Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-01-25
ALEX, p. BEATTY,
Editor and Proprietor.
THURSDAY, JANUARY Is, 1877
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.
tFrom a Correspondent.

usual excitement IN Dotn houses {
Congress on Thursday that some grea
development was on hand. The gal
leries we're crowded with VISITORS
The reporters were in place in full
force. There was a general stl
throughout Senate and House. Th'
members seats were all ec.up:e1. 4
sensation of no ordinary magnitude
was evidently in store for all wh'
We're fortunate enough to be present
1T is the report of the joint commit
te,," WAS soon whispered round, an'
as the committee had kept its secrets
very closely the pubic appetite was
on the keenest edge to devour every
word of its report, now to be officially
given to the public. The audience
was not disappointed. Notwithstand.
ing the many rumors for days past
that the committees would not be
able to agree en- any plan, the fact
now appeared that they had agreed
with almost entire unanimity and were
ready to report. In the Senate the
report was presented with few re-
marks by Mr.. Edmu:ds. Perfect 81
lence prevailed and the closest atten-
ton was given to the reading. Every
body ueemed'to feel impressed with the
gravity and Importance of the occa,
sion. The report was signed by all
the members Of the Senate committee
but MIR. Morton, Of Indiana. 1t is
understood he will give his reasons
for not concurring in speech when
the debate comes on. Mr.. EdmundS
closed by saying that the report would
be brought up for action at least by
the following Monday. A week OF
more will be given for discussion and
then a vote will be pressed, as time is
short and the bill must 60 to the
President for his approval or Veto
The report was presented to the house
under similar circumstances and Its
reading listened to with eager and
grave attention. The report is too
long to he given entire in your pa
per, and l will leave it to you to give
AL outline Of it in your editorial col,
umns.
The first question on every Ole )
lips after the reading was will II
pass? This of course remains to be
seen. The first impression was favor,
able and there was very general eX'
preston Of belief that it would GER
tairly pass. That is not to be hastily
taken for granted however 1t Is a
great step that so many leading mem
bers of each house of both parties
have been able to rise so far above
party feeling as to propose such a plan
of peaceable adjustment. But when
the general debate comes party feeling
will be likely to show itself more de.
cidedly. The main body Of the re.
pubicans confidently regard Hayes
as fairly elected and that the lawful
returns show HIM to be- To consti-
tute a new tribunal as this bill pro
vides, they regard as going back OF
the returns, aud to this they object.
They object to the scheme, also, as
unconstitutional in evry way. A mum
Der of the leading republican journals
strongly denoGnce the plan. Others
object to it as wrong but are willing
to accept it for peace sake. The great
commercial and business interests Of
the country are clamorlng for its pas
sage, so that business and manutac-
turing enterprises may no longer snt,
fer from uncertainty and stagnaton
The democrats show it more favor
than the republicans, but the latter
say the democrats lave nothing te
lose but all to gain. Although Pres
ident Grant is understood to have
been favorable to some plan Of adjust
ment, he is said to have remarked j
this plan should pass it would be sub
jected to very thorough scrutiny be
fore meeting with approval, as it pre-
sents some doubtful questions Of con
stitutionality. If passed with consid
cradle unanimity he might defer t.
the judgment of Congress aod aprrov
it. Of course this is great deal o
discussion as to the party atilation
Of the Supreme Judges in whose hand
will be the final decision. The tat
of the measure cannot now be pre-