The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1880-06-04
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, D. c. May. 9Th 1880.

Fillibustering was the order of the day in
both Houses of Congress yesterday, the
republican minority in the Senate on the pas
sage of the new electoral rule, and the anti
adjournment party in the House. After a
spirited debate, and the non concurrence in
numerous amendments the joint rule passed
the Senate 10y vote of 25 to 15. 1t is to be
hoped that Congress will not adjourn until
both Houses concur in hejoint rule. There is
not more important and imperative duty
devolving on them than the establishment Of
| some rule for counting the votes of Electors
of President and Vice President. The COM
ing election will be most exciting one. The
minds of the entire nation will be wrought
up to high state of partizau feeling, the
memory of the crime of 1867 will add to
the animosity that will be engendered. Be-
fore the furious war of words is inaugur ated
Congress should see to it that every precau-
ton and available means is taken against end
ing in another and more severe mode of war.
fare. No sane man is or should be willing to
.ake the awful risk which was taken in 1877.
There, cival war was imminent one in COM
parison to which the late war would have
been but drop in the bucket, and it surely
would have been inaugurated carrying devas-
tation and ruin into every village and hamlet
throughout the land had it not been for the
patriotic forbearance Of the Democr attic par
ty. The electoral Commission was bound it
would not inquire into fraudulent returns
1t accepted them stepped in all manners of in
iquities and stole the votes of two states in
order to seat in the Presidential chair fraud.
The people at large want no more electoral
commissions. Upon another such trial for
b earance would cease to be a virtue.
The joint rule reported by Senator Nor
gan provides for an orderly, dignifed and
equitable count of the votes-When objec-
lions are made to returns or alleged returns
the two Houses are to separate, and one
hour is to be allowed for the determination
of each disputed case.
If but one list of votes of electors from
any states has been submitted to each House
for its decision and it shall appear that the
Houses haye not concurred in rejecting said
ist,such votes shall not be counted-if more
than one list of votes OF electors from any
one State, or paper purporting to be such list
has been submitted to each House for its
decision upon objections made thereto, and it
shall appear that the Houses have not con-
CURED in receiving such list they shall each
be declared by the President.of the Senate,in
the presence of the Senate and the House
of Representatives, as being rejected. And
no list of votes of the electors so rejected
shall afterwards be read in the presence of
the two Houses except for information. It
further provides a careful and circumspect
name for all the details of the joint conven-
tion and its proceeding to the announcement
of the final result.
fail to see the ground upon which the
Republicans base their objections, unless it
is that they wish to enact the proceedings of
1867.
The House 10 the Committee of the whole
is hard at work on the sundry Civil Appro-
priation Bill.
1t is now generally conceded that Congress
in Justice to itself and the country cannot
adjourn before the middle Of June as many
important bills are now pending that require
prompt attention.