The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-20
THE PREsIDENTfAL PROBLEM.


WASHINGTON. Dec. 19.-when the House
OF Representatives adopted the proposition Of
special committee to act in CONJUNCTION with a
similar committee on tho part OF the Senate, to
devise measure for counting and determining
the votes for President and Vice. President, an
earnest was given Of an honest desire to solve
the present problem fairly and peaceably. The
Judiciary Committee reported the resolution
promptly, and only changed the number Of the
committee from ave to seven.
On the part OF tho majority OF tho House, no
doubt is entertained that Mr.. Tilden was elected
on the 7th Of November. and that every one Of
the three States which have been disputed
since then and transferred to Mr.. Gayes by
fraud, voted for him. Still, they were willing to
abide by the Investigations which are now going
on, and to satisfy the public mind, that their
conviction Ia fully justified.
Mr.. Edmunds's resolution In the Senate respon-
sive to this plan, though 1t ostensibly adopts the
main Idea, Is bound up IN restricted terms which
admit Of very wide departure from the House
proposition. That Is to say, conditions may be
imposed and technical requirements cxacted,
which would defeat any agreement as to the
mode of procedure, and separate the two Houses
more widely than they now are.
What the country wishes and expects at this
time, Ia an honorable ms thod Of determining the
Presidential question. aud no sharp practice,
trickery, or smart advantage on either side.
without asserting that Mr.. Edmunds intended
TO do ANYTHING questionable, his resolution 10
open to a criticism, which 1t Is to be hoped may
not be sustained by the result hereafter.
II anxiety be entertained on this point 1t IL
certainly authorized by the action of Mr.. Ed
munds himself. On the very first day Of the
session he introduced a series OF resolutions
with a long preamble, calculated to complicate
the existing difficulties and TO raise questions
which had not before been suggested by any
BODY For example, he says:
Waereds. alleged that in several States. and par.
cul.ry In the states OF south Carolina Georgia FLOR
male habitant. g vote a, the late elections ter
states, aud for Representative in Congress has been
denied or greatly aoCdsed therefore
tons be instructed TO Inquire aud report
l. Whether in any OF the elections named In said
amendnent Che oureenth) In said states In the
ant, snd citizens to vote as sicresai has Seen ia any
wise denied or abridged, &C.
Mr.. Ednunds did not inform the Senate by
whom these charges were alleged" No
memorial petition was before tho Senate
making any such allegation. lie. therefore.
stood sponsor personally for "it Is alleged"
The evident purpose OF this movement on the
surface was to lay the foundation for thro wing
out votes in the Electoral College by a process
not materially different from that adopted by
the Returning Boards.
An Interior Object, which with all the care OF
Mr. Elmunds is only partially concealed. /. con
templated by this revolutionary resolution. and
that Is 10 count out certain number Of Demo-
Gratis In the next House Of Reorese natives. and
thus give a majority to the Republicans, which
body both the Senate and Hayes, II he Is carried
into the White House by the Returning Boards.
would recognize over the IL ouse chosen by the
people. by this mode the Republicans propose
to get control of the public purse and Of all
legislation In the Forthwith Congress.
These facts are not encouraging for a solution
of tue Presidential problem by cooperation OF
the senate. A formidable faction in that body
propose to violate all the precedonts aud their
own consistency by Investing the President pro
tcmp0rc with power to open and to count the
votes. They threaten to disregard the presence
Of the House, II necessary to the conspiracy. and
to tire l. a. mere witness OF a spectacle, with
out the least authority to decide any question
affecting the result.
Washing ton was declared President In the FIRST
instance by a resolution OF the Congress OF the
Confederation. The neN Government had not
been organized. The Senate was without a
Vice-President, because his election had yet to
be declared. There was no opposition to " ash-
ington, and therefore mere Formally was
needed - announce the States and the number
of votes by which he was chosen. John Lang don
was made President OF the Senate for tho sole
purpose Of opening aud counting the votes Tor
President Of the United States"
At the next election in 1893, and from that
time forward. the votes have been uniformly
counted oy tellers Of the two Houses appointed
for that purpose. The President OF the Senate
on no occasion aud under no circumstances
ever attempted to do anything nj ore than open
all the certificates" In lst5 this practice was
formalIled by the twenty second rule, which
excluded the seeding States from the count,
and cut OF debate In either House. after the
joint convention separated to decide a disputed
question. In all other RESPECTS the uniform
US ,ge was observed.
II l. plain, therefore, whether the twenty
second rule exists or not, that If the precedent
for elehty-three years Is worth anything, the
Senate aud tue House OF Representatives must
count and decide the votes given for President
aud Vice President. rte President pro tenn. OF
the senate is a creature of one body, and Is lin
ited IN his functions by the Constitution. II no
should assume to open one SCI II certificates.
instead OF al the certificates" rs IS plainly
commanded, or to count the votes irrespective
OF the House OF REPRESENTATIVES, or to decide
upon his own assumption OF authority. he would
be guilty Of gross usurpatiou which could not
be tolerated.
While, therefore, there is no absolute neces-
sity for any new action IN this matter, the House
acted wisely In rendering the olive branch to
the Senate 10y proposing mode Of agreement SO
"a to remove all cayil. IL the senate should
finally fail to answer IN the same spirit, ny rails
ing NJ new complications, the responsibility
can easily he fixed.
Her Pedigree.
To THE EDITOR OF TuE SUN-Sir. Mrs.
Santa Claus is the daughter Of Punch and Judy.
Strange to say, she was tall aud slim, and re-
markedly beautiful, therefore entirely different
from ma or pa Puncn. a great many wears ago
she was married and helped santa TO distribute
Christmas gif4. Alas, one unlucky Chri.tmas
eve, she WAS Just about to jump INTO The sleigh
drawn Toy reindeers, thit were impatient 70 start.
They flew oil before Santa gave ms whistle,
and poor Mrs. santa Claus was knocked down,
and the sleigh ran over nose.
The result was that her nose swelled To an