New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-06-15
BURCHARD's MAsTERLY STRATEGY.
his MOTION AS COMPLETE SURPRISE AS A nUR-
RIcANE THROUGH AN OPEN wINDow-INTEREsT-
.~..s-.c - rrr rfoTrCr

RrRCHARD'S MASrERLY STRATEGY.
his MOTION AS COMPLETE A SURPRISE AS nUR-
RfcANE THROUGH AN OPEN wINDow-NTEREST
ING SCENTS rs THE HOUSE.
icy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
WASHINGTON June Alt was neatly done, and
evidently took the majority of Republicans as much
by surprise as itdid the Democrats There had been
a great deal Of noise and confusion. and the House
had wasted "a hall hour IN deciding upon time for
the consideration Of some of the important meas
ures which have not yet received final acton. The
Speakers rulings were rapid and arbitrary, without
being offensive or unjust aud by common consent
things were taken for granted which at any earlier
date would have been met with score OF Oblee-
tions The House working with one mind for
final adjournment on Monday, while each member
was endeavOTing to get his own pet measure into a
position to command few Of the heetng moments
which yet remained.
Mr.. Burchards face wore an expression as inno-
cent as that Of Marys little lamb. He moved to
suspend the rules and"
Mr.. Tucker, of Virginia, also moved to suspend
the rules and"
Mr.. Fernando Wood rose to parliamentary IN
curry aud took mild exception TO some of the rul
ings, which gave to certain measures precedence
over Others which he asserted we're equally import
ant.
Mr.. Burchard claimed the floor by virtue of the
position name occupied upon the list Of those VIII
had gwen notice that they would move a suspension
Of the rules for various purposes.
The Speaker said that he would recognize the gem
tleman from Illinois as soon as he could dispose of
the parliamentary inquiries Mr.. Burchard smiled.
General Garfield, who sat beside him, also
smiled very cOntentedly Five minutes later
the gentleman from illinois, was recognized
He moved to suspend the rules and pass the fol-
loving resolution" which he sent to the Clerks
desk to be read:,
Whereas Joint meeting Of the two Houses ofthe
XLIYth Congress, convened pursuant TO law and the
Constitution. Tor the purpose Of aseertainng and
ing the votes for President and VieePresdent for the
RniRerfor r. HAYES was declared elected President and
William A. Wheeler was declared elected Vce-President
Resoired That no subsequent Congress, and neither
House has jurisdiction TO revise tho action at such Joint
meeting. and attempt by either House 70 anuul
disregard such action tue title 10 office arising there
om would be revolutionary and is disapproyed by this
House.
Silence most profound fell upon the House. Most
of the Democratic leaders were absent. MessTs
Atkins and Durham had just been sent off a
conference committee. Messrs Potter. Black
burn Springer and the other investigations
were busy in their committee room. Some Demo-
orat recovered himself sufficiently to ask that the
resolution be read again, and meanwhile the ab-
sentees were sent for Mr. Townshend, Of Illinois,
was the rst to get entire possession of himself lie
asked ii Il would be in order TO strike out the last
section; then If the resolution could be referred TO
the Judiciary Committee. He was told by the
Speaker in reply that on a motion to suspend the
rules neither proposition was in order; and some
Republican added. you can vote it down." which
was a privilege which Mr. Townshend and his
Democratic associates were at the moment neither
prepared 80 reject OF accept.
By the rules Of the House debate was in ORDER
and nothing renamed to be done except to put the
question to the House The hearty aye" which
came up when this was done was by no means con-
fined TO the Republican side, while the negative
vote was feeble and betrayed the indecisOn and de-
noralization which had seized the Democrats. II
was evident that more than twO-thirds of the mem
ber present voted in favor of the resolutions but the
object of the mover being to get members on record
either for or against the projects of the revolution
jsts Mr. Barchard without waiting for the decls-
ION of the Chair, called for the yeas and
nays, and the Clerk began TO call the roll
At this point Mr.. Atkins arrived, sOmewhatOut OF
breath and asked that the resolution be read again.
Although the roll-call in progress, the Speaker
directed the Clerk 10 read the resolution a third
time Most Of the Democratic absentees had by
this time gathered in. An earnest and excited eau
eusing was going on on their side of the Hall,
which continued during the reading Of the resolu-
tion. and the calling OF the roll which followed.
half-dozen Democrats, having the courage of their
convictions, responded to their with hearty
"ayev and as many more voted "nO" The great
majority of them however, made no response during
the first call Of the roll.
The scene was very exciting and noisy. Two OF
three times the call wasdelayed or suspended osten-
sibly on account of the disorder but really to give
the Democrats time to rally and decide what to do.
Two or three motions made in spirit OF de-
rsion by Republicans, that the House take recess
10 allow tho Democrats time to finish the caucus.
Ii is doubtful whether quorum had voted duTlng
The first call but when it was finished some fifteen
or twenty Democrats arose. and they were recOg-
nized one by one recorded themselves in the affirm
alive The movement gathered force, and before the
vote was announced nearly every member on the
floor had voted. The resolution was carried by the
astonishing vote Of 215 in the affirmative to q in
the negative.
Perhaps the most crushed individual in the hall
was Mr.. Finley, Of Ohio who in connection with
Mr. Springer Of Illinois perhaps the most active
Of the original revOlutlODsts. In common with the
majority Of bis party he lodged on the first call of
The roll When his party associates began to give
way and record themselves in favor of the resolu-
ton. Mr.. Finley walked down 10 the front, and be-
ing recognized filed an emphatic and spteful no.D
Then. with q shrug Of contempt, lac turned his back
and walked uD the aisle again. the bald spot on the
back OF his head. about the size Of trade
dollar seeming TO gisten with the rage which filled
him. When. however. the movement became
ront Mr. Finley again arose, and, amid the cheeTs
and ieers Of the Republicans, made request 20
change his vote, and piping out teeDe aye o ng
his ground and voted an emphatic ana 0stentatlOus
no" almOst the last one recorded. lie was Mccarthy
and unanimously congratulated by Mr. COOK OF
Georgia.
The Democrats had been completely outgeneraled,
u he. 4. - a