Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-03-03
Col. McLaughlin's Letter on the
Electoral Commission.


We regret that the suhj0ined letter which
reached us last week should have come to hand
one day too late for publication in our last Is
sue. 1t was written in reply to a request we
had made Of CJl. Mclaughlin for his opinion
ofthe constitutional questions involved 10 the
bill creating the Electoral Commission. 1t
viii be seen that Col. Mclaughlin does not a.
gree with those who think the Commission
should have gone into the evidence affecting
the validity of title Of some Of the Electoral
Colleges. H. impugns the action Of the Com
mission on other grounds. We commend Lis
letter to the careful pefasll OF all Democrats
SUPREME Cum ROOM. NEw YORK,
February 81, 1877.
To THE EDITORS or THE FREE RESS-
GENTLEMEN: Your favor of the 18th inst,
requesting for publication my views on the
Electoral Commission, is inst received. can
add but little 10 that which all the world knows.
The National farce is drawing 10 an eud, and
never before have Aristotles pTecepts Of unity
Of plan and unity Of action been more rigorous
ly followed. The Black Republicans have not
varied hairs breadth from the plot that lay
or rather lies at the bottom Of the cunningly
devised law that has called the Commission iu-
TO existence AMI has 50 elfectullly entrenched
behind undeniAbly sound p iaciples Ct Con-
s,i,utional law Alpine heights Of corruption
and fraud that, on the Hgtei questions pro.
pounded for decision, we're | on the Board, as
a States Rights man and a lawyer, | would
find myself greatly embarrassed on every qucs
ton, except that OF the ineli cibihty of Electors
,rkicF the Constitution expressly transfers 10
Congress.
No, Messrs Z litors, the evil does not lie
there; the votes on the questions propounded
cannot be successfully assailed. The Electors
are creatures Of State creation. Let each
State see 10 it that they fairly represent the
voice Of her people, before she clothes them
with authority 10 speak il her name but once
arm them with the credentials required and
prescribed 10y State law 10 complete the fuuc-
tons Of thcir Office within the time fixed by
the higher law OF the Republic, and a review
of their title by the State would be e. post, fac
10, and Of no legal effect; by Congress It would
be a usurpati1n OF rights and duties exclusive
/ ly belonging 10 the State aud therefore uncon
stitutiOnal, except in the solitary case Of incli
| gbi.ity under the Constitution.
Let the anathcmas, thcu, Of the press, AID
the indignant circumstances of an outraged
people be hurled against the military usurpa-
ton that shackled the manhood and chat ed
the Democratic spirit Of Louisiana, Florida
and South Carolina, 50 that they were power
| less to arrest the evil and crush the foul con-
I spirators who were Systematically robbing
them Of their liberties aud flchnG their dear
est rights in the name and under the forms Of
law Hc foRs et Principiam OmRium malo-
rum. The willy villain who framed the Elec-
toral law, (Elmund,l, and the lying false
hearted couspirators who deluded and deceived
the Democrats and Congress into its accept
ance, should be pi'lorei in everlasting iniamy.
All looked to Hewitt for counsel and example,
but be proved unequal to the emergency
Mor,ons hostility was a delu,ion and a snare.
They have game their enl-fos there is no
longer any doubt about Oregon. What will
come Of it remains % be seen.
Very Respectfully Yours,
j. FAIRFAX MCLAUGHLIN.