Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-12-22

A "leadins Republican, at Washington,
having been interviewed by Mr.. Nordhoff,
the correspondent Of the New York Herald,
is reported by that gentleman to have
said :c--l a7.--e-1
The question of the regularity of returns
will not come up at all in the joint conyen-
lion. The electoral returns will show Gov.
Hayes chosen. The Democrats may posi-
bly, 90 on to declare Mr.. Tilden elected by
the House, but of what use will that be to
them? Gov. Hayes being declared elected
will come here and be inaugurated en- the
4th of March. Who Is to prevent that
Certainly not the present House that will
cease to exist At the close of the 3rd of
March its members unless they have been
reelected, will be private citizens before the
hour arrives for the Inauguration OF the new
President they will have, as body, or as
individuals, no rights to the hoor OF the
House which any private citizen has not.
Nor is this all. Not only will the present
House be functus ofhcio, but the next House
cannot lawfully assemble until the first Mon
day in next December. unless the next
President summons it ; and it Is very doubt
full if Mr.. Tilden, even if he should be so
| silly as to allow somebody to declare him
| President. would want to summon the new
House, for it has. probably, slight Re-
publican majority, and, even if it should
prove to have small Democratic major
| ity, there will undoubtedly be mem
bers of that side who will not encourage re-
volutionary nonsense. Tou see, therefore,
that neither this House nor the next has any
real power in the matter. The present
House will expire before the time arrives to
inaugurate either Gov. Hayes or Mr.. Tilden.
If it should offer to hold over. it would COM
NIT revolutionary act, and the police
would properly arrest the men who engaged
in such folly. The next House conld not
be summoned in any case until the new Pres
ident was inaugurated until, that is TO say,
the emergency, for which some Democrats
! are said To desire its presence, is past. The
18th of March is usually cold and buster
ing day. If Mr.. Tilden should appear here
| and attempt to make an address from the
Capitol, he would have a very uncomfortable
time and would probably catch had cold.
and that is all. There is no danger of pop
ular tumult, for the Senate has right to
close the galleries, and it 80 ordered in the
count Of 1901. In my opinion, Hayes is
elected. That is what the President believes,
and we are going to inaugurate him if he
proves on the 18th of February to have lS5
votes. The Southern committees will not be
able to show any cause why this should not
be done. As to what the Democrats can do
about it, what can they do? We mean to
move only by constitutional and legal
methods. It's all fudge about Gen. Grant
holding over he doesn't want to hold over,
but he means to put Hayes in the White
House. and then his duty will be done.
There il going to be no OCCASION for Demo-
crats stirring up riots anywhere. and if they
did so they would only put themselves in
the wrong. As to the next elections, they
will take care of themselves. If Hayes l. a
satisfactory President, the country will be
content if he is not. then the Democrats
will have their chance. and they may make
the most of it.
The Washington correspondent of tie
Troy Times thus describes the Democratic
programme
They have none The party is in chaos.
The campaign Of intimidation. fraud, bull
DOING, and corrsptiOn. which ended on
November 1th. is being continued BY cam
pagn of political triekery, or technica.ities,
and Of revolutionary devices, such az has
never been witnessed in the history of this
country. and possibly not in the history OF
the world before The Democrats are not
vet a unit. and the fre-eaters of the South
of 1860 have become the peace-makers of
1876 Southern Democrats, led by Ben
Hill, bv John Young Brown, and by Alex
| ander stephens, say TO the Northern dough
faces We have followed your lead from
St. Louis We follow your lead now We
speak not Of wur we shall furnish no fields
for battle we counsel peace, moderation
/ and prudence II there is TO be war, the
wal must he declared by the Democrats of
the North, who were full of belligerent
promises sixteen years ago, but ialthless IN
their execution. If lhere are to lie fields of
battle. they must he in New York. or in
New England north of the Potomac river,
anywhere except in the fields of the sunny
South. which vet bear the scars of the last
great contest The Northern Democrats,
with some exceptions. loudly talk of organ
izing resistance II the Republican programme
is executed Failing in all attempts to pre-
vent the declaration Of the Electoral vote for
HAYES failing in the adoption of a new
rule, which NAV give the Democrats an ad-
vantage. failing 10 reject Colorado, louis
I lana, Florida and South Carolina, and fall
ing to count in Oregon, there seems to be
nothing left u the Democrats but Clarkson
| Potter's plan ot revolution, which Mr.. Til
den declares our fathers left always" organ
| lied 10 the constitution" The most radical
Of the Democratic leaders propose this
The House, under protest, that the Sen
j al
I cedeut, NAV be present in the Senate cham
Der TO participate in the count OF the Elec-
fora, vote. This is not certain. The House
| will, during the count, enter their formal
protest to at least the counting of Louis
lana. They will desire to be heard upon
many technical points. Failing &c obtain
recognition. or to have their motions put to
the loint convention. the House will retire
10 its own chamber. will Immediately pass
resolution declaring that there has been
no election Of President by the Electoral
College. and will proceed to elect Presi-
dent; will have at least one member from
two-thirds of the States to constitute a
quorum for that purpose, and Will elect
lir Tilien.
And then-God knows what then. II
this plan should be followed thus far, the
s.then'' would be in the hands of the
American people, during the two weeks
which remain before the fateful ides oil
March. At that time, these fomenters OF
rebellion now declare Tilden will be sworn
in, that he will take upon himself the
functions of President, that he will ISSUE
his proclamation to the army, To the navy
To the executive departments, commanding
q obedience. and 10 the American people en-
{ ioiring loyalty to his administration. Anc
1 then, New York members say they car
raise 100, 900 men in New York city in II
days, To sustain Tilden as President o
tic United States. Circulars addressed
to the commanders of Southern rif'
clubs have already been sert out
stating that it is necessary that there shall
he an imposing pageant here to inauguratt
TiIden, aud asking that these commanders
return forthwith the strength OF their com
mAnds and the number and calibre OF then
guns. One more radical than the other
saws President Tilden, under the constl
tuition, can declare that the emergency exist
which warrants the removal of the natIona
, capital, and the changing OF the place OF tht
meeting of Congress; that be can declar'
for the time being that the seat OF thu
national Government shall be at New fori
city that he can seize the United State
sub-treasury there, which always contain
the vast bulk of the Government gold; tina
!. he can occupy the custom house, take th
forts in New York harbor, collect the dutie
of that port, and administer his Governmen
, from that place, until be can secure contro
OF Washington"
, This, in the outline, is the most desperst
/ side Of the most revolutionary programm
that has been suggested. Meanwhile, tn
c patriotic, Union-loviug men Of the countr
will do well to closely watch public events
q Washington and at the last to be read
!. to do the sublimest duty Of American ell
!. zens.
n We do not feel greatly alarmed over an'
o ,.:u-~v and varlike prospects