The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-19

the next president OF tne UnlJeu DlaIebi
aud while this result is reached, by means
of the electoral bill, in a form that will
cause a ready, if not cheerful, acquiesence
In the result on the part of the whole coun-
try, and 60 that his Inauguration will be
unopposed, we can but regret that the va
rlous questions which have given rice to 80
much doubt and thrown all this uncertainty
about the result, have not been 30 deter
mined and settled as to command the APP
proval of the whole country and so as to
establish binding precedent for the de-
termination of all similar contests in the
future
The Florida decision was to the effect
that the certificate of the governor, founded
upon the determination of the canvasslng
board, was final and conclusive, and could
not be impeached or questioned for fraud,
mistake or other cause. The Louisiana de-
cislon.went step further, and was to the
effect that the constitution of the returning
board could not be inquired into, and that
no evidence could be received, outside Of
the papers accompanying the certificates
which, of course, contained no evidence
either way-showing, or tending to show,
that the returning board was illegally con-
stituted that 1t was body unknown to
| the constitution and laws either Of the
| United States or Of Louisiana, and, con-
| sequently, that the men claiming to act as
a returning board were usurpers; or that,
even If it was proper canvassing board, it
misapprehended and exceeded the powers
conferred upon such board by law.
The result of this decision-for the votes
of the eight republican electors were ac-
companed by the certificate of the COVER
nor in due form, and that of the secretary
of state, under the seal OF the state, certi-
| flying that the executive certificate was in
accordance with the report of the return
lag board on file in his offlce-was that the
eight votes of Louisiana should be counted
for Rutherford b. Hayes for president,
and William A. Wheeler for vice president.
This result brings to mind the forebod.
| ings of William A. Wheeler when discus
sing the manner in which elections were
conducted in Louisiana-tbe fraud, vio-
ence and intimidation in the election on
the one side, and the fraud and perjury in
the returning board on the other side-and
saying that upon these elections 30 con-
| Quoted and determined depended the
"choice of presidential electors, upon
"whose vote may depend the title to office
"of the president of the United States
d" himself; and that "no party in the
United States will like to submit to re-
" chosen by such MEANS" for "each party
"willIbe likely to credit charges of fraud
d" and violence made against its opponent,
"and to discredlt like charges made against
:" its own side," there is, be adds "the
"greatest danger tina. these elements may
" enter into the next national election
| that is, the presidential election of 1876
" to 80 great an extent that it may leave
"the real expression of the will of the peo-
"ple in doubt"
This is precisely the feeling of the coun-
| try to-day. The republicans believe, or pro-
fess to believe, that the apparent majority
| obtained for Tilden in Louisiana was the
result of fraud; while the democrats pro-
fess to believe that the apparent majority
obtained for Hayes in the official finding
of the returning board was, also, the re-
suit of fraud. And the decision of the
electoral commission has not allayed this
| feeling; and, indeed, no decision on the part
| Of the commission could have allayed it.
And herein we have obtained the very re-
suit for which the commission was estab-
| lished. The right to count the votes
was claimed by republicans to rest in the
president OF the senate, and by the demo-
Gratis to rest in the house alone. The diff
ference was irreconclable, and whether
the vote Of Louisiana should be counted
for Hayes or Tilden-and that without re-
gard to the right or law of the matter-de-
pended upon which view should prevail.
The probability, moreover, was great that
neither view would be accepted by the 9TH
er party, and that the result would be q
declaration of Governor Hayes election on
the part Of the senate, and of Governor
Tilden's election on the part of the house,
and then would have been realized the
worst of Mr.. Wheelev's forebodings, ian
"appeal to force" which, as he said "must
''result in civil war, spreading throughout
" the entire country.
The electoral commission, happily, has
averted this danger. Through peaceful and
legal forms they have settled the contro-
versy. 1t is true that many still hold that
the real expression of the will of the peo-
pie is left in doubt, ard that charges of
fraud are still made and credit ed on either
eide, but the legal result is ascertained in a
legal manner, and Rutherford b. Hayes
will pass unchallenged to the presidential
chair But for the electoral commission
this would have been impossible, and SEN
ator Edmunds declares that, but tor the
passage of this bill, Samuel j. 1iden
would have been presdent-those irepubl-
can congressman who voted against this
bill, and their republican constituents will
be very apt to remember this.
H wever much the democracy may be
disappointed at the result they are estopped
from fading fault with the decision or
damning the court" tor the conclusions
of the tribunal are the logical result of
democratic teachings. They have always
held to the doctrine that the action of the
several states was final and conclusive, and
could not be revised or inquired INTO by
congress; and 80, however wrong the doc
trine may have been, instead of condemning