The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-28
Tue POWERS or THE house.
Timely Suggestions and Counseis of an Emil
nont Democratic Jurist.

Probably no man in the country feels
greater indgn ton at the plot Of an unscrupu-
lous and desperate Office holding oaoal 20 set
aside the verdict Of The people than ex Attor-
ncy General Gilrhrist OF New jersey Hut he
is thoroughly Of rng SUNS opinion az to the
prudence OF Fastening slowly. In recent con-
versaion he said
The letter Of Mr. Carkson N. Potter Is an
exceedingly able one. a he CONFUSION he
reacnesls that. ~ nothing but party spiiit can
Induce the senate to Insist upon counting
the votes ~ Lpusi M, South Carolina, aud
florida Tor HAYES. the House OF Reuresentr
ives cannot consent to the count hut will re-
tte aud proceed 10 elect President. Inc
Senate VIII do likewise. Then wo have two
Presidents. hat means civil war.
Now, Don't see any immediate prospect Of
3 settlement. Mr.. Putter's idea seems to be
That. II the situation Is thoroughly understood,
there VIII he great pressure brought to tie tr
unnn the Senate To induce 1t to give way and
refrain from doing thing so manifestv unfair.
Ihefe is much ere TER alarm In the country than
IS commonly Supposed IL Is almost generally
believed that the Democrats will be cheated,
nj public opinion IL undoubtedly on their
side; hut the cheat 10 irrrmediablc without the
greatest dancer OF civil war. All cheats at the
pulls urc, III their nature, practically irremedi-
tle. II the attempt to- set up second Prcsi-
dent did not hfing on another wfr. 1t would be
very likely to render the Democrats ridiculous.
The ohlv other course open To them seems to be
N sum ission and appe to tho country. l
Know that this remedy ~ 0eset With ain uities,
Du' lie hnerty.
- believe ~ can he demonstrated that neither
House mas a ftght To count vote cast for n
electur who ia Ineligible; but there seems TO he
force IN tno 20 ition that neither House can 90
hehind the returns aud inquire Hs to the votes
east iNr the elector. Ought the House to do
now what. uuon car, tIl consider ton. It would
not nut IN - general law - the rule Tor the fu-
turer know II viii be dificult for the House
TO soc how It can, consistently with It's duty. re
fr.in from rejecting the fraudulent vote OF
Lnui-itna rs Kellogg viii PROBABLY return II.
But, u-urper "a he IL, has lac not been already
recognized by all the departments Of the Gov.
"In year 1900 the subj ct Of what provision
should ne made bv law 10 determine disputed
pre-ideniil elec tons ENGAGED the attention ~
''hGfrs-. me matter " q referred To com-
mittee CONSISTING q Messr-. Ross II Pennsy-
vfnii. ID ~ of MASSACHUSETTS,. Luuren .p II
New oik h. md LScrmore of New Hampshire.
Mr.. Ross as On rm n. rep irteu n hill, which
iassed the House. but win amendments IN
which the senate refused to concur: IL fuled
Tor h it reason rtis bill prescribed the qualid-
cations " Presidential electors. A committee.
to hr called THE Grand Cummittee." was rro,
Nidcd Tor, whose duty 10 WIS To he to canvass
ana count the votes ovened hv the Wee pre,i-
dent. Every petition which went t. show cor
rupt or Illegal conduct on the part of the elec.
tors themselye-, or Use OF IMPROPER means to In
nucnce their vOtes, or the falsitv If the returns
made by them, or irregularities In the time,
place or manner OF giving their votes. was to be
passed upon by the Grand Committee. But
there was provision limiting the powers OF TINS
committee wnicn seems to have met with no
dissent. IL WAS tns
Rorti,d That petition or exception shall b,
shall nave for ~. Object 10 dIsW INTO question the
hummer OF voes on which any eleCtOr shall
have been declared appointed
Now. although there is no theoretlc limit 70
the power of tue two Houses To take part IA the
count, l avn brought, is citlzeI. to last THIS
question : Ought not tnat to De tue ir ctic 1
limit now, beyond which neither House sh )uld
Euf
81 thnll Burke urged strong consideration
upon the british Parliament when he -aid tneV
should 40 tax tue American people iIst be-
Cause u mad never been done before. Govern
meht - practical mug l. would be imprtc-
ucdnle iOrdny sGcn trinun "A, Congress 10 settle
ali dlS utes a. To whether he ak million va es
cast Tor President were returned correctly. Inc
inquiry wonid he As extensive as the q ton. IL
u Gle that the Constitution gives power to the
Two Houses. tch Tor Itself. O. count the votes,
ana tht'. unless there 4. count Oy both elect
lns President. there Is no President elected.
but the giit OF "A over doesn't ALWAYS imi Is that
II III te justly, or even cOustitufiouhliy used
a. lar IS lie uriucille might e. nv IL. More es-
peCihliN ~ tins 60 when 10 carry the princiue To
~ ultimate \ ent would ne man iestly i'm r c.
uclble. ma must result As l have sid. either
III eva var or In % farce.
sen tor Bayafd met my views exactly when
he i'll tha', IN time Ike the present, he hated
the very name OF w.