Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1876-12-08
Arbitrement.

OOhTuS cOuiu make IL So the people VIII how
look to Congress, as the highest legislative
body in the land, to redress their wrongs. In
this connection we venture some suggestions
as 10 how that body will probably proceed in
handling the matter.
One of the probable results OF the election of
Mr.. Randall as the Speaker OF the House OF
Representatives is resolute maintenance by
himself and tho Democratic members Of that
body of the doctrine that the twenty second
joint rule is still in force, aud that by virtue
of its provisions either branch OF Congress has
the right to throw out the electoral vote of
any State. Mr.. Randall has announced his
belief that the rule in question is still in force
mainly On the ground that il has never been
formally repealed; while many Republicans,
and especially Republican Senators, contend
that The rule has become a dead-letier on ac-
count Of the failure of Congress TO re-enact it
Mt the last session. A few Republican mem
bers of the House are mentioned rs advocates
Of the theory favored by Mr.. Randall, while
some Of the Democratic members of the Senate
are alleged TO be supporters Of The opposite
doctriae.
At the present writing the indications are
that the decision of the presidential struggle
will hinge on the conclusion finally reached in
reference to the question of parliamentary law
at issue. II each body exercises rights similar
to those they were authorized to exercise in
connection with the count of the electoral vote
Of 1868 and 1872, the presumption is that the
House will throw out the vote Of either South
Carolina, Louisiana or Florida unless the Sem
ate, in the exercise OF like prerogative, should
conclude to throw out the electoral vote of
either North Carolina, Kentucky, or Missis-
sippi, or all those States.
On previous occasions the House threw out
the vote of Louisiana because intimidation had
been exercised the vote of Georgia. because
1t was cast for Horace Greeley, after his death,
and the vote of Arkansas, on account of in
formality in the returns. The allegations of
rregulariiy, improper influences or false
counting have become so numerous since the
oloseness of the present contest was discovered
that If purely partisan considerations prevail
the Senate can make serious inroads upon The
ton be performed by the House upon the cleo
toral vote that will presumably be cast for the
Republican candidates.
1t may be conteuded by the House, for in
stance, that defects on the Republican electoral
tickets in Vermont Rhod de Island and Oregon,
caused by the nomination OF electors who held
Federal Offices, have not been corrected that
alleged Irregularities ia Nebraska are fatal
and that the popular votes in South Carolina
Florida and Louisiana have been miscounied
by the canvassing boards in those States OBJ
jections may also be made to the electoral vote
Of Colorado. The Senate, on the other hand
may allege that the nomination of Democratic
electors who either hold positions connected
with the Federal Government or who are dis
qualified by participation in the rebellion is n
sufficient cause for rejecting the returns from
some OF the Democratic States; the theory
that the law Of North Carolina requires the
ballots for electors in that commonwea lth to |
be written, while in fact they were all printed,
may be urged as " fatal objection to her re-
turns; the alleged practice of voting in Ken
lucky orally merely for Tiden and Hendricks
electors or Hayes and Wheeler electors, in
stead of mentioning the name of each elector
specifically, may be adduced as reason for
rejecting the entire vote of that State; while |
the existence of terrorism in Mississippi may
be put forward as the pretext for ignoring her
electoral college.
If it should be mutually agreed that the
tweniy-second rule Is still in force, or if that
rule should be formally re-enacted, ample op-
portuniies would be afforded to freely indulge
In the counting in or counting out either of
the presidential and vice presidential candi-
dates.
Should the powers conferred by the twenty
second rule be exercised at all, it will probably
be done with great caution, taking care that
the pretexts assigned for throwing ont returns
from any State shall not merely be technical
but such as would command the approval Of
any intelligent and impartial tribunal, as
otherwise bitter feelings might be eng ndered |
Should there be any disagreement by both
Houses as TO whether The Twenty second rule |
is still in force or not, il may possibly be ad- |
justed by committee of conference failing
in this another contingency will arise. Here
iofore il has been the practice of the members |
Of the Senate 10 enter the hall of the House at |
the time the electoral vote is counted If this |
precedent is followed in February, it is con-
tended that the Senate will he placed at dis |
advantage in the prospective or conjectural |
parliamentary struggle, arising out OF the right |
OF the Speaker of the House to control the |
rgeant-at-Arms, and even 10 order the SEN
ators out of the hall of the House of Represent
atives il an exciting contest ensues. In view |
of this in few quarters the suggestion is fav-
cred that the Senate should insist upon having |
the electoral vote counted in its own chamber. |
But we have every confidence in the ability of |
the House TO successfully compete with the
willy agoRistes, and to finally triumph over
these enemies TO good government
FoLITIcs AND THE GosPEL.-In several of the
churches in Baltimore on Sunday last the pre-
sent political situation was made the special
subject of discourse by the ministers thereof,
enc in particular, Rev. W. 7. d. Glenn, pas-
tor Of the Jefferson street NJ L, Church,
preaching in rampant manner from the text
" Righteousness exalteth nation, but sin Is