The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-11-24
One NHajOritY-RA0w lt Shall be
Declared.

Hayes has one majority; there
Is scarcely a reasonable doubt of
it. But there is a widespread
feeling of uneasiness on account
of the smallness of the majority
an apprehension that the Demo
cratic party will in some way over
come it. There would be no such
apprehension on the part of the
Democrats were Tllden chosen by
one majority. There would be no
fear that Republicans would seek
to tamper with electors chosen to
vote for Tilden, and so defeat the
will of the people. But this ap-
prehension exists in regard to the
Hayes majority of one, and 1t may
be well founded. Let us consider
the situation.
l. AS to the maintenance intact
of the college of electors when
once chosen. The act Of Con-
gress-January %, 1S45-provides
that "each State may, by law, pro-
vide for the filing of any vacancy
or vacancies which may occur in
its college of electors when such
college meets to give its electoral
vote" In pursuance of this au-
thority the State of Illinois long
since provided for the contingency
of the death, or failure to attend
at the appointed time, of any
duly chosen elector or electors,
by authorizing the electors present
to appoint person or persons to
fill such vacancy. It is believed
that there is no State in the Uni
on that has not 8 similar law on
its statue books.
2. In regard to the apprehen-
sion that the Democratic party
will seek to corrupt an elector, or
several electors, chosen by the
people of q State to vote for
Hays-induce him or them to
vote for Tllden. We consider
this remote contingency. The
purchase of an elector would be q
confession that the entire Demo
cratic party regard the Presidency
as thing TO be secured by open
corruption. The sale of his vote
by an electer would render the
perso thus debaUched more in
famous than Benedict Arnold,
and doom to disgrace and shame
his posterity to the latest genera
ton. The act of purchase and
sale would be death blow to our
system of government, and would
well-nigh justify, as it would be
sure to provoke, revolution.
3. AS to the manner of choosing
the President by the electors. The
law OF Congsess-March 1, 1872
provides that the electors of each |
State shall meet and give their votes |
on the first Wednesday in Decsnber |
following the election, aud that
they shall make and sign three GER
tificates OF all the votes by them |
given, seal up the same, certifying, |
etc by writing under their hands |
or the hands of majority of them,
appoint person to take charge OF |
and deliver one copy to the Presi- |
dent of the Senate at Washington
before the first Wednesday In jan
uary then next ensuing, forward q |
second copy by mail to the Presi- |
dent Of the senate, and lodge the
third copy with the Judge of the
district in which the said electors |
shall assemble. The same act pro-
vides that Congress shall be in SEES
sion on the second Wednesday in |
February next ensuing, and the
Constitution article u of the
amendments provides that "the
President of the Senate shall. in the
presence of the Senate and House |
of Representatives, open ali the GER
tificates, and the votes shall be
counted ;" and that ssihe person /
having the greatest number of votes
for President, shall be the President,
If such number be q msjority of the
whole number of electors appoint
ed" The Constitution further pro-
vides that if mo person have such
majority, then from the person hav-
ing the highest numbers, not ex-
ceeding three on The list of those
voted for, the House of Represent
atiYes shall choose immediately by I
ballot the President" i will be