Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1877-01-23

GOV. JACOB ON THE SITUATION.

present session
1t was nv earnest desire to be able, in my
last general message, to speak OF returning
prosperity, and of the final settlement of iris
taling questions that have 50 long sgitated
the country. Blu, the present condition of
affairs will not justify me in doing so. FL
nancial depression still continues labor seeks
employment without finding it, and remuueT>
ative investments do not offer themselves to
capitalists. 4 merciful Providence has been
pleased to grant US abundant crops, yet this
abundance has failed to produce that volume
of business which has heretofore resulted
from the same cause. No evidence of decid-
ed improvement in financial measures Is yet
apparent. | will not attempt tn trace out all
of the causes of this state of affairs, as you,
doubtless, are familiar with the salient points
of the various theories presented to the pub
lie. One influential cause can certainly be
found in the political situation of the country
"a situation that inspires doubt and uncer-
tsinty about the future 10 snch an extent as
to paralyze enterprise among the people. l
cannot, therefore faithfully discharge my
present constitutional duty without referring
to it.
The canvass that preceded tho late Presi-
Dental election was unusually animated. yet
the great body Of the people, in a spirit of
ity, looked forward to the election a con-
clusion of political excitement, with the de-
termination to accert the resnit, whatever it
should be Unfortunately, however, doubt
has tccn thrown over this result, and the
country witnesses day au angry aud excl
ted contest As to the person chosen to he
President of the United Sts'cs. Patriotism,
fOrbearaucA aud f-In adherence to weII-settlCd
principles. are necessary elements in the So
luton of this question; party success Is OF
liltc weight when far greater interests arc al
stake.
The uncertainty about the result of this
election, and the anxiety Of the people
tuEaliy flowing therctrorO, have arisen from
receut extraordinary proceedings in certain
Southern States. The governments in these
States are the Legitimate off.pring of the so
called reconstruction Po!icy-a policy potent
for evil only, separating and dividing voters
into two classes white and colorcd, exasper>
ating the one clsss by oppression and misrule,
and arousing and stimulating the fears of the
other to morbid degree. If the people CT
these States had been LEFT to themselves, and
had been permitted TO manage their own nf
fairs unmo!esled, these evils would quickly
have disappeared through the silent but pow
crtul sgepcy of The ballot>b0x. The Federal
Government has. however, constsutly mud ac>
lively interfcred in their affairs, aud its in
iuencc aud power have been exer'ed sustain
in Office persons wEO had not been fairly elect
cd. Under these circumstances all efforts at
reform have been defeated by methods aud
practices unknown III other States. Elections
are held in these States under the surveillance
OF United States deputy mar-hEs. and Uni>
ted States troops are stationed at the polls;
the returns OF election are cnuu,ed under the
p.otcctiou of United States soldiers, and men
are iuducted ,itu "flice, and legislatures or
gained under the shadow of the Federal
bayouet; corporal Of the army examines
the crcGeU'4ls OF members of Legislature,
aud either admits OF excludes them accord
ing 20 the orders of his superi"Ts; the sn-
prcmc court OF = S'a,e m~kcs diet,stetul or
der, and judge Of the United States circuit
court is conveniently at hand To RDnul it
every where the power OF the certral govern
meut is felt; military rule 10 the time of
peace is the supreme law; Federal force leaves
no room for State authority, aud the laws are
| silent. | do not stop to comment these
unconstitutional proceedings, further than TO
say, that the governments OF States in which
! these things done. must OF necessity be
| mere creatures Of the executive branch OF the
general government; all Of the vitality or
| force which they possess derived from ii
without sustaining aid, they would fall to
pieces from inherent weakness they exist
only By the suiferance of the central govern
! mert, and cannot. in the nature of things,
/ have that independence of action which oil
right belongs to all Of the States Of the Union.
! Elections held under such auspices as
these, must be wanting in thst moral force
which attaches 20 them elsewhere, esi eciaIy
( if they result in accordance with the wishes
.,zf.,. -. f4,u,-
constitutional methods.
In come Of these States. however, the pop
! u!ar vote was cast contrary to the wishes of
the party iu power, aud Returning Boards,
| whose duty 1t vas 10 count up the vote, and
ascertain the result OF the election, resorted
to the very dauG eroUs plan OF excluding from
/ the computation OF votes a sufficient number
TO reverse the popular verdict. This action
| OF these Returning Boards. has brought about
| the uncertainty ~ to tie result of the Pres
ldenIial eIecriuD ol which l have spoken, and
! has given national importance TO their action.
| Such an attenpt to change TIE result Of sn
election, is utterly subgersive of the whole
! theory of popular government. that can con-
/ cievc Of substantial argument that can be
/ offered III its defence.
1t Is claimed that certain class Of voters
were iutiuidsted, and that, if ii had not been
| for such ln!imldation, the result OF the eiec-
ton would have been different. | can we'll
see how an election can be rendered void by
gross fraud or intimidation, but how CANVASS.
ing officers can undertake to say that diff
! icrent result would have been reached, ex>
cept for such fraud or intimidation, or in fact,
how they can reach any conclusion except
from the returns showing the number of votes
actually cast, L cannot understand. Once
| grant this power to canvassing boards. and no
! means are left to the people to change the