The New York herald., 1876-12-04
Let Th.re Be No Trickery.

The democrats will only injure their party
if thew should undertake to offset fraudi
committed against them in Louisiana bJ
sharp practice and legal chicanery IN o'neA
States. This is no time for pettifogglng ex'
pedients. Anexpected dishonest jugsie oy
one party cannot excuse juggle by the
other The democrats will gain nothing DJ
disputing the right Ut the Electoral oolies'
in Oregon or vermont\to ell vacancies OF oy
other attempts to str1in tne INV asains'
equity and the know5 inten.lonS y 'ne
voters. Nor will fair-mi%ded citizehs coun-
tenance the rejection ofhe eNiSctoral votes OF
Nebraska or Colorado for some rHst'y over
sight or informality There was reas over
SIGHT in Nebrasu, the Governor havine
neo,ected 70 ;sae seasonable call foil
meetino of ae Legislature to COUNT
the electors votes, as required oy
the amendd constitution of the State.
This ;naTertence was pointed out to
him and he at once issued call, but too
late Il is feared, for all the members to
assemble next Wednesday. Yet quorum
can easiIy meet, and that would suffice. But
il is given out in some quarters that the
democratic members will prevent quorum
bv staying away. We do not credit the
rumor, Such desperate and dishonest
device would react against the democratic
party, and it would be vain trick as well
as dishonest one. The body would only
have to remain in continuous session until
republicans enough had come in to make
quorum for, in accordance with custom
and precedents, it would continue to be
Wednesday up to the hour of adjournment.
When Congress holds an all-night session
the business which is done on the next
morning or the next day is entered on the
journals without change Of date. The legls
lative day extends to an adjournment, ever
if it should include not merely two. bu:
three or four calendar days. No Legislative
body ever changes the date OF its journal
when the clock strikes midnight and new
calendar day begins. If it assembled on
Wednesday it continues to be Wednesday
in Legislative contemplation SO long as tho
House remains in continuous session with
out an adjournment. The same rule applies
to court of Justice when its sitting ruaS
into the next day, and would equally apply
to an Electoral College. 1t is said that the
votes of Colorado are to be disputed on the
ground that she has not been fully admitted
as State. We hope no such point will be
seriously raised for we are convinced that
there is nothing il it, and we detest all Mt
tempts to control the result by dishonorable
mnnnuvres.
If the democrats are cheated in Louisiana
let them make manly contest on that
ground. They will lose the respect of the
country if they attempt to overreach the
republicans of Nebraska, Colorado OF
Oregon because they have been themselvel
overreached in Louisiana. They shoulS
scorn to take unfair advantage, even if i
were in their power, of any State that is uns
doubtedly republican but simply insist ON
the right of the democratic States to have
their votes honestly counted. If the demo.
Gratis are to have the support of the country
in this crisis they must make no false issues,
but strenuously maintain their cause on the
solid ground of right and justice.