The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-12-16
MR.. RANDALL'S CONSISTENCY.

NIX. RANDALL'S CONSlSIENCl.
When Mr.. Samuel Jones Tilden, the
late Democratic candidate for the Presi-
dencv, conceived and suggested the
Oregon plan to secure that missing
electoral vote, his obedient party fol-
lowers readily accepted it as the last
desperate move upon the political chess
board on which the game for the Presi-
dency was being played. Holding the
idea that every thing is fair in politics
as well as in war, and having no ma
tional record to plague or bother him,
the elder Samuel gave little thought or
consideration to the regulations Of his
political Sancho Panzas, thinking posi-
bly, that very many of them had at best
but little character to forfeit either for
consistency or for political honesty. In
this latter category stands the other
Samuel, who, from the dignilied posi-
ton of the Speakers desk, executes the
commands and does the bidding of the
Grammercy Park plotter. Although
directly at variance with his previously
expressed opinions on the floor of Con
gress, and urged with his characteristic
pertinacity when party" interests were
involved, yet to-day Mr. Samuel j. Ran
dali, easily forgetful of his "record,"
seeks to commit his party to a course
as unjustifable as it is disgraceful. He
and his followers rely upon the vote of
Cronin, the pseudo elector of Oregon,
to make up the requisite majority to
elect Mr.. Tiden President. In the face
of the fact that the House of Repre-
sentatives has frequently ignored TIE
doctrine which the Democratic mana
gers, under the personal leadership of
Mr. Randall, now seek to establish as
final in the Oregon issue, vet neverthe-
iesss, the Philadelphia statesman, with
an inconsistency as amazing as it refresh
ing, now seriousl V announces his belief
in the justice and constitutionaltv of
the claims of MINORITY candidates.
This question, fortunately for the peace
of the nation, but unfortunately for the
deeply-laid schemes of these political
consprators, the House of Representa-
tves has definitely settled In the Forty
first Congress the case ofWalace against
Simpson of the Fourth South Carolina
district involved this question. The issue
was distinctly raised and in all respects
analogous to the case of the contesting
Oregon elector, the House deciding, by
an overwhelming vote, that where votes
are cast for an ineligible candidate they
are NOT null and void to the extent of
giving the Office to the candidate of the
opposite side having the highest num-
Der of votes. In the case referred to,
Simpson was elected to Congress as
Democrat, having received at the cleo
ton then just held, about one-thrd more
votes than were cast for his Republi-
can competitor. He was ineligible as a
Representative on account of political
disability, which had not been removed.
His opponent (Wallace) claimed that, in
consequence of Simpsons ineligibility,
the votes cast for him were null and
void, and that he (Wallace) was emit
tied to the seat For the investigation
of the case a subcommittee of the Gen
eral Committee on Elections was ap-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. Cessna.
of Pennsylvania, Hale, of Maine, and
PanGall, of Pennsylvania. After an
examination of the case, Mr.. Cessna
reported in favor of the claim of Wal
lace upon the ground stated, from which,
however, both Mr.. Hale and Randall
dissented When the case was pre-
SCutod W tHc IIouoc vi liiiS uutSllOu vi
minority representation, Mr.. Randall
delivered himself of this honest opin-
ion: " AS has been truthfullv said by
"my associate on the committee, Mr.
Cessna, DISSENT from the first propo-
sition, which he makes in this report
that Mr.. Simpson being ineligible, the
"votes cast for him are null and void
"and that, therefore, the candidate that
received the next highest number of
"votes should be admitted. The gen
"tleman making this report gives US no
American authority or precedent to
"sustain his position. He relies en-
tirely upon English presidents. Now
81 maintain that in the formation of
"the American Congress there is no
analogy to the constitution of the
British Parliament. The latter is
formed as it were on an aristocratic
" basis of suffrage. The American Con-
SresS rests, may say, on universal
" suffrage" Here it will be seen that
Mr.. Randall takes the most decided
ground against HIS OWN present theory,
so consoling to the average Democrat
looking Oregonwards, that the minority
candidate is entitled to the Office when |
the majority candidate is disqualified
The opinion then held by him was shared
in by all his Democratic colleagues
all Of whom SO went upon the record !