Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1880-03-24
SPIRIT OF THE AGE,
Wednesday, March "a, 1880,
Prom our regular correspondent
WASHINGTON LETTER,
W.sHlnaros. u. Q. Mar. ", 1850,

The feeling among Democratic
Congressman TO which referred 10
several weeks ago, that II Is necessary
to make som provisions At this session
for counting the ELECTORAL vote, has
developed Into q disposition to act
The position and desperate temper OF
tho Republican leaders at this time Is
sufficient 10 convince the most inne'
cent and condding Democrat that the
height Of political unwlsdom l'to leave
the matter where It was In the
last contest, with tho chances that III
der tho directions Of Cameron aud
ConklIng tho President oftbe Senate
would assume TO declare the result IN
bis own way. aud make President to
suit himself and party, This ls what
tho Radicals act out to do the last time
before the Electoral Commission was
created, and II Ia what they would
undertake To do next winter, In spite
Of Congress unless there Is more de-
fpts legislation than now eslsts'
Nevertheless, the position Is not with
out difficulties TO the Democrats Any
measure they might adopt. however
fair and impartial, would be denoune'
cd by the republicans as II partisan
scheme to "seize the Presidency" and
any bill passed that did not give the
Republicans some advantage, would
DO vetoed by the fraud who sits IN
seat TO which another was elected
The thieves who have stole the once
once are exceedingly nervous and full
of suspicion. Under the circumstances
tho most available and unohjecIionab'o
course for the Democrats seems to he
tho reenactment Of the 22, Joint Rule
framed by the Republicans when they
had both Houses of Congress, but
hastily repealed by the Radical Senate
when the Democrats came in possess
ion of the House. The rule provides for
a Joint session OF the two houses, the
appointment Of tellers, TO whom the
certificates arc handed when opened
by the President of the Senate and
for the separate vote Of each House
upon the acceptance Of any vote to
which there is objection. Under 1t
both Houses must concur to count the
vote of State objected to. 1t would
thus be in the power of Congress to
reject votes deemed fraudulent or lrreg'
ular, just as the Republican Congress
did several States in 1869 and 1878. Yet
the Radical soul is much narrowed up
at the thougbtof the Democrats adopt
ing one Of its own rules and following
some of its own precedents. 1t ap-
pears not only to be Revolutionary"
but "tresopable," for Democrats to 90
those things which were "emientIy
wise and patriotic when done by their
opponents.
Several remarkable bills for the ben
eft of the soldiers Of the late war have
been introduced during the present
session, among them the now widely
known Weaver bill and the Singleton
bill, which proposes to give to each
officer and soldier land warrant, or
5000 in lieu OF it. Another, which
provides for IN enormous increase OF
the number Of pensioners, has Leep
introduced in the House by Mr.. Fort.
1t authorizes and directs the Secretary
of the Interior "to place upon the
pension-roles, subject to general law
and regulations, the names of all per-
sons who served as officers or enlisted
men in the Army or Navy of the
Unite Statea, including Militia and
volunteers, for 100 days or more, or who
participated in any battle, although
they may have served less than 100
days, during any OF the wars in which
the United States have been engaged,
including engagements with hostile
Indians, and actions of vessels of the
Navy OH the seas and who have or
may, from any other reason than by
their own wrong act or acts, become
physically disabled or mentally inca.
pacitated 10 labor or to gain liveli.
hood for themselves, and who have no
means of support. This might well
be called bill for the establishment
ola national alms-house. 1t is the
general impression, that in the race in
which Messrs. Weaver, Singleton, and
Fort are contestants, Mr.. Weaver is
still ahead. 1t only remains for one
of these gentleman to introduce bill
to give q pension, $500, and farm to
each man who served his country
during the rebellion. The Democrats
have done great deal for soldiers
ofthe late war since they came into
power i'm Congress. It may be said