Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1868-08-11
Electoral Collegc-Prospcc3 OF Diff
cgllieS.

From the action Of the Florida Legislature,
from the apparent determination Of the Radl
Gals to choose the President by manipulating
the electoral vote for this purpose should the
contest be O. close one, and from several other
difficulties looming up with regard to this
question, there is some reason to lear serious
consequences. The Radical Legislatures, IN
some OF the reconstructed States, show an evil
dent purpose of frustrating the popular vote
for Presidential electors, IN case that vote IS
likely to be against them, by giving the Legls-
lature the power of choosing electors, as was
formerly the case in South Carolina. Suppos-
inc even the Legislatures have this power
legalIy-but that is questionable -such an
abuse of authority would be contrary to the
spirit of the constitution, to our republican
institutions and to the avowed principles
of the radical party, which all along dcnounc-
cd the South Carolina mode Of choosing cleo
tors as anti-radcal but worse than that 1t
might lead to great trouble, or even to civil
war.
Then there are three States-Nirginia, Mis-.
sissippi and Tezas-not yet fully restored and
not likely to be before the Presidential cleo
| ton. Are they to be excluded from the EIec
toral College because their representatives.
| have not been admitted to Congress-? They
will doubtless send electors to the College :
Will it be left to the President OF the Senate,
whose duty it is to count the Presidential cleo
toral votes, to say whether these States shall
| be excluded or not? Their votes might decide
| the election. The contest may be so close
| that the votes OF these three States counted
| for Grant and Colfax would elect these cand-
dates, and without them Seymour and Blair
would be elected. In that case would the
| radical party and would Mr.. Wade lose the
onportunity of securing the power and patron
ape Of the government? The prize is an
enormous one, and, judging from the antcce-
| dents of Mr.. Wade and the radicals, we think
they would not lose the opportunity. True,
Congress- passed joint resolution, and that
over the veto of the President, excluding States
| not reco instructed and entitled to representation
| in Congress, which was evidently Intended to
apply to Virginia, Mississippi and Texas ;
! but this resolution could be repealed Or
| a special act of admission passed between
September and November, or any time before
| the counting Of the votes, ii that became
party necessity, to secure the election. On
| the other hand, should Seymour and BLAIR re-
ceive q sufficient number OF votes, which by
counting those OF the three States named
would give them majority IN the Electoral
| College, would not the President of the Senate,
acting upon the joint resolution OF Congress
and in favor of his party, refuse to count the
votes of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas
These arcesomc Of the complications and
dangers OF the approaching Presidential cIcc.
ton. The President in his veto message OF
the Electoral College bill referred TO, holds that
| all the States, though some may not be repre-,
sented in Congress, have the constitutional
| right TO vote for President and Vice President,
| and, of course, this includes Virginia, Missis,
sippi and Texas. The Democratic party will
probably insist upon this right. We can
| imagine, then, what terrible conflict may oc
cur should the votes or exclusion of the votes
| Of these three States decide the election one
way or other This is not iancicd danger nor
an improbable one There is 4 fearful prospect
| of it.-N Y WcraM