Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-12-13
r. TT. Hunter on the Situation.

OF this State, has auGfcsscu latlcl W TIC A''"
York Herald, lie which he says;
If"the beginning of the end has cot already
occurred 10 The outrage 90 popular rights
winch has been recently committed by tue
President aud other officials 10 three OF the
weaker States, il Is time that the lovers IT pop
uar suve,eignty and cur old form OF govern
mept were uniting to lu,erpose Tor the detence
of the Union and the right Of the people TO
govern themselves AID elect their own Presl'
dent. How this eau be preserved without the
right of Congress 10 go b@blud the returos OF
Presidential electors aud ascertain the uumocr
of votes aud how Cast III the recent election,
do GOT well see. Ii it be the duy OF Congress
to count" the votes given tor President, they
certainly must have the power ~ ascertain
those fur whom they are 10 count, ana now are
they to do this uoless they have The power to
20 behind the returns? Ii is the exclusive 10
terest OF the State TO show II the voters were
qualified, but the Whole people of the United
States arc Interested 10 know now many votes
we're cast aud for what persons, for these are
facts which touch the question OF the election
of the Presdect, who Is nc officer OF all. Who
so fit to examine iuto those questions, II doubt
| full, as the Congress who are the united repre-
| seutatiYes of the whole people? How else are
! the people TO be made certain as 10 the man
truy elected to that 1st lm purtant OF all these
Offices?
II there he 90 mode of reaching these results
unless there DC power ia Congress to 60 behind
| the returns the IulerrDce Is not only lair out
necessary that such u power is 10 be Implied.
| 10 make this duplication equal 10 the ex!geucy
| it is reuuisito; but 10 vest this power 10 Con
eress, which represents the Whole people, 10
| TINES OF deep popular excitement, or OF utter
corruption in State, sroug temptation 10
return this vote falsely might exist 10 part'c-
ular State, when, az at present. slugle e'ccto-
raj vote might change the character OF the
| President aud Of Executive potlcy. Times may
be apprchcud:d when there might bs dagger
Of State yielding to such d teuptatlon II the
opportunity were given II With power 10 tue
! Congress 10 detect aud prevent IL Ii the
power does not exist now 10 Congress there Is
| none TO prevent or check such al abuse II the
State were to counive st II. 10 learn the ques
ton OF time 10 this matter under The supreme
control of the representatives OF the Whole peo'
pie, the Istltutlon provides tEat the Con
gross may determine the THE OF choosing the
electors and the day OF giving their votes which
day shall be the same throughout the U1lted
States Fourth section, secoud article
But ttat Congress may pass such laws AS
shall enable it to cuunI che vote OF the Presl-
deptial electors is PLAIN from the provision that
it may make all laws which are necessary aud
proper Tor Carrying into OK, cutlun Lhe foregoing
uogcrs and all other powers vested ny the con.
stituuon IN the government OF the Ualted
States, or 10 any department or Office thereof.
1t uay not only pass ali laws necessary or prop
er 10 execute he granted poWers, tui pass such
as may be Decessary to discharge granted du
| Et.,rvf q "A tunt.
ton where the grant Is not Of Itself complete 10
Terms Uuder this power Ceugrcsz may make
the laws winch are necessary to enable II &c
count the vote" AS all the States arc inter
ested 10 counting truly the vote tor President,
50 that duty AMI the means necessary 10 dis
charge il ought to be coDhd"d to the Congress
OF the While. The place OF "castlug the vote
for the STATE, and perhaps the manner VI
doug it, most peculiarly concerns tue Stale It
self, to whom, perhaps, 1t would be proper to
couide those duties, but to asc.rtalu WHO are
legally chosen Us electors is the peculiar duly
of Congress, which caonot be executed unless
it has the right 10 20 behind the records.
hold, therefore, that it is cot only their
right but their duty, if it be pecessary TO do so;
if that be necessary to enable them TO know
who sre entitled to cast the votes tor President.
The highest of all rights which Legislature
possesses is to provide agalns. anarchy, II.
without such action, it would enSue Could
ANYTHING be more likely to lead to this than a
contested Presidential election vii htus the
means to settle it uuy aud justly! Ii the
right Of self defence, to protect your lie, be
law OF nature, is not the right to defend the
life Of society, the existence OF State. still
more uudoubted? For all these reasons be-
lieve the right OF Congress to 90 behind The
/ l., =, q, rnt NIB
cessary to investigate the question as to the cx.
isteDce of the joint rule which some seem 10
think so important. the right of Congress to
20 behind the records to asc 'rtau whom
they are to count hpId to be indisputable aud
fouuded upon higher co1sidera' oas than those
of rule 1t is 4 question which touches the
peace and exis'en of the country which the
constitution itself affords the means OF deciding.
MIR. Hewitt and the President.
The following is furnished by Hon. Abram
S. Hewitt, addressed to the Washington Agent
of the Associated Press
To yesterdays payers f ID dispatch from
you rccltiug q corversailou With Presiueot
| Grant in reference to the unfortunate state OF
affairs in South Carolina and my Interviews
! With him in reference thereto So tar as South
| CarOtDa was CODCeTUCu t!ie IICSIuelG
20 confidence, but expressly stated that l was al
liberty to communicate his views to the public
He did enjoin confidence 10 regard to what be
said OF Louisiana affairs, and that ooDfdeuce |
have respected, although az | have already
stated to him, | believe the publication
of bis statements would do much to tran
quiIize the public mind. 10 regard to South
| Carolina the President stated that 10 his judg
uent not less than sxty-three members hay
log certificates from the Secretary of State
we're eligible to organize the House and trans
| act business. a. this view accorded with my
| Own, ADD rs no confidence was enjoined, ee
praphcd it in the following language:
| n. c. Hashe1! Chairman, Charleston. s. c.;
Il am able TO say that neiIher House will be
recognized BY the President until it gets sky
three members holding original certificates
from the Returning Board
ABRAM s. HEWITT"