Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1877-02-23
From the Cleveland Herald
zeVOluGiOn Proposed.

of the men who proposed, urged, OF
voted for it show the unscrupulOus
character of large faction of the
Democratic party and the dangers
menacing the Republic should that
party obtain the ascendancy.
At the opening of the caucus,
which was presided over by HIesteI
Clymer, of Pennsylvania, a resOlu-
ton was offered by A. T. Walling,
who represents the Democracy of
the Pickaway District in this State.
After expressing dissatisfaction with
the course of the Commission it pro-
ceeded to say:
1t is our duty as representatives OF the
people to do no further legislation; not re-
cognizing said Commission; or to meet IN !
joint session to further count the ELECTORAL
vote under its decision.
This was a proposition for revoiu-
ton, pure and simple, and in a eau
Gus of Democratic Congressman it
received thirteen votes. Thirteen
members of the United States Con-
gress recorded themselves as ready
to not only violate their own pledged
word and disregard the law they
had aided to pass, but also to nullify
the Constitution of the United States
and precipitate the country into an
archy.
This resolution having failed, an
other was introduced by Alexander
G. Cochrane, of the Allegheny Dis
trict of Pennsylvania. 1t used more
words than the resolution of Mr..
WaIling, but was to the same end
the prevention of the count. This
resolution declared it
The duty of Congress, which it owes TO
the Democratic party and the American
people, to defeat the fraudulent acts Of the
4
Constitution and the laws, and to this end,
that all possible delays may be interposed,
| dilatory motions made, and objections in
terposed to the vote Of every State vet to
be counted, with a view of multiplying is
sues and thereby defeating the inaugura-
ton OF q usurper.
It was urged in support of this
revolutionary measure that it would
be better to have an interregnum,
and for the presiding officer of the
Senate to act as President, than to
submit to the decision of the Com
mission and the Inauguration of
Hayes. Among those who urged
this scheme to keep the country IN
an unsettled and feverish state for
months to come, and to subject it to
the horrors of another election this
fall, were Hurd and Southland, of this
State, Lynde, of Wisconsin, and
Thompson, of Massachusetts.
Before Cochrane's revolutionary
resolution could come to 3 vote a
substitute was offered by Mr.. Rea.
gan, of Texas, declaring that
The count of the Electoral vote shall
proceed without dilatory opposition to an
orderly execution Of the Act Of Congress
creating the Electoral Commission, whose
decision shall be received and acted upon
in accordance with the provisions of said
law.
This was advocated by Brown, of
Kentucky, Reagan, of Texas, Single
ton, of Mississippi, Hill, of Georgia,
Bayard, of Delaware, and Herman,
of New York. After the addition
of an amendment by Bright, of Ten
nessee, protesting against the decis
ions of the Commission in the Flor
ida and Louisiana cases, the resolu-
ton of Reagan was adopted by a
vote of sixty-nine to forty.
Two things are especially notice
able. The revolutionary and dis
horable schemes were proposed and
supported by Northern Democrats.
The proposition to abide by the
terms of the Constitution, the law,
and their own pledged honor came
from Southern Democrat and its
adoption was insisted upon by South
ern Democrats. The other points
to be remembered is that in a total
vote of one hundred and nine, forty
Democrats recorded themselves in
favor of breaking up the arrange
ment which was to bring peace to
the country, and prolonging distress
and anxiety for months, the only ex-
cuse for this course being their par
tisan disappointment.
Here the story should end. But
unfortunately for the credit of lead
ing men in the Democratic party it
did not end thus. No sooner had the
resolution of Mr.. Reagan been
adopted than David Dudley Field,
the Congressional attorney for Mr..
Tilden, the Democratic candidate
for the Presidency, offered a resolu-
ton to appoint committee of FIVE,
charged with the inquiry whether it
would be expedient to withhold ap-
preparations for the support of the
army. The object of such resolu-
ton was manifest and unmistakable.
1t was correctly designated by Mr..
Willis, of New York, as "revolution-
ary," and he added that 'its effect
would be to alarm the country" He
said he should oppose such legisla-
ton to the bitter end. Mr.. Field
saw it would be unwise to press the
motion just then, so he withdrew it,
but Immediately suggested another
meeting of the caucus. This was
voted down, and the caucus adjourn
ed.
NJ T:Il II L. .n,v,ad;afa