The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-06
Senator Edmunds's Flank Movement

The movement made by Senator Ed
MUSDs on Monday, will. II 1t IL carried out
upon the principles upon when IL profess
Is to be based, result IN an utter de parture
from every sound constitutional practice
In the counting of the electoral votes 1t
is manifest, designed TO lay a founda ion
for Directing to more or less OF the votes
of Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi,
which will be cast for TILDEN, in
case any of the votes OF South
Carolin a, Florida, or Louisiana are also
cast in the same way. Mr.. EDMUSDs can
no hope by the process which he has de
vised to accomplish lie rejection OF any Of
the votes OF Georgia. Alabama, and Mis-
sissippi; but what he is aiming to do Is, In
case II shall become necessary for the two
Houses of Congress to declare that TIL
DEN has been elected, to affix to his title
hereafter Il faint Of fraud, such as will
attach 10 the title of HAYES in case
he shall be declared elected by aid
OF all the votes Of South Carolina, Florida,
and Louisiana. Thi. programme is one on
which the public attention should be fixed,
because II involves IA monstrous assump-
ton OF power on the part of the Senate
III Counting Aht tittNOlAi fOics iutl EbtS
beyond any theory OF the constitutional
functions of either of the two Houses that
has yet been Officially preached by any
body
MI. EpMUNDs's assumption IL, that there
may be an inquiry not only into the fair
ness and regularity with which the return
ing officers of "a Sta,e have ascertained the
results OF the popular vote, bat that there
may also be an inquiry into the fact OF
w 'her as many popular votes Were
nol,ed "A. wcr, "n.,,....ccd te be, or wh.-
ther any voters who did not vote
were prevented or ob-tructed in the
exercise OF their elective franchise.
such an inquiry by either House of Com
gress, in order to lay III" foun i1tlon for II
rejection OF electoral votes, uuly certified
/ by the proper state authOritie', would be
: n violation, if carried out to That extent,
/ OF the rieht of tha state 10 appoint its
/ Prosiienual electors IN such manner as ITS
Lpgi-l lture may determine. II is one
Thug for either House OF Congress, pre-
paratory 10 the counting Of the electoral
votes, sent up Wy the different states, to
inquire whether the returning officers
have found true and clrrrct res llts OF the
popular votes as Indicated by the contents
OF the ballot boxes nj the close of IN @
| election; but II Ia u totally different
| thug aud mauifestly beyond the compe-
tency OF either House OF Congress, TO 20
mo any inquiries as 10 the number or
character Of the popular votes that ought
to have been or might have been pollrd,
for the purpose Of falsfying the GER
tincate OF electoral votes sent up
by the proper State au horitie'. What
the House of Representatives proposes 10
do, IN the cases Of South Carolina, Florida
and Louisiana, Is hmi,rd to the inquiry
whether frauds have been committed by
the Returning Boards OF those States, ii
certifying that one ticket of electors
has been chosen by the people wht
voted, and not another ticket. WHAT Mr.
EDMVNDs proposes TO have the Senate
do Is 10 go behind all the dolngs OF the lta
turning Boards, inquire what the popular
vote ought to have been; and II a show car
be made that voters nj the polls, wht
would have voted III Il certain way
were prevented or Distracted from Civ
ing their votes as they designed
the electoral vote of that state, n
certified by its proper authorities, is to b.
flashed. This would open field OF in
quiry into which neither House OF Con
gress has any right to enter, and will lead
IL either House should adopt II, to tn
! abandonment Of every constitutional rul