The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-20

have been perverted into instruments for
the violation of its spirit. In this connec-
ton we may be permitted to observe that
while, undoubtedly, as you say, "A sedu-
lous incubation and cultivation of the
habits of obedience to the forms of law is
vital to the preservation of constitutional
liberty" it is no less important that
refusal to yield such obedience be not pro-
voked by using these forms as means for
subverting the very ends for which they
were designated.
Without undertaking to question
the sincerity OF the belief which you are at
pains to express, that you know of no
reason to doubt that the Louisiana return
ing board will make perfectly honest and
just declaration Of the results Of the re-
cent election in Louisiana, we deem it not
improper to remind you that the presence
in this city of so many citizens from all
parts OF the union at this moment seems to
be evidence of a
WIDELY PREVALENT DISTRUST
of the action of this board, and that such
distrust has this foundation. at least, that
the constitution of the board has not
been changed since its returns were set
aside by congressional committee, OF
which the Republican candidate for the
vice. presidency was a member; and
this distrust is not unnatural in view
OF the fact that, as we understand,
one Of the members of the return
ing board is candidate voted for at the
recent election, and another the holder of
an Office of profit and trust by appointment
of the present executive Of the national
government, while all the members of the
board are believed to be in utilization with
but one of the parties to the present polit:-
cal contest. In view of all these facts it is
hardly necessary to add that
THE TERMS OF OUR LETTER
were not designed to PREJUDICE the ques-
ton whether the functions of the returning
board were judicial or ministerial, or both,
but simply to invite you to see, with US, that
whatever may be the character of these
functions they are openly, fairly and hon
estly discharged; and while we thus
refrained from any attempt at stating OF
constituting the laws of Louisiana, we
deemed it equally irrelevant to the subject
of our correspondence with you to allude
to the duties devolviDg upon officers other
than the constituents of the Louisiana re
turning board under the laws and constitu.
ton of the United States.
AN IRRELEVANT QUESTION.
Whether, as you observe by way of il
lustration, under the constitution the pres
ident of the senate both counts and de.
clares the votes of the electors of the sew
eral states, his duty being clearly minister.
ial and not subject to the control of con
gress, or whether, as has been the practice
for more than eighty years, a practice in.
augurated by men, some of whom haC
been among the trainers of the constitution
the votes are to be counted under thu
direction and control of the house of rep
resentatives and the senate, is a question
upon the discussion of which we deem il
no. part Of our duty to enter.
In conclusion permit US to say that, not
withstanding your refusal to cooperate, We
still cherish the hope that the returning
board, warned by the history of
the past and conscious that its actions
will discharge its delicate duty with such
circumspection, fairness and impartiality
as will give satisfaction to the American
people. To this end we will continue tC
labor Should different result follow the
action of the board. we shall have the sat
isfaction of knowing that, while you have
taken the responsibility of declining to ac
with us, we have done ali in our power t
avert the consequences which may follow
Very respectfully,
John Palmer, His Lyman Trumbull, Ills
VIM Morrison, Ills. Samuel Randall, Pa.
A G. Curtin, Pa. VIM Blgler, Pa.
| j DoOhttle, Wis Geo h Smith Wis,
, J E Mcdonald, Ind. Geo W Julien. Ind
NJ d Manson, Ind. John Love, Ind.
Hy WattersOn, Ky. J W Stevenson, Ky.
Hy D McHenry, Ky, o Ottendorfcr, n Y.
6 j B Stallo Ohio. Lewis Bogy. Mo.
j 0 BrOadhead, Mo. Gibson, Mo.
D J Lee Carroll. Md. VT Hamilton, Nd.
: w G Sumner, Conn. p II Watson, Ohio.
fl f r Condit n Y.