The New York herald., 1876-12-26
THE PRESIDENTIAL MIDDLE.

FAILURE OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE SYSTEM
FROM AN ENGLISH sTANDPoINT-rHE PoPU-
LER MAJORITY DEFEATEp-TRIBUTE TO THE
LAw-ADIDING SPIRIT CT THE AMERICAN PEo-
PIE
From the London Times Dec ~
II the constitution OF the ulicd States still he
delicate machin which It's authors intended set
ing, and which they hoped would survive the cum
brous institutions OF the Old World. yesterday would
have witnessed the real OF the chief executive
officers OF the Union. The ..clcctors" who
chosen the 7th OF November by tho popular vote.
were informally, though strictly, pledged to support
the candidates OF their respective parties in
the formal balioting OF yesterday. According
to the text OF the constitution the chosen
electors .shail meet in their respective States and
by ballot for President and Vice President, one OF
whom least shall not DO inhabitant Of the
State with themselves they shall name IN their bal
lots the person voted for President and in distinct
ballots the person voted Tor Vice President, and
they shall make disnc, lists OF all persons voted for
President and all persons voted Vice Pres.
dent Of Tie number Of Tor each which liss
they shall and certify and transmit sealed TO tho
OF the government OF the United states, di-
recied the President OF the Senate.n This
the business Tor which the electors met yesterday
and We know, from The written testimony OF tho
statesmen who framed the constitution and s earlier
amendments, that II beieved the electors would
their experience and mature wisdom 10 make tho
best choice oil the new Executive The people, II was
supposed, would choose the electors and the electors
would vote for tho Presidential candidates without any
ulterior views OF party advantage. But the people
and tho electors alike have iallen bondagct TO
party. II ordinary American c.tizen desrous
4 month ago OF taking any active part in tho
politics OF his country, he had alternative
but 10 vote for electoral tickets" concocted by
the grsa, party convcn,onsi and the members Of
the Electoral Coilcgc whom placed
power, bound 10 cast thor ballots either Mr..
Hayes ana Mr Wheeler, or Tor Mr.. Tilden and Mr..
ua..lr lrtcE. Nklt Ia
dinary circumstances deprive the ballot OF yesterday
Of us chei interest," but the Character Of the present
contest has been such as To coniouud all theories
founded upon precedent aud usage.
DASGKE
We must not be- understood TO that there Is any
danger 0 civil war III the United States Not only is
there distinct development OF the orderly and
law-abidins temper even among the white people
OF the Southern states, but also the dividing line
which would make civil war practical posi-.
biiisy does not exist. The supporters Of Mr.. rden
mixed up with those OF Mr. Hayes all through the
North West well the South, and II the latter
numerous IN pcnnsylvania and Ono, the for
mer prevail IN New York and Indiana Ii would be
Impossible TO divide the Northerners into armed
camps upon any political quarrel and unless the South.
crners display extraordinary imprudence there viii ba
But though civil war Is not among the perils which
gcnces scarcey less formidable which be dis.
regarded. II Mr.. Hayes had, in TACT, majority OF
the votes IN the Electoral College which were cast by
ballot yesterday, Is nearly certain that the demo-
will attempt to break down that majority when
the President OF the Senate counts the votes the
of the Senate, Mr. Ferry, Will insist 1t Is supposed,
thai he ana be alone, has right the votes.
aud that the houses OF Congress have only the right
to look on But the constitution says only that
President OF the Senate shall, in presence Of the
Senate and House OF Representatives open all the
ticates, and the votes shall then be counted"iti Ia
expressly stated by whom. Hitherto Congress has
asserted Its authority over tho counting, but now i
Is understood tnat tho majority IN the Senate will
rcpudiae the claim. The House OF Representatives
viii not less strenuously MAINTAIN It, and acting upon
the which enforced ut the last election. will
demand the rejection of the votes from Louisiana and
Florida
POSSIBILITY OF COMPLICATIONS.
Should the President OF tho Senate decline to recog.
nize demand, most probable he VIII counts
majority for Mr. Hayes and declare him President
elect But the House Of Representatives will insist
nted, aud that, therefore, as didate has
majority OF the appointed electors, the nomination
control majority Of the State representation IN the
House, and would declare Mr.. Tilden the Presi-
dent elect In that event there would be two claim
Tor the Presidency, each with iar constitutional
title w hat would be the issue OF their rivalry? AS
have said do moi believe in the possibility Of
civil war; and II General Grant chooses he may place
Mr Hayes In power three months hence without any
resort to bayoncts 10 Mr.. Tllden, however, the
democrats would look as the legitimate President OF
the Republic, and probably there would be organ.
lzed resistance to what wonld bc denounced as .
usurpation. In the House Of Representatives
democratic majority might seriously embarrass the
government by refusing the supplies; and without the
Of tho House neither the President the
Senate could constitutionaliy raise cent Tor the pub
lie service For months. perhaps, the strife might be
prolonged to the detriment OF American credit and
the risk OF explosion OF impatience and indgna-
tion among the restless populations oil the South. III
any way De found by which the victory might DO
conceded to Mr. Tlden, many Of the most patriotic
republicans willing we feel convinced, to forego
doubtful and heeting party gain from regard 10 the
ercsts the country But It Is to be feared that
the politicians though they practice moderation IN
Speech still reckless in the active pursuit Of their