The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1877-01-31
aiilsbarauyI Gssagnsr'
TIE EoToRAL COUNT.

As he .ins for the decision OF the yexed
questioo IL tbs Presidential election ap-F
pro4ches, public anxiety naturally rlsesE
higner ia eohtemP lalion Of the result. Uni
expected Md ii the face Of facts. that
question mas tssn complicated with DIM
cuI,ies from which, there Is no exirFation
through the usual forms Of law. and scarce.
N through the observance Of Constitutional
provisions. Tie Democratic party 'aoral-f
. Is sure or the election of tbeir candidate ]:
was not willing to yield yietoryaPparentt-i
ly 50 fairly lis own, The Republican paras
~, fast anchored in the possession Of pow
er. was reluctant to yield to that force Of
popular verdict tina. would driyeit from lts;'
moorings. The Democratic party contend
ed for the maintenance Of its rights through
the instrumentalities which had through a !
former time been effective to decide the
doubts Of such contests. The Republican
party, practicsi in all the arts Of evasion.
skilled IL the use Of all the machinery that
makes trickery successful. bold from unde-
WAITING success in the uses Of unconstitu.
tional and illegal devices, insOlcntly pro
claime3a determination to declare the mo-
mentous result BY means the most arbitra-
ry aud unprecedented to attain its posi-
tion.
Between the attitude of the two parties
q middle ground Of accommodation has been
sought IL vain. unless. indeed. it is now e
be reached by the plan laid before Congress
by the Committee Of conference. That
plan takes the decision out Of the hands Of
all the agencies usually employed 70 act IL
like eases. II takes il out Of the hands O
the electoral college. the direct spokesman
Of The people; it takes tout Of the hands
Of the House Of Representatives, the mex
immediate voice Of the people; it takes j
out Of the hands Of the President Of th,
Senate. most impuden:ly claimed TO be clas
with the declaratory power; aud i put
iuto The hands Of Commission. selectes
partly from the two Houses Of Congress
and partly from the Supreme Court Of th'
United States.
Il must be grave emergency which re
sorts to step 50 unusual. II isa recagni
ton Of tie fearful conclusion that all tb
ordinary measures are exhausted. and tha
TO save the country from war and from AZ
archy. tribunal is created for the occa
sioa 10 whose decisions. for the sake 9
peace. all contention must yield.
TLis triLuna las one objection. whic
preseafs itself to many minds--ils decision
appear 20 hang upon the element Of chance
Ils cotclusiou may depend upon the castin
vote III one man. aud that man may posi-
Oily be iueUced BY party preferences,
Yet We can more safely rely upon ID
well considered action Of this body Of msl
carefully selected and aEfully conscious :
the gravity Of their duties. than hope
reach happier conclusions through the hea'
ed discussjoDs % the excited material |
Congressional deLatsrs for sxtrieation fro
the trouble In.
And We are far from having distrust I
the members o. the Supreme Court vi
compose branch Of the tribunal. The
IRE al men profoundly .yersel il cOnssii'
tionsl questions. all profoundly Commits
10 preserving the cburaster 81 The Court {
impartislity. al past the age when ami
ton can tempt to crime. al probably q q
goal Of tneir aspirations. al with no purPo
higher thar that to preserve The charuci
which vas the foundation stone Of the
eleyatioa.
The moderate men of i'll parties acqr
esce IN the wisdom Of this last resort 70 o
tie The Presidential problem. Only q
extreme 2artissns ~ both ,ides oppose
And il i not the least Argument % iis
yor ihas such men as Morton and cbapdl
who insist upon the extreme and uneons
tutiUnsl measure as the sole and absolu
dsclsntiop Of the President q the Seua'
are most violent 10 opposition.
We look. naturally. toa decision u
vor d the TiIden electors. l. i imPos
hIs 10 do otherwise 10 face Of the fact
tabii.iea 10 affair Judgment. that the v
claimed Tor Hayes in the disputed States
20 clearly tainted with fraud that il cant
stand lie test Of impartial scrutiny.
lIst We must be prepared. even VII
convinced o. the fairness aud fulRess Of !
denis election 70 abide unqusliiiedly
,he decision of ihe arbitra,ing ccmDissi