, 1876-10-23
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES

COUNTING THE ELECTORAL VOTES.
JEaE l}LAo9's revolutionary atlvico to tho
Confederntes Of South Carolina to withdraw
thoir ticket, though utterly impracticable
evon for tho infamous purpose for which 1t
WIS designed, Inns served to draw Intention
to the alarming political danger tint will pre-
sont itself IN caso tho ponling Presidential
election shall turn upon tho vote Of single
State, mud thero bo two Electoral tickets in
TINT State each claiming to have been chosen.
Notwithstanding Senator MonToN's efforts to
arouse tho Congress to sense Of tho notable
tofcct Of tho Constitution md 1aws relative
to tho count of tho Electoral yote,-efIorts
that he l1as removed from time to timo avor
since the Presidential voto Of 1872,-no.hing
has boen done; indeed, by dropping tho
twenty joint rulo adopted in 1865,
and under which tho votes Of 1868 aud 1879
wero counted, there il oven less syatom than
ever, aud Congress falls back upon tho
letter Of tho Constitution (Twelfth Amend
ment}. which makes tho opening and count
ing Of the Electoral votes nero clerical
labor. Yet the joint rulo in forco during
tho last two counts was notably unfair md
probably unconstitutional, since 1t enabled
either House Of Congress, for more partisan
roasoua md by it's single objection, to dis
franchise tho people Of my State in the
Union, md treat them Us II no election llad
boon held. Such rule could be improved by
the prosont Democratic House to throw out
sufficient Republican States to transfcr the
Presidential election to their own keeping,
and insure tho choice Of Democratic Prcsi-
dent Tho only rulo now in force ia ;" the
constitutional provision that the President of
the Senate shall, in tho presence of tho
souase and House OF Representatives,
opou MI tho certificates, aud tho votes
shall then bo countod," Now tho danger
Is, that, from South Carolina we will aay,
there may bo two certi1cntos from two
Electoral bodies, each olaiming to have been
appointed by the people. There il no pro-
yision III tho Constitution or laws enabling
Congress- or any other tribunal to determine
between tho two. Herein is the danger.
II tho Confederate party wore as devoted
to tile Union ~ tho Republican party, such
n case might oxcita dissonsion, but would not
threaten revolution. As it is, VIC have had
abundant evidence that tho Confcdcratca aro
determined 10 carry tho day at every haznrtl.
Having decided to carry thrco OF four
Southern States for T1LpEs by intimidation
and violence, they will scarcely hoaitato to
enforce the count Of any Electoral votes
which they ,nny claim under this policy.
Congress will not convene until after tho
election, nor until after it shall DO known
whether tho choice for President will depend
u f,n&,r
sets OF Electors Of ono or moro States. IT it
shall prove to TO so close, Tho Confederate
House will probably refuse to agreo to any
fair rule or arbitration, and the strifo that
will grow out Of the situation cannot bo tlca-
nitely estimated. It is earnestly to DO hoped
that tho langor ,nay bo avorted by tho choice
being no decided rs not to rest upon the vote
of any Stato In dispute; but. in contemplate
lug tho possibility Of such a situation, the
only practicable way that suggests itself now
III for each 6tnto to contest within ita own
boundaries my dispute rs to tho result, and
for Congress to bind itself to. tho count of
such Electoral votes NJ shall bo properly cer-
titled by the Governors Of tho several Htatea.
1nsleeti, Congress- has 10 authority to go be-
yonu this. 1t inny not ntop to Inquire
into tho alItorior ca1lses OF tho dissension In
nuy State, or tho claims Of any contcsting set
Of Electors, but has simply tho perfunotory
duty OF opcuing aud counting thu votes that
come toitproperly certified. There should bo
universal willingness on The part OF botl.
parties in Congress to agrca to tls whilo tho
result IL yet uncertain, 10 TINT tho tenlpta-
tion OF close vote shall not develop dispo.