, 1876-12-12
HOLDING A NEW ELECTION.

respect tor fAtr AMI honest clectfonB. LeaV-
ing ont OF account tho offlce-Hookerg, Office
holders, and nil those politicians who enjoy
place and honors through tho potency of
political patronage Of whom combined
comprise but an insignificant portion Of tue
people,-the great mass Of Americans prefer
tlefent by IN honest election to success by
the abuse, fraud, and corruption Of the bal-
lot-box. The 1nan who iB honestly elected
will always DO awarded the election in pops.-
lar Judgment, no matter by what means, lo~
gal though they 10, If dishonest and unfair,
the other man may be declared elected. Tho
law, and truth, and honesty 1nny be evaded
and defeated; but public opinion is incor-
ruptiblc, and will lnoritably sido with Justice.
In the roeont election there have boon
charges Of tho grossest frauds committed in
several of the States. Tho fra1l in Oregon
is so pnlpable that wo question whether
there is nh Intelligent man In tho country
who defends It. The mort TINT Is claimed
for 1t ia that 1t Borvcs rs q taoinioality
which is to 10 insisted on to offset
certain alleged frauds In other States,
and, therefore. is to- DO claimed
oven to tho extent Of olecting President,
unless 1t bo conceded that In Louisiana tho
declared vote of the state be repudiatcd rs q
fraud. The politicians ut Washington aro
lashing themselves into fury, and tho most
incendiary appeals are making to incito tho
peoplo to tho Mexican plau Of deciding au
elections by civil war. We think 1t safe to
assume that Of per cent Of tho legal voters OF
tho United States are agreed that tho election
ought to DO decided fairly and honestly, md
TINT the 1nnn who was really elected ought
to have the election, eyenif the forms Of law
by fra1id have beou used to elect nnother.
Assuming this to DO the truo atate Of public
feeling on this subject, wo present, rs porhaps
affortling ono of tho fairest means OF dis
covering the truth, the suggestion In ycstor-
lential Electors 10 held oyor again in cer-
tain States.
| Tho net of Congress Of Ito. provides:
Whenever any State has held m occttou for the
purpose Of chooting Electors ind has fa!icd ia
make choicc On the day prescribed BY law, tho
| Electora may be appointed TN subsequent day III
| such manner as the Legislature Of such State
may direct.
The suggestion Is that the elections in thu
disputed States, where fraud Ia alleged, be
declared void, and that special election be
holl In those States-say, Louisiana, Floi3
da, South Carolina, md Atiss'sSippf-fol
Electors. Tho law allowa Such election .i1
the caso named. To hold such election
howoyor, would require tho assent Of tl,t
several Legislatures at the Statos named
otherwise those Lcgis1Atnres might appoin
the Electors directly, which would by nj
means help the business at all. It woult
require also thu affirmative declaration b,
both Houses Of Congress, declaring that th,
elections In these States wore 10 taintet
with suspicion OF unfairness as to DO unsM
to count them, aud that now elections, will
the assont OF the Stato Legislatures, be held
say In January. It could be provided als
that these elections should be held unde
tha supervision Of national officers or com
mittees of Congress, and the results shoul
be witnessed and certified by persons th,,
designated by Congress. At present boil
Houses OF Congress have appointe
committees to visit these States 10 IN
quiro into what has taken place. Wha
these co1amtttecs vii! report we ,na
now pretty safely guess, takinga as guide ii
] reports Of those who have already been there
} II tho psosent oanyass and ret,lsns arc
be overturned or sustained, that end may h
far more satisfactorily reached by now elet
J ton held under s,,cll circumstances as wi
insuro' as fair aud a. honest election as
! possible in those States. ThoEe would nj
! | be much probability Of intimidation, or VII