn CONGRESS.

for the support oil the United States
army will be exhausted by the end OF
June renders the calling OF an extra
session OF Congress unavoidable. TN.
der ordinary circumstances little i'm.
portance would attach to such an event,
but at tho present iuneture of political
affairs It Ia looked forward to with the
ntmost interest and even anxiety by the
lenders OF the two great political par
ties Of the country. and with good rea-
son. for IL il not too much to say that
che future policy of tho present admin
tstration may turn upon the result OF
the struggle which will then be entered
npen for the control of the House OF
Representatives.
Our readers are aware that the DEM
ocratio and Republican parties are
pretty evenly represented In the Forty
sffth Congress. In the Senate there are
two vacancies from Louisiana and one
from South Carolina. OF the 70 mem.
bers who are already seated. 30 are Re-
puhlieans and 81 Democrats, including
Judge Davis. OF Illinois. who was elected
by the votes OF 80 Democrats and In-
dependents OF the Illinois legislature.
It Ii perfectly safe to say that no Sena.
Tor representing the Chamberlain or
Packard Legislature will be admitted.
The Republican majority. then. is now
and will remain very small and not
only small, but very unreliable In a
strict party sense, for among the Sena-
tors who are classed as Republicans
there are some of decidedly Conservative
tendencies and independent character.
Indeed the hitherto dominant Radical
element OF the Republican party has
lost Its control Of the Senate, as OF every
other department Of the government,
and the balance Of power In that old
stronghold OF Radicalism has passed
Into the hands of few moderate men
Hike CeakliRss, Davis, Booth, Morrill,.
Jones, Matthews and Christiancy.
III Mr. Hayes manifests an earnest
disposition and sufficient moral courage
10 carry out the paciticatory and reform
policy outlined in his letter Of accept
ance and inaugural address, he will be
sustained by the Senate in whatever
measures he may propose to carry that
policy into practical effect. He, OF
course, Is perfectly aware OF this fact,
but his ambition does not stop there.
His aim, and 1t ia an entirely legitimate
one, is to control both branches of the
legislative department Of the govern
ment and, through their cooperation.
TO carry out successfully that policy
whereby he hopes to restore to the
country peace, quiet and prosperity and
efface from the minds of this and future
generations all resentment and bitter.
ness against himself owing to the man
ner In which Re attained the presiden-
CIV. To this end he and his especial
friends will use all Of their resources Of
political strategy to effect an organiza.
flon OF the House OF Representatives IN
his interest.
How that body stands politically at
present IL is difficult to state with GER
tainty. According to the information
possessed by the public on the subject.
the Democrats will have majority of
five ION the face of the returns" but
the Clerk of the House has extraordi-
nary powers in the matter OF making
np the roll of members. He uses his
own judgment in passing upon the
questions that constantly arise in con-
neciion with the official certificates,
and Ii is reasonable to suppose that in
every doubtful case he will give the
benefit OF the doubt to the representa-
sizes of his own party. If he does, the
roll upon which the House will be called
to order and organized will exhibit
q larger Democratic majority than the
Congressional elections entitle the par
ty to. But the Democratic party is notas
harmonious as it has been In the past.