The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1868-07-22
The Presidential ElectiOn---A Be-
riOus Problem.

exercise of such privilege of suffrage
As NAV be accorded to them by the
Radical rulers; but the men now
possessing the government, In their
desperation seem to be preparing to
present to other parties who are In
a condition to act as their honor and
safety may require, questions for So
luton in the Presidential election OF
the gravest import
The Electoral College bill by which
Radical rulers have declared that none
of the Southern States which were en-
oaoed in the civil war, are entitled to
vote in the Presidential election, and
that the votes of none OF them shall be
counted unless they have reorganized
their governments in accordance with
the unconstitutional requirements of
the majority in Congress, is revo-
lutionary proceeding, designed not
only deprive States of the rights guar
anteed by the Constitution, but to
pave the way for the rejection of the
votes from the South which may not
be cast for the Radical candidate for
the Presidency. They seem fixed in
the desperate endeavor to hold pos
session of the government whether
authorized to do so or not by q ma
iority of the voters BY this infamous
wrong, the people of the excluded
States, will not be the only sufferers.
There will be other parties interested
upon whom must devolve the respon-
sibility of determining how it shall be
prevented, or righted,if accomplished.
This problem is now engaging the
serious attention of the most thought
full and sober minds of the Northern
States 1t is thus stated by the New
York World, one of the most temper
ate, as it is among the ablest and most
influential of all the organs of the
Conservative party:
We should deprecate the necessity of
resort to force, bnt we pour scorn upon the
craven, the pusillanimOus notion that free
men may not vindicate their rights by arms.
Courage to resist oppression is the ultimate
security for good government. This, at
least, was the opinion of our brave forefath-
ers when they took care to provide in the
Constitution, that "the right of the people
to keep and bear arms shall not be in
tr1nged." Tho right to bear arms implies
the right, on a sufficient provocation, to use
them. The only debatable question relates
to the sufficiency of the provocation.
If the Democratic party should fairly
elect the next President, and the Republican
Congress, by mscOunting or throwing out
votes, should declare General Grant elected
nothing could be palmer than the right Of the
people to Uindicate their actual choice. Suppose
| to illustrate the principle, that the result Of
the election should depend upon the elect o
raj votes of the newly admitted State of
Florida that the three votes of Florida
should be Democratic; and that Congress
should throw them out and declare General
| Grant elected. Now, on the supposition of
fair election in Florida, ought the Demo
cratic party to submit The question an
s1Cers itself only negative aRslCer is possible.
That the Democratic party 1c0uld resist, ana
make its resistance efectual, lCe hare no manner
of doubt. We should have on our side the
two main elements of success-right and
numbers. The superiority of our numbers
would be the foundation of our right fol-
if the Republican party fairly out-voted us
it would be our duty to submit. But if the
election shall show that the Democratic
party are majority, and Congress ST all
| nevertheless declare the Republican candi-
dates elected, our right to resist will be I'M
questionable, and our power to resist sue
cessfuly will depend upon the same superb
ority in numbers which made US a majority.
1t is quite true that the Republicans will
have the counting of the electoral votes in
the coming Presidential election, and that
if they dishonesty exclude those given to
Mr.. Seymour, the Constitution provides no
peaceable method of redress. 1t is all in
| vain to Say that may wait fonr years
and try the result of another election for If
zee submit to the dishonest precedent ace hare no
security that zee shall not be again cheated and
our electoral UOtes again Hro0n out This is
an eril that mast be met on the frontier. 1t is
not in the power of Congress to prevent the
Democratic party from ascertaining, in No
vember, whether it is a majority. The
votes which they refuse to recognize official
| ly they cannot prevent us from counting
unofficially. No political swindling can
prevent our knowing, by the middle of No
vember, whether the preponderaDce ofphys-
ical strength is on our side, or on their side
If they are in majority, we shall submit,