Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-13

publican Electors were not legally chosen.
Each branch of Congress is now inyest-
eating that subject. We do not know that
any man of sense objects to the Senate S
doing so. 1t could not very well do 9TH
erwise. The House hurried of its COM
mittees without asking the co operation
of the Senate, and the Senate could not
well consent to take the result ofthe House
investigations alone. 1t was bound to in
form itself in the premises by It's own in
s.rumentalities, and it is doing SO. Mean
while republican in the House proposed
committee from each branch OF Con-
gress to consider an agreement as to the
mode of counting the votes, and such
committees are now in session. What
more can they in decency be asked to doP
Nothing.
But it is objected that some prominent
republicans are giving OUT that Mr..
HAYES is elected and will be inaucurated
"forcibly it need be- Such utterances
are not common among republicans,
though they are occasionally made. The
most that can be said against them is that
they are unnecessary. They are certain
ly not unnatural, in view of the system
attic vaporing which some prominent dem
ocrats think it becoming to keep up.
As the republicans have, up to the pres
enl time. done everything that was re-
qured of them by law or justice, SO they
will continue to do. They have entered
with sincerity upon an attempt TO come to
an agreement with the democrats as to
the part to be taken by the respective
houses in the counting ofthe vote. There
is no doubt that il such an agreement is
arrived at the whole party will legally
abide by it whateverits consequences may
be. But it need not be expected that if no
agreement is reached, the republicans in
the Senate will incontinently surrender all
their rights, and ask meekly to be led I'M
der the yoke by the democrats. The Con-
stitution confldcs TO them certain powers,
and imposes on them certain duties.
What is the extent of each they will in
quire with candor and conclude with fair
ness and moderation. But, having come
to conclusion, they will not hesitate to
do whatever they believe they are required
| by the fundamental law to do. Ga the
Senators lies peculiar responsibility.
They are not as the members of the House
are, the lingering representatives Of a
phase of popular feeling which has al
ready passed away. They are not, as the
Executive is, mere instrument for car
rying out The law as interpreted to them
by others. They are the chosen represen-
tatiyes of tbs States, members of body
which does not lose its continuity, and
which, by its tenure, by its numbers,
and by its intimate relations with all de-
partments Of the Government, is enabled
and required to act as consciv ative force
in our national life. 1t is peculiarly the
business of the Senate to see that the pre-
cautions which the Constitution has pro-
vided against any confusion in the admin
istration, any interruption of the opera
ton of the Government, shall not fail OF
their purpose. And this is not matter
for trade and decker with pretenders to
the Presidency, under however speciou.
guise it may be presented. 1t is a mat
ter to b egoverned solely by law. temper.
ately and impartially Interpreted but firm
ly and energetically executed.