Connecticut western news., 1876-12-01
SUPPOSING A CASE.
A Staff Correspondent Draws n Picture ot
 Som ethinG that MIxbt Haupen.

"A SIAh COFFOspOn0ent DfaWe n Picture of
 Something that Might Happen.
 B. V. Smalley, the Washington corre- spondont of the New York Tribune, says Let us suppose the doubtful re- suit ln Florida and Louisiana to be con- verted by the returning boards of these 5 ates into Republican victory, against the protests of the Democrats. The electoral colleges assemble, and the re- suit is 185 votes for Hayes and 184 for Hidden. The Republicans fortify them selves with evidence sustaining the legality of the action of the boards, and the Democrats gather testimony to show that such action was partisan and fraudu- lent. Matters drift along until the day fixed for opening and counting the re- turns in joint convention of the two Houses. The Democrats then object to counting the votes of those States, but the president of the Senate, using his powers as chairman of the joint conven- tion, refuses to consider the objection, orders them to be counted, and an- nounces the election of Hayes. As soon as the convention dissolves the House passes resolution declaring that owing to it's objection to the counting of the votes of Louisiana and Florida those votes were not legally counted, that no election has taken place, and that it is the duty of the House to elect Presi- dent. The following clause in the Con- stitution is cited ," The person having the greatest number of votes for Presi- dent shall be President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed and if no person has such majority, then from the per sons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immedi- ately, by ballot, the President.
 Acting under this clause, the House elects Samuel J. Tilden. On the fourth of March the Republicans inaugurate Rutherford B. Hayes with the custom ary ceremonies, under the protection of the army, and at the same time the Democrats inaugurate Samuel J. Tilden without ceremony, probably not in Washington, and by the mere adminis- tration of the oath. No formal in- auguration is essential to clothe Presi- dent with all the powers of h:s office. The Senate has already been summoned to meet in executive session by Presi- dent Grant before his term expired |; Tilden calls Congress together in extra session. The Democratic House re- spends and recognizes him as Presi. dent. The Senate sustains Hayes, Both issue orders to the army and navy; each calls upon the goverors of the States to support him as the la wful chief magistrate.
 Having drawn his picture MT. Smalley goes on to say: Here are all the conditions of 8 civil war far more terrible than the one we have passed through, because it would not be a war of sections but of parties. This horri- ble specter is not a creation of heated imagination. The position the two political parties are now assuming leads logically, if persisted in, to the exact results I have described. The only escape from disastrous consequences would be for the people to refuse to second the politicians, and exclaiming,
 like Mercutio "A plague on both your houses 1" insist upon some arrange ment that would insure the preserva- tion of the public peace.
 It will thus be seen that two courses are open to the Democrats if they ip- tend to resist the consummation of the e1ecI1On or 1ayes py the votes or the doubtful States First, for the House to elect Tilden on the assumption that neither candidate has received 8 ma jority of the votes of the electors lawful ly appointed. If neither party yielded, civil war of the most dreadful descrip- tion would be the inevitable result of such proceeding. Second, for the House to absent itself from the counting of the vote, so that it could not take place. The consequence of this course, if persisted in successfully until tue fourth of March, would be to make the president of the Senate acting President of the United States, and to make ne1 election necessary in November, 1877.