Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-02-24
TIlE TwENrY.s ECONDRULE


phistopholes had been called into re-
qulsition to frame the twenty second
joint rule Of Congress, II could not
have been made moro suggestive Of
evil and moro pregnant with provis-
ions inviting discord and violence
We warn Congress, and Democrats as
well as Republican members, of the
absolute necessity of repeating that
rule. If 1t shall not be done at this
session, there is little likelihood of its
being done before the next Presiden-
tiai election, and this delay is fraught
with peculiar danger to the country
We have already pointed out the alb
surdity of some OF its provisions
They are utterly useless and meaning.
less, unless employed, Ms VIC Ieul lls,
may be, to cloak usurpation and give
it the form and appearance oflegalized
revolution. To be sure this rule has
existed for many years, almost dating
back to the adoption of the Federal
Constitution. So far, it has never
been employed to defeat an honest OK.
preston OF the popular will. But
this proves nothing. We existed for
80 years as nation before mad, ambi-
tious zealots seized upon pretext for
disuni0n, and quoted the Constitution
and the Declaration of Independence
in support of their right to break up
the American Republic. They failed
in these, after going through sea OF
blood, but does any body imagine that
men bold enough to strike that terri
BILE blow at the foundation of the edi-
fee, will fear to work at the same OBJ.
ject when they can be protected by
legal forms, and when they can work
ieisurely from the top, Destroying by
degrees what they failed to ruin by q
blow? Mark the connection between
the advice of the Southern leaders and
the open opportunity presented for
carrying out their idea by this ioiut
rule? We quotedthe other day from
the speech Of Mr.. Hin, Of Georgia, In
which he said to the people, in sub.
stance: "We cannnt gain our ends by
open secession or declared violence
against tho Union. Our mistake in
81 was in not retaining upon our aide
the semblance Of law and authority.-
We must be the government in the
next attempt; the Radicals the rebels.o .
How easy to take the first great etsp in
this programme In 1876 Let NJ see: A.
sume that majority of Presidential
electors returned arc Republicans. On
the second Wednesday in February
succeeding the meeting of electors. the
two houses of Congress assemble nm.
der the provisions Of the Joint rule. 10
declare the persons elected. The
counting of the votes of several States
which, according it, the certificates.
have returned Republican electors 20.
and the two houses refusing 20 concur
In the counting the votes arc rejected.
No matter what reason may be eiveu.
or whether any at all be given. the
votes must DO rejected IL tho two
houses do not concur, and the election
10 thereupon thrown into the House OF
Representatives A Democratic Pres.
ident is thereupon elected, and Mr..
Hill, by . process as simple a. il ID
plain sees his plan In full operation.
and his new rebellion protected BY the
forms OF law. We as . Republican
Congress, with fortnight of precious
time yet before II, what is to be done
about this mattcr2 TAe lasc as IL no,c
stands tctll permit the Democrats to re-.
ject the V0tes Of any State, and throsc
the election into their 0scn hands, If
they choose to do so! Do our friends
suppose for an instant that the Demo.
Gratis will not find abundant excuses
for this act2 What can bo done IN
such case? Where is the relief ex-
cept In violent resistance, which places
those resisting In the attitude of defy.
ing tho law2 It is simply amazing
that such stupid, dangerous rule
should have remained SO long In force.
II nothing else can be done, at least
provide tribunal to which appeal
can be made in case of disagreement
Ii Congress shall adjourn without
doing something in this regard, the
next President Of tho United States.
no matter what the voice Of the pco.
pie may be, will be Democrat, or !
civil war will intervene to prevent Il.
1t 10 evident that the Democratic Sen.
ators are preparing for q contest over
the proposed amendment, and II can.
not be too quickly brought before the
Senate. To adjourn without action on
this important mat ter would be q
blurder amounting to . eyime. .-lNter.
0ceaa.