The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-10-24
Don't scotch the Snake, bu, Kill 1t,

1t Is melancholy to look back from the
present state OF things TO that which was
confidently expected by the trainers of the
Federal Constitution rs sure to occur
in the choice of President of the
United States. They devised a system
of appointment for this high ONCE which
would afford the least opportunity pos
sible Tor tumult and disorder To this
end, they provided for the choice by the
people of each state OF an intermediate
body OF electors, who, being selected Ivy
their fellow citizens for this express pur-
pose. should cast the vote of that State for
the person whom they should consider
most eligible for the Presidency. They
considered that the choice of several per-
sons TO form such an intermediate
body OF electors would be much less
apt to convulse the community with
extraordinary and violent move
ments, than the direct choice of one
who was himself to be the final object of
the public wishes. In this great aim they
provided against dangers which they could
anticipate and prevent. Ii never occurred
to them that the President who might be
in Office would or could become an active
participant in measures and exertions to
effect the choice of his successor; or that,
as he might possibly have superior means
for controlling the election of his success
sor, they would have specially to guard
| against his use of such means. They as
sumod that, rs they had vested the choice
Of the electors in the people Of each state,
the existing President would be the last
! individual in the whole country who
would be likely to interfere, or to attempt
TO interfere, with the action of the people
| in making these selections.
But what do we see now? A President
OF the United States, peryerting a pro-
vision OF the Const tuition which empowers
him, in II certain well-defined emergency,
II protect the Government of any State
from instruction, marches the army of
the United States into South Carolina on
the eve of IA Presidential election. The
avowed reason for this menacng and UNI
precedentcd act is not that the Govern
ment of the state is III danger of being
overthrow by popular violence, but that
the citizens Of the State need protection
against each other IN carrying on their
political contests, and in exercising then
| right of suffrage
Ii would be entirely absurd to imagine
that this pOwer-a power to intervene in q
State because of the aleeed existence OF
personal crlmes-is regulated in the hand,
of the President Of the United states by
any statute or any rule whatever. 1t i,
just like the power that is exercised in any
usurpation; it is Il power with no re-
| stTaint but the will of him who eXer
cises it, There is no basis for IT whatever
in the Federal Constitution, or any of it'
amendments; for the Supreme Court OF the
United States has expressly decided thai
the elective franchise is not derived from
the Constitution Of the United States, and
that there is no legislation by Congress
which can authorize the Federal Govern
Of that right. The army OF the United
states Is ~ this moment in South Carolni
for purpose that is warranted by no Law
whatever.
We have an abiding trust and belief tina
this infamous scheme will fail. In the frs
place, we believe that 1t will fail in Soutl
Carolina. Bat if it should succeed Their
so far as TO prevent the success of tn
Reform ticket for Presidential elector,
the daring and unprnciplcd act OF placing
the army of the United States in Il sin
gle state on the eve Of such an election
as this, aud the nature of the steps tina
will be taken there TO produce the To
suit that is aimed At, must Of neccssit
80 disgust aud alarm men everywher