The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-22
THE COMMISSION AND ITS CONSE.
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We were never among the ardent ad
mirers of the. Electoral Commission
scheme, and, although it passed both
Houses of Congress amid perfect whirl-
wind of popular appreciation, it itcontained
features calculated to alarm the observ-
ant mind BY threatening the destruction
of the constitutional provision for de-
claring the Presidential election. The
bill set at defiance all the precedents of
the past century, and launched the craft
of State upon untried waters amid the:
greatest storm of political passion and
prejudice which has ever stirred the
American mind or blunted the American
conscience 1t was a dangerous expert
ment, and viewed in its most favorable
aspect was but compromise, and its re-
suit shows to the country additional evi-
dence of the misfartunes which follow
from a;compromise of political principle.
1t forms another of the unfortunate con-
ces,ions which have been made in our
nations history, and as usual the South
has been the prominent party in the ad-
iustment. In the Missouri Compromise,
of which the illustrious Clay was the
champion and author, Southern men con-
ceded what they termed compromise of
the slavery question by the terms Of
which slavery was prohibited to exist
north of a fixed geographical line. The
abolitionists Of course accepted it, as it
ensured them control of a certain section
beyond recall while it did not prohibit
efforts to extend their principles by legis-
lation as to other territory. In other
words they made clear gain without
any impediment for further acquisitions.
The sequel is too we'll known to need
comment from us. The Electoral Bill is
measure which will be parallel blum
der in history to the Missouri Compro-
mise. The Democrats knowing that Til
den and Hendricks were fairly elected
had to surrender their rights by propos-5
Ing to arbitrate them. The Republicans,
feeling that they were beaten, were Of
course willing to arbitrate, for if the de-
cisien went against them they did not
lose any thing, while if it resulted favor
ably for them they gained everything.
The Democratic Congressman were fool
ishly prodigal of the rights of their party,
for while they granted the Republicans
the majority on the commission they did
not even insert asclause in the bill re-
quiring the commission to hearthe whole
case. They have been outwitted by the
Republicans, and this measure, like the
Missouri Compromise, resulted in the de-
straction Of the principle it was intended
to establish.
There is no safety in compromise Of
principle, and whenever nation resorts
to arbitration for the settlement of vexed
questions, the security of the government
itself is endangered. In private differ
enees an arbitration is not SO objection
able, because men unconnected and not
interested with either contestant can: be
found, but when it comes to the great
questions which agitate nation every
man has his opinion, and the reference of
such question is simply a resort to lot
terry as to who shall get the largest num-
Der of partisans upon the board of arbi-
tration. Such has Been the result Of the
Electoral Commission. The moment
Judge Bradley was selected the Presiden-
tial question was settled. A throw Of
dice would have been as equitable aud
satisfactory to the country, The ,worst
feature Of the Commission Bill, however,
is the development il has made of the
partisan bearing of the Supreme Court Of
the United States. The Commission has,
resulted in failure The hopes Of the
people have been blasted, and its real re-,
suit has been to transfer the opening and
declaring of the vote for President and
Vice President from the President Of the
Senate to the eight Republicans on the,
Commission. 1t has made aninnovation
upon the Constitution, and unless it is
properly rebuked by the people will be
the entering. wedge to the disruption of
or republic. The country may survive
the shock Of the present commotion, but
It is to be hoped that in the future no
moro such questionable compromises may
be sssornd to. Itwould have been bet
ter for the countryfor The Uemocrats to
have sivpn up the, contest thap II. have
bsen cheated Out dfa just victory. bgs
fof fhg I6mpfom;sa scheme Hayes saAlla
not Have been P!esident.