New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-15

shonld have been given. That QUESTION ia not 10 pc
considered. II exists, and that i the end oil ". INC
board received the sworn Testimony oil Rro"i many
persons and were convinced that snch N state of
facts existed rs to justly demand the recognition OF
tho election Of the Republican electors They re-
ceived the proper certificates of their election ana
on The day required cast their votes Tor Mr.. HaF''
for President and Mr. Wheeler for Nicc-ires'd"ht'
However diversified opinions may he ~ 10 whether
the Returning Board did right or wrong. there 10 no
tribunal fixed by thu Constitution by "hich rs ac'
can be set aside OF dsrcgsrtied
The President of the Senate ia tho loyal custodian
of the returns of the electoral colleges. 1t "a rio
his duty to open Che certificates in the presence OF
the two bousos of Congress- they being merely lhc
witnesses of the transaction. The counting OF tha
vote about which there has been 80 much silly talk,
is a mere clerical duty which may be- performed oy
Che Secretary of the Senate or Clerk OF the iionsf
or any Other persons capable OF correctly aiding up
a column of figures that may DO selected LOT 'ho
PURPOSE The President of the Senate IN bodhu 10
know historically, the resut of tho action Oh the
electors in each STATE, as TO decide between trno
and fictitious or false returns. For instance were u
document presented to him, pnrporting 20 be the
action Of an electoral college of sState whose only
evidence Of ts authenticity is the ceriihcate oil II
person known to him to be neither the Governor nor
any other officer Of that State he is under no obg-
tion TO onep IT, 1t may be said that much discre
ton should not be ntrustod To any officer OF the
Government. That is not now o debatable CUES
ton 1t has been intrusted to the President of tho
Senate by the Constitution, and to one else. 1t
cannot he taken from him except by an amendment
of the Constitution.
Congressional committees hav0 been sent to ex-
anime into the circumstances attending the election
in seycra, of the Southern States. shall now speak
in regard TO Louisiana. On their return from that
State come will contend that the action OF the Re-
farming Board was right and proper; while others
may pronounce it wrong and improper. A part OF
these committeeman may say that such state Oh
facts was established by unidentified evidence az
to convince them that men, from whose fingers the
blood of murdered Republicans was still dripping
had attempted to forcibly seize the helm OF Stan
Othors may say that there have been no assassna-
tions of Republicans for political causes: no drag
ging of Republicans by the neck until dead, becfe
they Republicans; that tho moSs perfecs ordef
refined throughout the whole country. TO this
Others may reply that, If so. 1t Is ire ordef th"'
rcigncA 1T Warsaw when crushed beneath tho iron
heel of tho AutOcrat of Russia the order of the tomb
the order of the funeral pile. the order which pre-
codes the last c0nvnsive tlrob of The poor colorcl
man when engaged in commcrdng his soul to his
! Maker the victim of the mcrcicss and brutal white
faDds who murdered him because of bis deyosson "a
/ the Republican party. All these things may be said,
and vet no power can change the action of the ic-
raIly constituted Electoral College Of that State
nor disregard or set aside the votes cast by it.
In 1914 The Wings had far better reasons 10 be-
! heve that Mr. Polk had been elected over Dir. Clay
/ by traud than the Democrats row have reason to
believe Gov. Hayes 70 have been thus elected. The
Electoral Colleges of the several States gave a ma
iority of their votes for Mr. Polk and he was legally
elected. Tho Wings did not threaten 10 disregard
the votes thus given nor did they call conventions
for the purpose Of melting their friends TO bloody
resistance 90 his inauguration. Their devotion to
Their great leader the majestic and immortal Henry
CLAW was bnt little short Of alteration, and yet they
! had still greater regard for the Constitution and
laws of their country and they bowed in silent ODE
dicncc 10 their supremacy. May we not hope that
| the "second sober thought OF those who were
! beaten in the recent election viii induce them to
follow so patriotic an example? JNO. d. DETREEs.
| EashliQ.ol D. g., Jan. -, 1877.