The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-15
THE GREAT REPUBEICAN CON-
SPIR.ICY.

SOU OF other the leaders OF the DemoC-
cracy here, particularly In the senate,
seem slow to comprehend the scope Of the pol.
Icy inaugurated by the Republicans in that
body. The view " that policy, currently accept
ed IN Democratic circles "a that the senate has
set about investigating the recent elections in
five Southern States merely for the purpose of
| making partisan reports to Offset reports Of a
similar character which, II Is presumed. the COM
mittees Of the House will make In the other di-
rection. This view fails to cover the real design
Of the Senate tsppbcins. Their programme
IS vastly more comprehensive than the mere
formulation OF reports for the purpose Of at
fecting popular sentiment. 1t contomplates
nothing less than to lay the foundation OF new
scheme Of reconstruction, which, while inci
dentally involving some features Of the old plan.
Will differ from the latter IN one essential. This
essential T. that the new scheme VI roconstruc-
ton resolved upon by tine Senate does not pro-
pose Federal interference with tho Governments
Of the states In matters pertaining 10 local at
fairs solely. but assumes the right u supervision
that is to say, Senators and Repres entatiyes in
Congress-
The readers OF TnE SUS will remember that
the text Of senator Edmunds' a resolution. under
which the subcommittee OF the Committee
on Elections are now acting directed the
examination to be 80 conducted to as ascertain
whether, in those elections the C1nstltu-
ton Of the United states had been violated.
The theory of Mr.. Edmunds and his followers
who embrace. with one or two exceptions, the
entire Republican force ia the Senate, Is that
the self preserv4tivc powers OF the Federal Con-
st>Iton involve the right Of either branch OF
Congress to act concurrenty with the Executive
in the event Of the other branch violating or
sustaining violations Of that instrument They
hold that the House Of Representatives Is now
engaged IN sustaining or abetting certain states
which, or citizens OF which. have violated tho
Constitution at the late election. These viola
uons, a. understood by senator Elmunls and
his followers, consist in denying to certain citi-
gems Of the United states the right TO vote for
Representa- in Congress, and In abrids cling
that right by intimidation, ~. They hold that
Mississippi Alabama, North Carolina, and South
Car lima were carried by the Democrats in "a
manner and by methods which constitute ylO-
| ation II the Federal Constitution and tho
| amendments thereto. And lastly they hold
| and this IS the practical end ami aim of their
whole scheme-tnat the Senate AM the Exccl-
tive are bound by their oaths to support tue
Con tuition. to refuse 10 recognize as legally
constituted House Of Representatives. IT,
which the Democratic members returned from
those districts may be allowed seats.
The subcommittee II the Senate Committee
ON Elections nave begun their work, aud the
full committee will probably not be- ready to
make rs report until very near the 4th Of March.
That report will reelte that in ten, ami perhap.
twelve Congressional Districts in the states
have name J, Representatives were chosen in ST
olaton Of the Federal Constitution; that those
Repre- .entatves arr not entitled to seat in Con-
erets, aud tn any House which my admit
them 90 seats is not entitled to recognition by
the senate and The Executive as the legal House
Of Representatives Of the Federal Congress.
The effect Of this scheme is at once apparent.
Counting these ten or twelve members whom
the senate has selected for slaughter in this
manner, the Democrats cannot have more than
seven OF eight majority in the mex: House. II,
upon the organic alton OF that body, all the Re
! publican members withdraw, leaving only the
Democrats, aud II Of the number Of d smocr,ts
ten or twelve are declared to nave been elected
| In violation OF the Constitution, and hence not
entitled to Sc att, the remainder, whose right to
seats is not questioned, will not constitute g
quorum Therefore, according to the pro-
enmme of Eimunls anl hi, followers, the
Democrats In the House Of the Forty afth Com
gress Will be unable To organize tAat body 50
as 10 secure the recognition OF the senate
and the Executive. But tho Republicans will
refuse 10 join tine Democrats in organizing tn,
House. They will orsanlze House Of thei
own aud seat enough members from these dis
trcs TO give them quorum, whether the,
have certificates # election or not. And mi
tue new Executive, who, having been counted f.
by fraud, shall have boon in.ueuratcd by force
The remMndorofthe programme occ'me- set
-u-sestINe when We take INTO account the pro
cccdtnss Of the Repuoucln party tJr the ia,t ter
year. TIE Republican House, as recognized b,
the Senate and the Executive, wi, ue placed 9.
possession Of the la! 2t Representatives, 3
necessary 10y military force. he Democrats
,hat is 10 ray ,hat portion IL them who will D
recognized boy the senate AMI the Executive "a
entitled to seats, will be permitted 10 enter IA
hall, but the ten or twelve Southern member
who are 30 be designated by tho Senate as h4y
ing been returned IN violation Of tine Con.titu
ton, by intimidation, &c, Will be excluded
And. if necessary a Bris1dier-GcuerM VIII Il
on hand 90 act as Doorkeeper.
1 haya only to add that the above is not mer
conjecture. It is an exact statement of lnfol
nation that have received from Republican
who is IN position to ascertain the designs q
nj, colleagues IN the caucus, but who does no