Smyrna times., 1878-06-05
Political.
1)dntOn.

All the parties i'll Pennsylvania have
maze up their platforms and tickets and
sleep placldly upon them awaiting the
| opening Of the Fall campaign. The
strength OF the two old parties is we'll
known, and the point of doubt is the
| degree to which they are to be affected bv
That new party Ahich is to assume great
proportions, according to some, and. ac.
cordlng to others, has already seen the
height Of its brief growth
Fifteen Democrats of the House refused
last Wednesday to abide by the decision Of
the caucus respecting the date of adjourn.
ment, and aided the Republicans to fix the
DAY, SO Tar as the House can do so. for the
lftn ot June. There seems to be little
uouot that the Senate will concur in this ac
ton, as the work on the necessary an
preparation bills can be completed before
that time. The people can therefore con-
graduate themselves on the prospect Of
seeing Congress break up in less than three
weeks, after having worried the country for
just eight months.
CONGRESSIONAL LDIsTURBANCEs.-Mr Clark.
son y. Potters's confession" as TO tho
disturbing influence of Congress uDon tho
material interests of the country, is a strik
body OF which he is at present so con.
spicuous member. 81 agree with Won"
says he in letter to friend, "in wishinr
Congress would adjourn. Lam one Of those
who think the world is governed too much.
| should be glad to see the power of Con.
gress over matters of private and speciaI
legislation entirely cut off And since
much OF the public legislation proposed
dlsturbs business and unSettles industry. |
have thought it might be well if Congress-.
unless convened by the President. met but
every other year, as is the case with the
Legislatures in some of the States. | ac.
cordlngly proposed an amendment to the
constitutional providing for biennial ses.
slons OF Congress, but it had not been re. |
celved with any favor. Other sections of
the country do not feel as we do about this. !
ana want currency or subsidy, or other |
legislation 1t is q matter of congratula. |
ton that they are beginning to feel the de- |
mands of the country for less congressional |
disturbance.
THE ARMY BILL.-The House passed the |
army bill, on Tuesday, with such amend. !
ments as were necessary to make it conform |
to the requirements of an army of 10000 |
men. The Knott amendment. which |
technically prohibits the use of the Army
as posse comfat0S, except in cases author |
lzed by Congress, was adopted by vote Of
l3O yeas to III nays. Mr.. Brogden. of
North Carolina, was the only Republican
who voted for this amendment, while
among the Democrats, Mr. Bouck, of Wis
consin, Mr.. Cutler, of New Jersey, Mr..
Pridmore, of Virginia, and Mr.. Schleicher.
of Texas, voted against it. The adoption
OF the Knott amendment is one of the
most ominous political movements vet
made by the Democracy. If that amend.
ment should became a law, no single
United States soldier could be used in any
state, even upon the requsition of
Governor, to assist in suppressing strike
riots, unless Congress should have specially
its use for that particular pur.
pose. Soldiers could not be used to break
up illicit distillation in the Southern States
Is the law now stands. The amendment is
violation of the Constitution, which
makes the President the commander-in.
chief of the army.-CtcH Wig.