New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-09-06
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| 1t is charged, on what seems to be excellent
ex parte testimony, that gross frauds were
| committed during the North Carolina election,
and that in several districts the number of
| ballots cast exceeded not only the number of
names registered but the entire population Of
| qualified voters OF the evidence to sustain
this charge, however, we need not speak: it
is enough that the charge is formally made.
The defeated party in such case has right
| to submit the facts to the Legislature and de-
mand an investigation That Is what the
friends of Judge Merrimon purpose doing,
whereupOn the Raleigh Carolina Era, the
chief organ of the Grant party in the central
part of the State, calls upon Republicans to
resist this contest by force:
believing that Gov. Caldwell received majority OF
tho egal votes cast on the first day OF this month"; and
that Justice Will done by the Legislature, we ad
yiso Gov Caldwell to resist Legislature II that body
declares Merrlmon elected and attempts TO wrest the
State Government from Gov Caldwell and his brethren
OF the Republican State ticket The Republicans have
possession-they must retain It,"
And The Era declares, in conclusion, that
if Gov. Caldwell and his friends submit to a
contest before the Legislature, they are fit
"subjects for such indignities and Outrages as
"the Ku-Klux may choose to infiict" The
Legislature, argues this journal, was elected
on partisan issues, and cannot be trusted to
do impartial justice; let Caldwell, therefore,
resist every attempt to GUST him, and IL
Judge Merrimon sets up petty government
" of his own, Congress will take cognizance of
" the contest and decide which is the rightful
government. That the Congress would sus-
tain Gov. Caldwell we have not the slightest
dOubt'-Congress, we presume, according to
The Raleigh Era, having been chosen upon
purely non partisan issues and being above
all political prejudice.
There is no question that the Legislature
was fairly elected. There is no question of its
constitutional right and duty to try contested
elections and decide them in accordance with
the facts There is no way of avoiding politi-
cal chaos except by the recognition of trib-
unal to settle just such disputed questions
Yet the Grant party in North Carolina, dread
ing an adverse decision, refuses to accept the
Judgment of the court of last resort, and in
vokes an appeal to arms, with the ultimate
interference of Congress and of course the
interpositiOn of Federal bayOnets. That would
be reducing North Carolina to the condition
of the Central American republics. The Adj
ministratiOn has been so long accustomed to
ruling Southern States with high hand, and
usurping under the plea of revolutionary
necessity the powers which belong by the
Constitution to the State Governments, that
it probably does not appreciate the enormity
of this lawless project. What has Congress to
do with seating OF unseating the Governor of
North CarOina2 1T it can restore Caldwell
after the Legislature has removed him and de-
To- oil ta1 hlv
install Dix in New-York, may, for the matter
of that can revise the votes of the Electoral
College, and insist that Grant shall be recog-
nized as President after the electors have
given the majority to Greeley. Where is the
usurpation to end If the lawfully constituted
authority may be superseded because some
body believes that it has not decided, or will
not decide, fairly, there is no such thing as a
free representative government we are
brought down at once to the brute force of
military despotism, where the judge of last re-
sort is the general who has the strongest army.
The tendency of the Grant Administration
towards this sort of usurpation is unmistak-
able. OF course nobody is absurd enough to
suppose that President Grant seriously intends
to oyerturn the State Government of North
Carolina or any other member of the Union ;
or that even Mr.. Conkling or Mr.. Harlan
would support him in such an attempt But
his party is insensbly urging hun forward to
most dangerous disregard of constitutional
restraints. rIr af
The NeC- York Times wanted United States
troops sent the other day to North Carolina, be-
cause an Internal Revenue officer was afraid of
newspaper editor and some of his friends,
whom he had assaulted and fired at; and now
one of the party organs calls upon Congress
to instruct the Executive forcibly to maintain
Caldwell in the Governors chair in case the
Legislature, the constitutional judge in con-
tested elections, decide that he is not entitled
u 1. ,rni,, r,n nnL ,rhnrn Ia this In end Z