The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-14
From tie ". Y. World, 10Th.
The Peril in Louisiana.

less than TWO years ago In us great
speech Of Jan, IL, 1875, Mr.. Evarts, point |
ing out to his fellow citizens the dangers
to free government in this country involved |
in any federation by them Of Governor |
Kellogg's lawless invasion OF the legisla- |
ture Of Louisiana, used this omlnous and
impressive language:
suppose that this intervention OF military power
Ito protect the action Of an independent state au-
"thority should happen to be exerted in Louisiana
"or any of the states for the purpose of taking
Tout the majority OF an electoral college when they
"were choosing the president; or suppose that II
by subUertiRg the cote Of that state one man should
''6e chosen instead Of TIE other, lDho lUOutd haze
"6eeH chosen u the state had VOted tOithOat be-
ling acted upon By that authority, TI0h0t haze
"yOu then but ctUiL a0dr engaging east
passions and east muItitudes of men on
the question Of dispute 0Der the presi-
''dencVg All, you will never have that" you say,
''because we have that courage and that common
"sense Of the American people which make free
government possible and permanent and strong.
LET anybody take STEP you uoW say, that sur
passes the fair limits Of political competition and
political agitation, and tie president tOh0 takes
'his seat under such tile SHAH haze nothing but
courses and iDsprisoRD1ent and not the enjoyment
''oC pOa0sr' toiR submit Il To you feHOaOeitizsHs,
"Mdt the moment ne cODapIdcsntty accept the side
that Profits by such Intervention, and that
"ROthtR0 but disappointment and political disgust
"drs the other side, principles are gone and the
''tcay a0iH be open at last for usU,patioR."
We ask Republican readers, we repeat,
to bear these pregnant words in mind, and
by their light to consider the situation as
it stands to-day in this same state of
Louisiana under this same Governor Kel-
logg.
That lS4 electoral votes for Governor
Tilden have been secured by the elections
in all parts Of the country, including the
states of New York, New Jersey and Con-
necticut, is unquestionable. We believe
it to be also UNREASONABLE that many
more have been secured for him, as the
returns will presently show. But with
these 1874 he needs only one vote more to
make him president, and if Louisiana has
chosen Tilden electors, he, in fact, has
this needed one vote more, whatever the
executive of Louisiana may declare, and
by declaring, in spite of the votes of the
people, make to be law. Can this one vote
be taken from him by this executive OF
louisiana Let US see.
The federal constitution proclaims that
leach state shall appoint, in such manner
las the Legislature thereof may direct, a
number OF electors, in accordance with
well known rule; that these electors shal
meet and vote for president and vice pres
ident, and shall certify and transmit theil
votes to the president of the senate al
Washington; that the president shall opeI
these certificates; count the votes in the
presence of the senate and the house, anC
declare the result
At this point congress has taken thu
matter mp, and by law declared that the
electors for 1876 shall be appointed" il
each state ION the 7th day Of November
or on such subsequent day, in case o
failure on that day, az the Legislature
thereof may direct; that these elector
shall meet and vote on the first Monda,
''in December" that the executive o
each" state shall before this day of meet
ing inform such electors that they hav
been appointed; that these electors shal
make, sign, and serve by messenger Ger
tificate of their votes to the president @
the senate; and that on the secont
Wednesday of February these certificate
shall be opened and the votes counted a
the constitution directs,
Now, the work of electing these elector
is under the control of the people of Louis
lana, but congress has directed 1.-THE exec
uklNG Vi llldJ bbhIC W Ill
electors. He, and he alone, can certify an
attest who are to be electors,
Louisiana has said in her statutes tia
elections for these electors snail be hel
land conducted in the manner and fOrI
provided by law for general state elet
tons, excepting the day. She has ORE
vided, we believe, that the elections sha
be presided over in each precinct by tire
30 he ko1 .
supervisors of registration, who are selec
ed and commissioned by the governor. TIL
commissioner" count the votes and max
returns thereof, which returns the 'supe
visors," within two days after the voting
must, at the court house of each parisl
in the presence of two witnesses, compi
mot COUNT, publicly proclaim, and declaI
them to the secretary Of state.
The statute then directs, respecting pres
dental electors, as follows:
SECTION 1886, Immediately after the receipt
areturn from, each parish, on the fourth Monday
November, II the returns should not sooner arrv
the governor, IN presence Of the secretary of sta
the encouragement district Judge of the distri
IN which the seat Of government may be establishe
or any t1O0 OF them, shall examine the returns, al
ascertain therefrom the persons who shall have be
duly elected electors
''SEc. 2s27. ore of the returns from each paris
Endorsed by the governor, shall be placed on
Of state.
"sEc. 2,s2s The names Of the persons eecte
together with copy of the returns from the sever
parishes, shall forthwith be published in the nev
paper papers in which the laws OF the state M
be directed TO be published"
From this brief summary of the law
will be seen that the governor of Loui
lana has practically in his hand the recei
ing, counting and returning of all vot
and the determination of the persons MAJ
electors. He creates the 'returnin
boards, and from his decision in the fin
ascertalnment, if the attorney geneI
agrees, there does not appear to be al
appeal either to court or jury, as in t
case OF other state officers
Now, has congress any efficient pow
or control over voting, or returns, or CT
tifcates proven to be fraudulent or otht
wise illegal? In general, the choice
electors is beyond the power of the u
tional government, and it cannot redre
or remedy disorders, or irregularities.
frauds, even though the peoples will
thereby disrcgarded in no state have
seen provision of law for eontesting t
election of electors. Nor is there such
provision in any federal law. The pre-
dent .of the United States senate ope
the certificates, and counts. The t.
houses look on. He cannot reject a Ger
fcate for any cause. This was decided
the president Of the senate in 1857, a
in 1865 the two houses, by joint ru
and not by a ldlU, provided that if a
member Of either house objects to ID
certificate, each house shall retire, vote
it without debate aud, unless both hous