The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-26
VOL. Will mo. 87

"a tremendous power to be entrusted TO one
man, as we shall presently see, when we come
10 mention some uf the Questions 10 which
the count gives rise. Bat Congress has very
properly rejected this construction, and 1t has
never at any time prevailed. On the contra
Ey, the votes are counted BY tellers Of the two
House, and when a vote or retas- is objected
TO, the question Is decided by the Houses
separately and without debate. If both
Houses vote to receive il, i, is received aud
counted. If either House votes TO reject il,
1t is rejected. Now upon the counting, the
grayest questions have arisen and may again
arise Thus, at the count in February, 1859,
. question was raised whether the State Of
Georgia was entitled 10 vote at all, and the
startling decision was announced BY the Pres.
ident Of the Senate, that under the Legislation
of Congress her vote should be counted, pro,
vided Il did not change the result, but that il
il would change the result it should be reject
ed. In point Of fact the result did not depend
upon her vote, but had Il done so and the vote
been rejected, who can tell what conimotion
and trouble might have followed? Again,
upon the count last February, there we're the.
returns from two sets Of collectors from the
State Of Louisiana--0ne set voting for Grant
and the other for Greeley-and both were re-
jected and the State lost her vote. The votes
of two other States--Arkansas and Texas---
were rejected on technical exceptions TO the
election returns; and they also lost their votes.
Now, fortunately. for the peace Of the country,
the votes Of these three States would not, ii
counted, have changed the result; but had the
case been otherwise, the most deplorable con.
sequences mighs have followed their rejection.
do not exaggerate the danger when | say
that unless better mode Of verifying the
election of President shall be provided than
now exists, the country may some day-and
no one can tell how soon--be plunged into
civil war over his election not war of sec
tons but one reaching into every hamlet in=
the land You have seen that, under the pre-
sent system, II is in the power Of a bare ma,
jority OF either House Of Congress to throw
out the vote Of a State and defeat the will Of
the people; and should such majority be suf.
fciently daring and INSCRIPTIONS to do so, il
would seldom be at q loss for pretext. A
mere technical objection to q return would
answer its purposes, or if this did not exist il
would be easy to declare without adequate
proof-as has been done again and again in
contested elections Of nembers-that the cleo
ton was carried by force or fraud. And thus
man might be declared elected to the Presi-
dency who had not received majority OF the
votes actually cast, or the election might be
made to devolve on the House Of Representa-
tiyes, where the vote Of the smallest State in
the Union would count as much as that Of
Ohio or New York. Forthese reasons hope
to-see the Constitution amended so as to Sc
cure fair canvass Of the electoral votes and
remove all danger ont Of the way; and am
glad to say that the Senate has charged one
of its ablest committees with consideration
OF the subject in order that such an amend
ment may be proposed.
These are important questions, stated
and discussed in fair, calm, temperate
manner, by one of the purest, ablest
American statesmen and jurists, and the
whole matter should be pondered by the
people whose rights and liberties Judge
Thurman proposes to guard by additional
constitutional provisions.