The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1868-07-22
Edwards Electoral College RiI1


Senator Edwards, of Vermont, and his Radical CO.
boers are determined convince the world that they
have no faith in the success of their candidate by the
eagcness they display in inventing of fraud
and violence to defeat the popular will His joint res
oution to exclude from the Electoral College, votes of
States lately in rebellion which shall not have been Or
gansad has recently passed both Houses of Congress-
and now awaits the Presidents Veto As stated in our
dispatches Mr. johnson has fit in the exercise of
his constitutional prerogative, to make to Congress
certain recommendations to the Presidents term of
office, and manner Of election. AS the present Con-
greSs will legslate only for partisan purposes these
suggestions of the President will probably meet with
no response, and their consideration will be postponed
thus avoiding the necessity of their discussion at this
tmeby the people.
Mr.. Edwards Joint resolution has no doubt passed
in the form in which it originally reported from
the Judiciary Committee and provides follows that
"No electoral votes shall be received or counted from
any of such States"the States subject to the re-
construction acts unless at the time prescribed bv
law for the choice of electors, the people of such
States pursuant to the acts Of Congress in that behalf
shall have since the fourth of March, 1867 adopted a
Constitution OF State government under which State
government shall have been organised and shall be in
operation and unless such election of electors shall
have been held under authority of such Constitution
and government, and such State shall have also be-
come entitled to representation in Congress pursuant
TO act of Congress in that behalf"
This resolution did not pass without encountering
serious opposition from conservative Republican SEN
ators-chehy those who refused to sustain the i'm
parchment of the President. We are not advised
whether this opposition is sufficiently powerful to pre-
Ventlt5 passage over the veto.
10 assert that this legislation violates the Constitu-
40n unnecessary 1t is attempt to usurpa purely
partisan power to determine whether certain votes
Shall or shall be received. 1t is an assumption of
an nnwarranted power on the part of Congress to
aseSupEeme revsory power the electoral returns
from the Southern States. Limited by the Constitu-
Ton to the simple reception of the electoral votes
which to be opened and counted in the manner and
form provided by the Constitution, they now assume
10 excise discretionary authority in deciding what
Votes to count and what to reject. To determine by
fraud necessary, the result. 1t is proposition to
make the President of the Senate first, and Congress
Up joint session next, judge, without appeal of the
Electoral rights of ten States.
In further development of his well laid plan, Mr..
Edwards on July I'd introduced bill providing that
@e next meeting Of Congress shall be on the third
monday, in November six days after the election,
which occurs Nov ember 10TH and three weeks in ad
vance OF its usual time--the first Monday in Deem
'er 1t is doubtless intended that Congress shall thus
carly assemble to provide for the contingencies of an
anticipated defeat
w" thls legislation is unconstitutional not less be-
violates the express provisions of the Constitu
' uan because it is partial, and limited to partcu-
-. anu enumerated States When it comes to be APP
rasa oy the action of Congress itself, these enumer
" o'a'es with the possible exception Of Virginia
sSSppi and Texas will have been declared restored
onon on an equal footing with the other States
Sa,o, Hss York, and Pennsylvania, and to all the
tis ~ mem 1t should be applied to remove
w VI Jee9oh OF partial legislation '
anpIy ~; ess that the Radical party will dare to
fba s .esis'Eaon to any State, North or South /
de,e,r;sS '. ''e Whole country are vigiant and
II r"in,a oneea. we are sufficiently powerful
,bs wi, a. ~"o Tiaeae our rights and to enforce
ern 'he people Throughout all of the South
eectors, Hi.aoa' single exception we will run
~ ana our candidates Seymour and Rla;n p.as
Su,u surely elect, and as surely inausprs.a' ~ th
p!.ss 'eeted and constitutional President sna ":
Tsaent OF restored Union sice
tbis no Tears of the result and only indn,co e.
prss aAuslon to this criminal legislation to o.
in,b ~ g A'neaton that the Radicals TINS 81 coon
feat Th ~ el'utge their fears, and acknowledge d.
are not satisfied with their own work If
iugi,s f.i1sso .hey enter the canvass acknowlede
sea and They are hopelessJy
- sao hoPeessly beaten already FetesS'y