Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1877-03-01
AFFAIRS OF THE NATION.

1t is the magic Eight to Seven
AGAIN. After two days discussion the
door, of the great secret Tribunal
opened OF Friday evening last to let
Oregon come forth and have all her
five electoral votes duly enrolled on
the HAYES side, making exactly the
lS5 votes necessary to give him one
Of a majority in the electoral college.
Although the decisions of the lr4bu-
nal have been so uniformly made by
tie vote OF Sto 7, there was some
break Of the monotony IN the Oregon
case. Mr.. Thurman, Of Ohio, one OF
the democratic members of the Irlbu-
nal, who is a terrible suffice from
neuralgia, was unable to attend the
sittings throughout, and when the
vote came to be taken was not pres
ent. The Tribunal therefore pro-
needed to his residence and the vote
was taken around his bedside. AS to
the notorious Cgonin, the great bone
Of contention, the Tribunal decided
by unanimous vote that he could
moi be considered an elector at ALL
So ends the contest AS to the three
States, Florida, Louisiana and Ore
gon. 1t was generally supposed when
the tribunal was organized that these
were all the cases to be considered,
and when they were disposed Of the
count of the vote Of the remaining
States would 60 on without further
objection. But the democrats seem
to be determined not to give up with
out desperate struggle, se'2Ing
every point which affords grounds lol
contest in any shape, Consequently
objections have been made to one OF
the electors from Pennsylvania, Mr..
Morrill,, who was a centennial com,
missioner. 1t is said also there will
be objections raised when the State Of
South Carolina is reached, although
it is conceded on all hands tina.
Hayes clearly carried the State. This
is the delay" programme.
1t was generally thought, as have
said, that the decision rs to Oregon
would practically end the great dis,
pute. But the developments OF the
past week show that the end IS MT
yet. In fact the coming week may
prove to be the most exciting period
Of the struggle. And just al the time
when the masses Of the people are
trusting that the matter is legally, ii
not satisfactorily, settled we may lind
g serious crisis still threatening, The
4th of March is now SO near at hand
that by system OF legislative "tiIIl-
bustering,' as it is called, the final
counting up Of votes may be delayed
until inauguration day comes round
without either candidate being official
" announced 81 elected. That
this is the determination Of
a large number OF the dem
ocratic members is too plain to be
mistaken. A very excited feeling
is consequently growing day by day
and the air is full Of angry rumors.-
The democratic members are howev-
er by no means united upon the
scheme of hllibustering and obstruct-
ing the count.
Many Of the northern members are
not only decidedly opposed to going
back on the tribunal which they
mainly created but the most of the
leading Southern democrats are still
more firm and out spoken in their de-
nunciation Of any such scheme. The
attempt at carrying it out, therefore,
may instead Of producing any difficult
ty in the government result rather IN
sending the democ. aiic party into dl-
visions and discords. There is conse-
quently great deal Of speculation as
to what may take place between no"
and the 9th Of March. The situation
has reached delicate point and both
parties are playing with all their skill
for the mastery. The republican pol
icy is to conciliate the South and they
have undoubtedly made favorable
impression in that quarter for Hayes.
But most unfortunately just after the
tribunal had given Oregon to Hayes,
the Columbus, Ohio, State Journal,
considered to be Gov. Hayes home
organ, came out in fierce editorial
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