The New York herald., 1876-11-23
A 'NEST-EGG OF REVOLUTION.

~.
ST. LOUIS Nov. 10, 1876
A 'NEST-EGG OF REVOLUTION.
From the Evening Post OF yesterday
We disposed to treat lightly yesterday tho
scheme for the election OF President by the House Of
Representatives upon ITS responsibility, without
regard to the OF the electors appointed by tho
several States and without regard To the proceedings
OF the Senate It's presiding officer But Mr. Clarkson
n Potter considers the scheme seriously and with
evident coveiction that It will ba adopted by the demo
cratic leaders in certain contingencies The ability
and experience OF Mr. Potter VIII attention for
anything he may have TO upon public affairs. Be-
side, he is man prominent and influential in the
democratic party, and was the choice of probably 4
majority OF its members for Governor alter the de-
ci,naton of Mr.. Seymour. II Is believed that nothing
but untimcly speech IN support o. cx-
trcme State rights prevented his nomination
at Saratoga sim important is tho
belief held In some quarters, that he repre-
the views OF Governor rilden. The HERALD,
which publishes his letter that he speaks for
Mr.. Tildcn. We prefer to believe differently; but
whatever doubt exists upon the subject viii
the interest with which the letter will be read.
We shall follow Mr. Potter through his review OF
Louisiana politics his criticism upon the character
and conduct OF the men by whom the government Of
that State unfortunately has been controlled. We
shall not examine just now his construction OF the
constitution in respect to tho counting OF the electoral
votes his application of preccdents in the case
What refer to nos IS the remedy which he pro-
poses Tor the wrong which hc takes for granted Is
about TO be done. This Is the gist OF it,
The constitution mas poyasa or no person or body to
a h " y c NO 70 G or
withhold syh 70 aSge o. mat ass ea. has
gem sn ng for As the
the electoral vote. tho House must necessarily know
xyID Lhert
does not require notification Of The fact
Be- Ss 50 properly committed 's to 1hs
S9a Of the 20 Specially %
people and those members a those connected @ with the
asn ,ss w r sS ." Of
FUNCTION o. desermnins for itself the oseasoa when il
he lawfully eyec.ed and having therefore the an
chosen by the electors or not and 4 not then itself
The President when the House Of Representatives
thus choose.
This is in substance tho plan tor securing Pres
idents to which we referred yesterday Dir. Potter
makes no allowance for anything which the senate may
do which the President OF the Senate, who is put
by the constitution into tho foreground OF the pro-
ceedlngs, may do. This responsible officer might de-
clare that President had been duly elected, but Mr.
Potter would have the House 60 and elect another
President Tho Senate might differ with tho House
to whether not there had been an election but Mr.
Potter would have the House 20 on aud hold another
election all tho same He makes allowance Tor what
the electors appointed by the States under the author
ity OF the constitution. may d. lie does indeed hnt at
the possibility OF two certificates from Louisiana
the contesng ono TO be signed by Governor McEnery
but 1t cannot be pretended that McEnery would have
even any color OF right 10 give such certificate
There might not be entering wedge for objection
TO the formal regularity OF any returns IRON any State
but Mr.. Potter would have the House st go and
elect a President the face OF these returns. He
therefore puts the House-tho popular branch of Con-
grcss as It Is called the OF the national
rather than the federal thcoryabovc the only federal
officer to whom the constii uton in terms gives any
control OF the returns. Ho puts 1t above tho
Senate which directly represents the States. He
puts 1t above the States and their reserved
privileges which the constitution and the
course Of our political history admonsh
to respect matter how dssasteul to may be the
paryo the persons controlling those States
clsng those PRIVILEGES THIS s = curious pestion TO
The remedy which Mr. Potter proposes 10 apply is
contradiction of the argument by which he leads to
IT, HIS argument is that the President OF the Senate
mere Instrument in the proceedings which are
cal functions provided for he says, must be dis
charged BY Congress Congress really counts the
this, he says, each house has equal rights;
each has the right TO object; the Two
houses must concur in any steps which are
taken But when tho most important function is to
be discharged, when what may be called the supreme
judicial act is to be DONE when judgment upon all tho
proceedings is to be pronounced when tho question
who has been elected or whether there has been AN
election at all arises, Mr. Potter orsnkcs his line OF
argument he comedies right to the Senate he says
nothing about concurrence oil the two houses;
but he makes the House OF Representatives the sole
judge he gives to u the exclusive exercise o judicial
whole theory and practice OF our government II Is not
surprising that he contradlcts himself
We shall refuse 10 believe, except upon the very
best evidence that Governor Tilden shares Mr. Pot
ter's views We prefer to believe that he viii not IN
emoa'e TINS mes, egg "r revolu'1n we preier 20 be-
the SUM- There is no room to doubt the sincerity aud
hcartiness OF its advocacy OF tho democratic cause
before and since the election The Sun says that the
result OF the election, il shall be ascerfained from
the regular electoral certificates Of the sevaraI States
must acquiesccd in and II promises '.depreeate
tves looking to any dispute OF the regular electoral
certificates from any of the Stalcsn This is orderly
and according to common sense.
Whatever remedy there may be for any wrong done
in Louisiana any other State revolution Will not be
tolerated as a roncdy for an instant. In this
In others prevention is better than cure Tho best
way TO treat the wrong 10 use every available ntu
TO avert IT, Let the full force OF public opinion
be brought to bear upon the canvassng officers In the
doubtful States to induce them to act honestly aud to
character which shall satisfy the people that they
have acted honestly On the other hand let 1: not be
taken Tor granted that they intend to act dishonesty
II any OF them should defy public opinion. II
they should act dishonesty, there IS remedy
to which we look forward with clear faith. We do
not believe that Governor Hayes will accept the Prcsi
dency II IT shall be secured ior him by any questiona
BILE means. He has said that he would TO gam
the Office by trick. We have no doubt that Il il
should be awarded him by fraud in Louisiana or any.
where else he would, without the loss Of day, mako
known his refusal TO accept IT, His conduct Is In
comfortable contrast with the revolutionary OF
the democrats We have as little doubt that rcpubli-
cans are almost unanimous in their agreement
W." "o's'No' ~" 'h'' supJcS. ~
all events, II Is significant that threats
Of violence revolution come IRON republicans. All
such plars have democratic origin. We know that
there republicans who would give the Presidency
TO the democrats ten times rather than IL
for themselves by unworthy methods, or in securing
1t involve the country strife and anarchy II Is
be wished that there were signs OF like spirit
ofpatriotc selfsacriice among the democrats
Now that the name of Governor Tilden has been
used to give weight aud importance to a dctcstable
scheme hope that he will crush M> Poters revo-
lutonary nest egg promptly ard eiectuay.