The division in the American. House of Representatives over the
Morrison Tariff- Bill, round which the Free-trade battle is carried on, was unexpectedly close. • It had been- expected that many Democrats would secede ; but when Mr. Conver moved that the enacting clause of the Bill be struck out, the American formula for direct rejection, he carried it by only 166 to 161. These numbers include ten pairs, and only one Member was away. So trifling a majority on a Bill so fiercely resisted by all the " interests," and so disliked by the Executive, shows that the Democrats have made up their minds, and that the Republicans will have the greatest difficulty in carrying the Presidential election. The Democrats will now probably place Free-trade among the regular "planks" in their platform, and rely 'upon the increasing numbers in the West who are exasperated at the taxes levied on them for the behoof of the Eastern manufacturers. The Democrats would, indeed, be secure of the election, but that the Pacific States are still Protectionist, and that the President is elected, not by the mass vote, but by the Electoral College, in which the smallest States must be represented.
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