The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-01-25
The Electoral Count.

The Electoral Count.
For the information of our readers. we
publish in full the report of the joint Com
mittee of the two Houses of Congress to de-
wise method for counting the electoral vote
as a measure OF pacifcaton and way out of
the complications resulting from the conflict
ing claims OF the two great parties of the
country.
We have hitherto claimed, and did so be-
cause we honestly belle we'd it to be true. that
Hayes had been legally and constitutionally
elected We believe now that il the laws
and the Constitution are strictly followed,
that the Returning, Or Canvassing Boards of
retrospective States, acting under State laws,
are the proper tribunals to decide who are
chosen electors Of such States, and that the
President OF the Senate simply discharges a
duty imposed by the Constitution, in an
uouncing the result in the States. The
reading of the Constitution justifies this con-
clusion-.He shall open," in the presence
and '.sl,all be counted,'' the votes as attested
by the certificates from the State tribunals.
The words s.Senate aud House OF Represent
atlves," are parenthetical, and if the sentence
were read without this, its true meaning
would be found.
The measure for the settleinnt of the ques-
ton in dispute. as to. who has been elected
President, has doubtless been framed by the
gentlemen composing the committee in the
interest OF peace. Its publication has beer
received with VARYING opinions, some ap-
rowing and others opposing. The ablest of
the Republican papers oppose it, as also,
some Of the clearcst intellects of that party in
the Senate and House. The same may be
said OF the Democratic party. Senator Nor
ton, of the Committee, did not sign the re-
port. and will oppose lis adoption. Senator
Edmunds drew up the original draft of the
document, and nearly all its controlling fea-
lures originated with him. In explaining it Ill
the Senate, he said ''that the tribunal to be
established must decide all questions submit
ted 10 it upon the law as it stood when the
election was held, and in no way takes away
existing rights and powers ~ Such being the
case, the result reached must necessarily be
that Ia which all the people ought to acqui-
esce. IL the members of the tribunal shall
honestly discharge their duties, under the
oath prescribed, a legal result will be asccr-
tanned, and although it will be a departure
from the constitutional method heretofore
governing, the pacitication of the country
will he in some degree compensation. We
have no Tears OF What the determination will
be. The friends of Hayes can safely rest
his case upon the laws and the Constitution
Did we not believe that he was elected in
conformity Herewith, we would not support
his claim. So believing, Senator Edmunds'
explanation Of the adjustment measure, that
the Law as it was at the time of the election
shall govern, leaves no room to doubt what
the verdict will be.
1t is relief to our Democratic friends, too,
Is it dispenses with the necessity Of carrying
into effect their threats of violence and reyo-
luton If Tiluen should no. be declared elect
ed. 1t presents a mode OF escape from the
dilemma in which they were placed, of ''ril-
den or war;" and for this reason they have
generally accepted it, although in and out
OF Congress there is decided opposition from
prominent members of that party.
The business interests of the country SEEM
ed to demand some measure Of settlement
that would cemove the possibility of serious
difficulty growing ous of the Presidential
dispute. Ii is not so mnch whether Hayes OF
Tilden should be declared elected, as the
assurance that whatever the result, there
should be no disturbance affecting the com
mercIal relations of the country.
We have no doubt the joint Committee did
the best they could, and while the result is
noe such as all could wish, and leaves in the
minds Of some doubt as to the final determ-
inatlon, the high character of the commit
tee itself, and the harmony that marked its
deliberations, incline to the belief that they
were controlled by deep sense of the great
responsibility that attached to the work. II
the proposed plan is not obnoxious to the
Constitution, as is asserted by some of the
ablest members of the Senate and House, and
the two branches Of Congress shall ratify
the conclusion. the great mass of the people
can afford to acqulese in the result that will
he reached, whether i'll favor of one or the
other OF the candidates.
What the country wants is peace. While we
have had no fears OF the threats of crazy
re aIN 10 II + a
il Tilden should not be declared elected, it
cannot be denied that the business Interests
Of the nation were seriously being affected by
the insane rant.ng Of Democratic office seek
ers. Aud while the measure reported by
the committee gives them loop-hole to es-
cape from their illogical and revolutionary
position, it will not, in our opinion, change
the result. A fair application of the laws
will secure the 1855 electoral votes declared
for Hayes and leave Mr.. Tilden and his friends
to retire to the shades OF private life, without
incurring the penalties ofopen treason to the
government.
The Democratic members of the Virginia
Legislature met in caucus ON Monday last.
Hon. A. Fl. Fl. Stuart offered resolution,
approving the report of the joint committee
on the electoral count, as the best tha6 could
be devised under the circumstances. Col.
Penn, offered substitute, changing the
phraseology, but conveying substantially
the same idea. After discussion, the caucus
adjourned without aclion on the resolutions.
Jno. W. Daniel spoke against the ''compro-
mise measure" bitterly. Gov. Smith sup.
ported Mr.. Stuart's resolution.
1t Is claimed BY the opponents of the bill
20 count the electoral vote, that 1t Is losing