The Tipton advertiser., 1876-11-23

There are some very unviss and
very foolhardy persons belonging to
both political parties who are talking
and writing with much vehenence Of
having the election Of President de-
cided by blood These people insis,
that the vote Of Louisiana shall be
counted for Tilden, if every Democra,
In the country must take his musket !:
Others that il must be counted for
Hayes. even il the var hae to be fought
all over again. All this Is extremely
incendiary and is altogether unneee--
xary.
The result In Louisiana i. as yet un-
known to any one. Each side h2s
only been able to estimate what the
refurns will be when received When
the time shall come that all the facts
are known, the country will have no
difficulty in reaching pretty unani-
mous judgment upon this question.
and that Judgment will be that the re-
suit declared shall be the fair and hon.
est one indicated by the saets-
Here, hoEe-e., : presented another
instance of how the weaknesses and
defects Of our Constitution are deveI-
oT-d. -ev-nty--ix year, ago the then
comparatively infant Republic Wa
threatened with civil war and disrnem-
berrnent BY an altogether unexpected
combination Of circumstances in the
choice OF President. At that time the
Presidential Electors voted for two
men for President, and the one having
tie greatest number Of votes was se-
iected President and the one receiving
the next highest number was Vice
President. BY an arrangement among
the friends Of the successful party, one
Of the Electors Was selected who voted
for third person instead of the party
candidate, thus leaving a difference
between the total vote OF the persons
intended for President and Eice-Presi-
dent. At the election in 1875 John
Adams got Il votes out of the 140
Electoral votes, and became President,
and Thomas Jefferson got e8, and was
declared Vice-President. At the cleo
ton in 1890 Jefferson was the Demo-
cratic candidate for President and
Aaron Burr for Vice-Presidcnt; and
John Adams for President and c. G.
Pinckney for Vice-President, were the
candidates Of the Federalists. The
Electoral vote stood: jefferson, q
Burr, 73; Adams, 81; Pinckney, "a
Jay, |. Whether by accident or in
trigue, Burr received an equal vote
with Jefferson. The Federalists in
the House Of REPRESENTATIVES, intent on
defeating Jefferson, abandoned their
own candidate to vote for Burr. JEFF
ferson got the vote OF eight States,
Burr six, and two States Vermont
and Maryland1 were divided and voted
blank. The country was terribly ex-
cited, and threats of war and violence
We're general. The House began voting
on Feb. IL, 1901, and continued in ses-
sion several days. Neither side would
yield. Some ofthe Federalists declared
their purpose adams being then
President) to declare Burr elected and
install him in Office, and it was threat
ened on the other side that, if this were
done, they would organize the States
and make war upon the usurper
After seven days continued session,
the interests of peace prevailed over
the madness Of party, and Vermont
and Maryland yielded, and voted for
Jefferson, who was then elected, Burr
becoming Vice-President. The danger
to the national peace being thus made
clear, the mode of voting for President
and Vice-Pre=ident was changed TO the
present system, which st the end OF
seventy-six years has developed
weakness which again threatens the
peace of the country.
There Is no provision in the Consti-
luton for contested election. The
by Jha s5.xae authorities il
BECAUSE Of the absence Of any law,
final. 1t was so intended to be, the
Of fraud or illegality not
having been contemplated. Congress
~ no authority in the premices. 1t
. required by law to be in session on
he second Wednesday in February,
rhich day the President Of the Senate
hall open the certificates OF the sew
MI Boards Of Electors, count the
otes and declare the result. That is
1 that Congress has to do in the
after, unless there he tie, or a
ilurc Of either candidate to receive
In which case the House
IN prucsed to elect . President. 20
ult Of tl,st kind Is possible in this
Ie. Thare cannot be tie, and eth
Tilden or Hayes must have . ma-
~. A
I the canvassing hoard Of Louise
j shall reject the votes Of the fvc
nfles IN db,pute, md ~ that action
> ~ vots of the 02te for Hayes
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