The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-19
acter and dignity Of their decisionsof ques-
tons growing out Of Che Disputes IN the

l. @ p
blasted. Itis ssen TINT Che spirit Of fertt
sansbip is not shtt. eat from even the high.
est judicial tribunal inthe land. 1neyery
important question submitted to thselccto-
| raj body the decision has been purely par
tisan. Judges MILLER and STRONG, OF tine
Supreme Court, seemed to be unanimously
regarded. as immoderate partisans, ana NO
vote different from MoRToN's has been eS-
pected Of them by anybody. But Judge
BRADLEY, for. some reason or. ether, was
looked upon as man who might give a .uds-
ment upon the law unbiased by party pas
sion. The hope has been all the time aus
appointed. He promptly ranged himseh
with those bitterest OF partisans, MORTON
and G4RrIEI.D,; and travelled through the
record by their side. g.
The Commission in every case determined
to exclude all testimony relating to the cor
ruptions and villainous acts OF the returning
boards. Notwithstanding that they listened
to the recital Of those acts by the ablest
counsel and knew their bearing, upon the
election OF President. Florida was firsk
disposed OF in this partisan manner; but
hope retreated to Louisiana. That state
presented several points OF such peculiar
force that the best lawyers asserted the
Commission could not ignore them. This
PAPER said that in the case OF Louisiana
there were law-points, and those were tne
things with which to catch the judges.
Bit no, party spirit ruled the tribunal
The same. old vote-eight to seven-was
maintained throughout. The villainies OFT
Returning Board were covered up and the
Office OF Judge OF the Supreme Court de-
graded. A wrong without precedent has
been done to republican liberty, ana
President lias been declared to be
elected in opposition to a majority Oh q
ouarter OF million OF all voters, and OF
more than million OF white voters. 1t Is
sad day for the republic, sad day for
public and for judicial virtue.
And yet, although the Electoral Commas
sion is to be abused, and richly deserves
censure. the establishment Of that Commits
sion affords us in the extremity which has
fallen upon the land real consolation.
Fraud indeed has triumphed. but it has
done so under the forms OF law and CIVIL
authority, and these may open the way to
an early vindication OF popular will and
popular freedom Yes, oil this, and fur
tber,nore, may bring about the just censure
OF all the wrong and a reform OF all the
corruption that now bow down the reputa-
o,,J ,,r;Io ~ tha nati0N
The Electoral Commission has fcarfully
failed to maintain the high expectations
fixed upon it. It has fallen low indeed,
but we claim, that nevertheless it has Sc
cured an invaluable advantage torcpubll-
can liberty in its legal constitution.
There are some earnest expressions OF re-
eret amongst the people that the Supreme
Court should have been, to quote from
many, dragged into the party arena"
This, we submit, is grave error. The APP
peal to the reverend judges of that body to
join the tripartite Commission and save
the country from Il threatened danger by
their judicial and patriotic Intervention was
wise and entirely appropriate. So far from
dragging them to lower level it clearly
tended to their cXaltation. The compi-
ment was noble and spontaneous. The
failure Of the Judges to rise to the grandeur
OF the argument is their grievous fault. The
nation took them to be gold, and they have
turned out only clay-to be gods, and they
are mere men. The fact has filed the ma
tional mind with regret, and the judges re-
turn to the bench with that ermine which
was white when they left it all soiled and
polluted. ..,....
And now it is left to us to submit grace
fully to the decisions OF body to which we
appealed to save us from usurpation and
outrage. Whatever temporary ebullition
of passion may now be manifested we ven
ture to predict that all will end in proper
and decorous acquiescence in the result
We venture further with delightful com.
pIacency to anticipate that the southern
members of Congress will be conspicuous
for their high sense Of honor and propriety
in the eXcitements of the hour.
The country is making history. 1t has
by fortunate move avoided the worst pos.
| SlDlS uiSdSlSl w popui.'1 e3oFOi hAhSAiOs 'AAo
may, through law and civil authority, re.
cover the ground lost during the years OF
persecution and vindictiveness since the
war. Under the disguise OF public devo.
ton outrages upon popular rights have
been committed that imperil the public
liberties, and all for the ambition and greed
Of vile and ruthless partisans. Villainies
and corruptions have not let loose infu-
rated passions simply because the people
OF America are too self-possessed and (shall
we say wisely p forbearing for this. But
by sinking usurpation we postpone the
dangerous period and give the people time
for reflection and action, and may thus en-.
able them to relssert their authority and
save the republic from the hands Of despot.
ism. Calmness, frmness, and order should
now prevail. Public devotion and manly
and independent exercise Of the right OF
the citizen will, we trust yet lift up the
country and free it from the dominion OF
vulgarity, dishonesty, and usurpation.
|
The Disorganized State Governments
The beasts OF prey who have been held
back by the refusal OF General GRANT tc
decide the cases OF the State governments Of
Louisiana and South Carolina are very i'm