New-York tribune., 1876-11-21

side of caution is the wrong one on which 10
err. 1t would be better to admit too many
than too few.
A curious instance Of careless leglsiatioh
comes to light in this State. An old law al
lowed Presidential Electors the same salary as
members of the Legislature, which was theh
three dollars day, with the invariable mileage.
Afterward the salary was raised to $1,000
session. long or short, without thought as TO
tbe electors. Now these gentlemen can pocket
$50, 900 for one days service, and the State
can save that amount only by tleir forbear-
ance. Probably however, Mr. HOratio Seymour
and Mr. Parke Goodwin and their colleagues
can be trusted not to be too avarici0us.
A Washington letter considers the contin-
gency of two elections in February, two i'll
augurations and two Presidents in March,
That such an issue of the contest, or rather
such widening of it, is not so improbable as
it might seem may be inferred from
many recent indications. One OF them may
be found in the distinct recommendation OF
the leading Democratic journal IN this city
Yesterday to the Democratic House to elect a
President in the manner prescribed by the
Constitution, in case it is not convinced OF the
fairness of the verdict of the Louisiana Re-
turning Board, and the Senate refuses to join
with it in rejecting the vote of that State If
in this way, or any other, the election should
be thrown into the House. Gov. Tildens ma
iority would be very considerable. Under the
constitutional requirement that each State
shall have but one vote, Mr.. Tilden would re-
ceive % votes, and, should the Republicans
participate in the ballot, Gov. Hayes would re-
ceive II, giving him Massachusetts by the
vote of Gen. Banks, and Florida would be
tie. But the disgrace and the danger OF
divided Presidency no lover OF his
country would ever willingly see inflicted
upon us.-And in that category we include
Gov Hayes and Gov. Tilden.
1t is difficult to understand the necessity of
concentrating even small number OF troops
in Washington at this time as the Govern
ment seems to have been doing. The counting
of the electoral vote is yet three months OIL
and the Inauguration a month further. There
is no hint or threat anywhere OF violence or
of armed resistance to the Inauguration OF the
President who shall finally be found to have
been legally elected Both parties are behav-
ing with admirable discretion and reserve, con-
sidering the nflammable materials III AT least
one of them, and the two candidates are the
two quietest men in the country. Everywhere
there has been the utmost good order, and the
record of the people in these two weeks of
patient suspense has been such as to make
every American proud of his country. in this
condition of things, there is surely no imme-
diate need of extra troops at Washington, and
it is to be hoped there will be none in the
near future. The episode is to be regretted
because the mystery kept up by some mem
bers of the Cabinet as to the meaning OF the
movement will arouse suspicion among Demo-
Gratis and excite feeling at time when every
effort should be made toward mutual forbear-
ance and good understanding 1t may be
that it was merely thought wiser to bring Ill
these troops at time of political qaiet than
later when there may be greater excitement
and possible tumult. If that is it, why not
say sol