Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-07-21
The Southern Electoral Votes.


The New York Journal Of Commerce, with
reference 10 the bill which has just passed
Congress, relative to votes the States late
" in rebellion in tho presidential ele csion,
says:
at is an undis5uised political device, de-
signed to make sure the election of Grant and
CoIfax, by throwing out of the electoral col
lego every Southern Democratic State. We
doubt whether any honorable man of either
party can be found to apologize for or extern
uate this scheme. If realized it may achieve
the success of Grant and Colfax, but it will
forever rebound to the disgrace of the party
which permitted so fragrant a wrong to be
done. IF Congress should refuse to admit
Southern electoral votes on the plea that the
South is still rebellious and not to be trusted
with political rights, we might smile at the
stupidity of such statement, and pity the
Congress that knew 70 better.
But to do it openly and avowedl5 Cor the
same as avowedly,) with the object of defeat
ing the nominees, this is depth Of shame,
indeed, for the legislation of this country to
be dragged into"
Other independent journals take the same.
view of the measure and its effects also that
the Sun has done. Another New York jour
nal says:
"According to its provisions, the States of
Louisiana, South Carolina Alabama, Florida,
North Carolina and Arkansas will be entitled
to take part in the coming election, they
either having been already admitted to repre-
sentation or ratified the pending constitution
al amendment Geargia will probably be ex-
cluded, as the lower House of her Legislature
has Democratic majority, which may reject
the amendment Mississippi, in defeating
the constitution of the Reconstruction Con-
vention lately held in that State, has placed
herself beyond the possibility of parIicipa-
ton in the political contest. With regard
to Texas and Virginia, ifeyen they should be
carried by the Radicals, there is no possible
chance of their being admitted to represent
alton in time to take part in the election, as
Congress will adjourn before they can ratify
their State constitutions, and will scarcely
meet again until after the conflict of the
Presidency shall have been decided: Under
these circumstances it may be safely assumed
that there will be but six of the ex-rcbel
States represented in the electoral college, I'M
less the lower House of the Georgia Legisla-
ture shall be 'purged' of the democratic ma
jority, in which event there will be seven,
representing forty-seven votes"
The subjoined interesting anecdote is
told by the Times:
When the ballot had terminated, Mr.. Til
den, of New York, sought MF. Seymour, and
found him in one of the large ante:rooms of
the Convention hall, entirely alone and with
the tears streaming from his eyes. My God,
Tilden, what shall l do ? this IS terrible =
exclaimed the reluctant one. The placid
Tilden was equal to the occasion, and replied
with something pertinent, if not original =
Sir, the Presidency has sought you, not you
the Presidency, and you must take it, Con-
soler and consoled locked arms and sought
more retired quarters, mutually happy
Whether Gov. Seymour was affected to
tears or not by his nomination, we have no
doubt that he was perfectly sincere in de-
clining it, and that he really did not irish for
it. The idea that both he and his frierdsof
the New York delegation were guilty of dus
plicity and triekery, is as absurd as it is I'M
just. Gov. Seymour was nominated, not be-
cause he and his colleagues played deep
game for the nomination, but because it had
become plain that there was no other man in
the party who could so appropriately as him.
self be selected as the standard bearer of the
Dcmrcracy.-NeV York SIN (Rad.)