Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-12-23
Editorial lettings.

The skies are Frightening and the indica-
/ tions now point to an early collapse OF the
/ conspiracy, and a peaceable Inauguration of
/ Mr. Tilden.
/ Gen. Francis C. Barlow, one Of the Repul
can commissioners sent to Florida for the pur-
pose of witnessing the count Of votes by the
I Canyassiug Board, comes out 10. o letter to the
! New York Borld stating that be thinks that
Tildenis fairly Untitled ~ the electoral vote of
/ Florida.
Two sets Of certificates will be opened from
| the States Of Florida. Louisiana, Oregon, South
| Carolina aud Vermont. There is no power ir
I the President Of the Senate to determine which
of these sets shall be counted, and which shall
not be counted. If he shall undertake to do
so, the act will be one of usurpation.
A Republican paper at Lyuchburg, The
I Press, has suspended, The editor very frank
ly says in bis valedictory, concerning the Re-
publican party in Virginia, that it has outlved
its usefulness and ought now to be disbanded.
lie admits that it was defeated il the late cleo
ton and does not approve the means whereby
tue leaders propose to retain power.
The Constitution provides that the Prcsi-
dent Of the Senate shall, in the presence Of
the Senate and House Of Representatives, open
az the certificates, aud the vote shall then be
counted" No power is conferred upon the
President Of the Senate to count the vote; and
be is expressly commanded to open &" all the
certificates" Il has been said that be would
disobey this requirement of the Constitution.
Such disJbadieuce would be an improbable
oaense.
The Chamberlain Mackey House Of Dele
gates, in South Carolina, has passes to 4 third
reading bayonel bill for the arrest aud pun
ishmeut Of Gov Hampton aud all who hold
office under his government. The result of an
attempt upon the part Of the revolutioniSts TO
execute the provisions Of such 4 bill is awaited
suAiously OF course the negro constabulary,
uuless aided by the United States troops, con-
not but bring utter destruction upon them
selves. Gov Hampton is for a peaceful solu-
ton Of existing difficulties, but if force is the
ul,imatum Of the usurpers, he will be found
equal to the occasion.
Grant seldom opens bis mouth that he does
not say slmcihiug-discreditabIe to h;mselfas
a man, aud especially SO to an occupant Of So
promiueu: position. Expressions that were
credi,able to him, such as" Let US have
Peace" Let 10 guilty man Escape"
d" Let US have Fair Count, &c.-have been
so lightly esteemed by him as to have been. by
his actions, utterly repudiated, aud nobody
to-day considers his " word as good as his
bond" His lates, q" | don't care On for
tue Supreme Court we suppose he will not
90 back on.
What the people ask, and upon that they
insist. is that the Presidential complications
shall be settled by both Houses Of Congress,
without let or hindrance from the Executive.
Il is not q matter in which Grant has any
concern more than the humbesi individual 10
the land We wish the Pay-mas,er would
hand over to him the balance of the $4,000
due him, and let him quit his country for
his courtrys good" Let him go to San Do
mingo, but, may the Lord Lave mercy upon
the Domnicaus.
90 Tuesday night Gen. Nichols, the Demo-
crctio Governor elect of Louisiana, made a
{ speech and reiterated his intention to be Gov
{ error Of the whole people and no. of any
5 party or race. lie concluded by saying:
Peaccably, fairly and legally elected your
Governor by over s 600 majority Of the votes
Of both races in the State, announce 10 you
Z nv fixed determination 10 assert and maintain
e my rights 70 tha, position, and know you are
, equally determined thai shall DO SO. shall
be prepared 30 DO my whole duty, and | shall
, expect the same from every citizen Of Lousi-
ana.
The Tribune Hayes organ, puts the situa-
ton in a nutshell when i, says: Curses come
e home to roost, so do political sins The Re
publican party need fear no foe to-day if il
had dealt honestly or decently in the Southern
States. Because its leaders in some State.
have been vile and infamous; because i,'
methods have been offensive, commingling the
arts Of the despcable thimble-rigser and tn,
bold brisand because it has forfeited public
respect and confidence by keeping knavcs ia
power and by defending impulent crimes. il
finds ia this hour Of trial only hesitating ant
e partial support from TIE intellect and con.
p science Of those States which created it and
, gave Il power.
e 4 New jersey Republican says:
Z Many thousand Republicans in every
State, more in sorrow than in anger, voted
against Hayes because they feared just what
% has happened. \ demoralized, an arrogant
= and u0ScrupulouS band of Office holders
: drunken with sixteen years ofpOwer, wrapped
, 10 the triple brass Of their own SelhshneSS
strong in the conviction that this country cant
be run without them. with unbridled audacity
b refuse to let 90 their hold on power
\ prominent Republican is candid enough tc
say:
{ The people declared on the seventh day Of
, November last Overwhelmingly hat Tildeu
was their choice for President result which
would not have been obtained but f,r the hearty
cooperation of the plain people belonging
e 60 the Republican party. These disguised
, 2 di>ad. cted Republicans had no other way
, Z. tXurpsS their cXecratipu NJ the conduct ol