Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-25
Special Correspondence of the Hrn.1p.

the Amnesty Debate, Mr.. Blaine said
to me that the Democrats, from hav-
ing been so long out OF office, seemed
to have lost the power of government.
Their policy was series ofrblunders.
They seem at last to have recovered
their old power.
They have succeeded in frightening
Republicans enough, by their buster,
and coaxing Republicans enough by
their pretexts, to cause them to con-
sent to crafty scheme for counting
the Electoral Vote. 1t is the most
revolutionary and unconstitutional
project ever presented to Congress-
revolutionary, as it establishes a prec-
edent that can be used to overthrow
the popular verdict whenever the "face
oil the returns" exhibit any element of
doubt; and unconstitutional, in that
it is neither warranted by the letter
nor by the spirit of the National Com
pact, and establishes a tribunal Meth
er provided for nor suggested by the
trainers of that instrument.
The Constitution provides that "the
President of the Senate shall, in the
presence of the Senate and House of
representatives, open all the certifi-.
Gates and the rote shall then be count
ed" Now, if the change of one vote
on the STAGE of the returns would
not change the whole election, no one
to-day, would attempt to deny that
the duty of counting the votes de-
wolves on the Vice President; and
that, as necessary consequence of it,
he alone must determine between the
one of the two sets whenever any
State sends duplicate retarns. 1t is
one of three high functions invested
in him by the Constitution and that
belong to his Office as its distinguish
ing prerogatives.
The ultra-democrats insist, Gas they
happen to have little confederate
army in the popular branch of the
Legislature), that the House of Rep
resentatives alone shall have the right
to object to the vote of any State and
that their objection shall cause its re
lection! They might throw out Ohio
and Illinois under this theory, with
cause or without or at any time un-
der some specious pretext, they could
throw out States enough to vomit the
election into the House.
know that Tilden himself gave up
the election in despair two weeks ago.
/ was told a week since by South
ern democrat, an ex Confederate, a
personal friend, who is intimately ac-
quainted with all the southern demo-
Gratis in Congress, that they all be-
lieved they had lost the battle, but
that they are perfectly willing of
course to accept victory if it could
be on by Northern democratic STRAIT
egy.
Just az they were throwing down
their arms, that Trojan horse of COM
promise, the curse and disgrace of
American politics, enters our citadel
by the connivance of our own soldiers
and revives their hopes.
What is this project? Let us look
at it. Because, mark you, legal quib-
blers insist that the words "shall then
be counted" admit Of some doubt as
to a0ho shall count them, therefore, in
order to do homage to. the Constitu
ton, they create for this duty Re-
turning Board that not one Of the
trainers ever dreamed Of Because
these legal pettitoggers are "not sure
4 81 at 4ha Nioo Drooi1apf chaul1 oo1nf
the votes, they suggnst the creation
of Board that it is historically sure
the Constitution did not intend to
count them!
The Board is to consist of five Sen.
ators, five Representatives, and four
Judges of the Supreme Court who
shall chose fifth Judge
Look steadily at this scheme and
what does it mean? 1t means that
one man shall elect the neat President
instead Of fifty four million of people
All the Republican Congressman viii!
vote for Hayes and Wheeler, because
they were honestly elected by the larg-
est popular vote ever given for any
Republican candidates in eUery State
in which there was free and fair
election. All the democrats will vote
for Tilden and Hendricks, because
when men do not scruple to desecrate
the ballot box in Northern States and
to revive the horrors of the Romsh
Church during the Middle Ages in the
Gulf States to-day to persecute
and murder for opiaion's sake-they
will not hesitate to use any less re-
voting agency to achieve their deter
mined purposes.
Now, then, how about the Judges
The Judges of the Supreme Court are
neither more nor less partizans in their
| creed and character than Senators.
Their robe of office does not change
their natures. There are two Demo
Gratis and two Republicans named in
the High Joint Bill. These four
Judges name the fifth, on whom to
all intents and purposes, the result
of the last election will rest if the
scheme is not defeated. Stripped of
all its verbal masks, this is scheme
| to substitute a Dictator in the place
of the people to name the next Presi-
dent of the United States. The other
fourteen members count for nothing.
They are ciphers. That one man, not
elected by the people, nor responsible
to the people, nor having any political
power nor accountability, becomes
the most potent force In American
politics for the next generation!
And yet we have heard of Cesarism!
That Democrats should snatch at
any scheme to retrieve their defeat
should excite no surprise, but it does
seem incredible that Republicans
should consent to put their late Wa
terloo victory in peril again. Demo
Gratis believe in Cesar. They want
| ed one man, (which the same it was
Cronin) to decide the last election
but what has Republicanism to do
with a one man power, excepting
when the Constitution creates it, but
| to stamp it into the earth Let everv