The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-11-23
The Plot Thicke,as.

The Plot Thickens.
Step by step the conspirators proceed to-
words the point TO which all their move.
anents have tended ever since the night
when General GRANT insisted in the face OF
the returns to the contrary that HAYES n. was
elected. Our kilograms from Columbia tell
the story in q concise and clear manner.
Acting under what are supposed to be I'M
structions from Washington, borne to them!
by a well-known judicial officer, the Board
OF Canyassers have had the temerity
to. defy the authority OF the highest
court IN the State and have Issued certifi.
Gates Of election not only to majority OF
the Republican candidates for the Legisla-
ture-t thus providing for the election Of
CHA&BERLaIN over HAMpToN--but also to
the Republican electors Of President and
vice-P President. This action OF the Board
In contempt OF the. highest judicial authors.
tyaof the State, and in the very presence. as
it were OF that tribunal, is clearly reyolu-
tionary proceeding. 1t indicates plainly
the desperate purpose OF the tools OF ZAcK
CHANDLER and General GRANT. 1t would not
have been taken II the members OF the Board
had not had the most positive assurances
from both the executive and judicial author
tiles OF the United States that these would
save them harmless in the end, or provide
for them in some manner. 1t is true that a
majority Of the members are candidates for
election to State Offices; but knowing MS
their lawyers did that they could be ousted
summarily under the writ Of quo aoarranto,
the motive for their revolutionary and trea-
sonablc action cannot be found in the pros.
pect Of securing those Offices for themselves.
We repeat, then, that they are but the tools
or persons high in Federal Office.
But what will be the result? 1t must be
presumed that the members OF the Board
have fully made up their minds to take the
consequences-that is to say, to submit to
whatever punishment the Supreme Court
issue certificates OF election to the Demo-
cratic electors. They are acting under the
advice, too, of men who are good lawyers,
though they may be unprincipled politi-
clans, and will not be baked of their
purpose if impudence and persist
ence can accomplish it. General HAMPTON
declares that their action can have no legal
effect. But in this he is not to be under
stood as speaking by authority. Their ac-
ton gives to the Republican candidates for
the Legislature color of title at least to
their seats; and the Constitution of the
State makes that body the judge OF the cleo
ton and qualifications Of its own members.
It will be hard to dispossess the usurpers if
once they obtain their seats. A bogus Gov
ernor may doubtless be put out and the
rishtful Governor put into possession by
the Supreme Court; but not so as to the
await the course OF events before we can
pretend to foresee how they are to be busted
and the rightful members seated.
As to the electors OF President and Vice
President, the Democratic candidates will
meet and vote for TILDEN, and then the two
houses OF Congress will have complete iuri.-
diction and ample powers. The traitorous
and revolutionary action OF the South Caro-
lima State Board 0f Canyassers must con-
vince everybody that it will not do for those
houses to abdicate their functions. Mr..
LlNCoLN's message, which we republish
this morning, must be the text Of
all the loyal people in the Union.
Every man must demand that the
peoples House OF Representatives shall
correct the wrongs attempted to be done
under the forms OF law to the institutions
handed down to us by the fathers OF the
republic. The course of the South Caro-
lima conspirators foretells what has been
agreed upon for both Florida and Louisi-
ana, and relegates all questions to the grand
inquest of the nation-to the Congress Of
the United States. Let us not fear that it
will fail to do it's duty. By these high
handed acts the people Of the North will
have their preiudices removed, and Con-
gress, standing in the full blaze OF the pub
lie eye, scrutinizing its every movement,
will not dare to refuse to rectify this great
wrong. s.r...a
Weieel more confidence this moment that
TILDEN will be the next President of the
United States than at any time during the
last week.