Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-07
rHR pREsInRNT1AL ourIoOK.

TIE PRESIDENTIAL OUTLOOK.
We have reached another stage in the
proceedings which legally ensue a Prrsi-
dental election. The Presidential cleo
tors of all the States met yesterday at
their respective State capitals, as re-
quired by the Constitution, and, cast
their votes for President and Vice Prssi-
dent. One hundred and eighty-four
regular and uncontested votes we're cast
for Tilden and Hendricks, being within
one of a msjority. In Oregon, where
the Hayes electors had a majority of the
popular vote, it was claimed that oue of
them named Watts was ineligible by
reason of being postmaster, an office OF
profit at the time of his election. The
Supreme Court of Oregon has held in a
similar case the ineligibility OF the can
didale. The question arises and ia yet
to settle whether this creates q vacancy
TO be filled by the remainder of the col
lege Of electors or elects the candidate
on the opposite ticket receiving the
highest vote. If it were merely an Office
of profit, or a seat in the Legislature, it
would follow that the next highest
candidate would be elected, In the
early days of the government It
seems to have been TIE intention to
constitute a college Of solid citizens,
with vested authority and large dis
erection, to be exercised according to
their best judgment. But it soon came
to pass that the people took the matter
into their own hands, and in voting for
electors voted through them directly for
their choice for the Presidency. There
is 10 statute requiring an elector to vote
with the tickle, upon which be was cho-
sen, bu: there are precsdents and public
opinion, stronger than any written law.
There is no doubt that if the declared
popular vote in Oregon was correct, the
people intended to elect Hayes electors.
A nice technical question is here raised,
to be decided in Congress or by the Su-
preme Court Of the United States. Tie
Canvassing Boards of South Carolina,
Florida and Louisiana, in defiance Of
facts and returns, have countedin Hayes.
Tllden carried Louisiana by a majority
of 5000. This is thrown out on the bare
charge that there ives not a full and free
election 10 the Democratic parishes.
The Board was composed Of the worst
partisans, whose minds we're made up
before the election. Governor MeEnery
issued certificates to the Tilden
electors. aud the Democrats will
claim that those votes shall be
counted. This will revive the old ques.
lion Of the legality Of the Kellogg gov
eminent. The Tilden electors and Nc
Emery are acting under the advice Of
the most prominent lawyers Of the coun-
try. Claiming the full vote Of Oregon
and OF the three PROSTATE States the
Republicans will insist that Hayes is
elected by a msjority Of n electoral
vote. The ex Postmaster OF Oregon,
however, has no certificate from tie
Governor. That is held by CroniB, .
Democrat. Republican committees have
been appointed By the Senate and Dem
oeratic committees by the House, to in.
vestigate Southern elections. Taken
altogether it is a beautiful legal muddle.
We will have comparative quiet until
the l4ih of February, when the two
Houses will meet in joint convention to
count the electoral votes. There will be
two sets from at least four States, and
the count may last for days and weeks,
Grant has backed square down from
his military role since Fish threatened
to resign aud the Democrats began to
talk Of impeachment, aud we now be-
lieve that either Tilden or Hayes will be
peacsably inaugurated. We can live
under either, If Hayes can AFFORD to
accept a place obtained in an illegal
manner We can better afford to wait fol
another election. We shall, however.
have hopes Of Tilden's Inauguration
until the end.