Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-24
A Snare and Not a Measure OF
Peace.

Auc mOIe Tue (OulpIObi>e Diii vi Souhe
ing the Electoral Vote is examined the
stronger do the objections to it APP
pear. In the desire to get rid of an un-
pleasant controversy many persons have
taken it for granted that 1t is a safe meas
ure, without having given it a careful con-
sideration. That it Is In plain conflict
with the Constitution, al variance with the
repeatedly declared views of the founders
Of the Government, in direct opposition
TO the course Of the early statesmen both
Of the Federal and Democratic parties,
cannot be denied. Yet, conceding in sub
stance all this, many at first were inclined
10 let the Constitution slide, in the belief
that the present exigency required extra
ordinary and even revolutionary measures
in the name OF compromise aud peace.
These persons have forgotten that the
policy OF peace at any price" in the end
always proves to be that which is the sur
ea TO prerent peace.
But the object of this article is more par
ticularly TO call attention to one omission,
or int ntion. of the Bill which conclusive
ly proves that 1t Is not what il pretends
measure Of equity, justice and peace.
The fret and second sections provide
that none Of the electoral votes shall be
passed upon by the Triplcate Commits
sion, except such as come from States
which have made "more than one return
or paper purporting to be return" Now
this completely shuts out an examination
OF the case Of Mississippi. the one of all
others that should be investigated by fail
and independent tribunal. 1t is notorious
that the present State Government of Miss
issippi is fraud. an audacious usurpa
ton brought about by intimidation, vio-
lence. blOodshed and wholesale murder
The proof is cumulative and overwhelm-
Ing that II Ii the result oftrampling under
foot the provisions OF the Constilu-
ton and the laws OF the United
States. by which majority of the
people were deprived of their political
rights and overcome by armed force
The electoral vote of that State rests Oh
this gigantic fraud. this audacious usur-
patton by blood. and in defiance of large
Republican majority the electoral vote
that State comes to Washington for Til
den. This vote thus obtained more than
overcomes the vote Of Maine for Hayes.
The House Of Representatives in CON
troll Of those recently in rebellion, many
OF them elected by fraud, intimidation and
murder, will not reject the Tilden vote ol
Mississippi. for according to the terms
the Compromise Bill it requires the vot'
Of both Houses to reject the vote of Stat
with only one return. While South Caro-
lima. which cast a handsome majority lul
Hayes even over the thousands of fraud.
ulent votes for Tilden from Georgia anc
the armed bull-dozers goes to the Com
mission.
But the glazing outrage of the Bill in re-
spect to Mississippi is not the only one b,
which the Republican side ofMe question is
betrayed. There are at least five or sin
States that made choice of electors legal,
ineligible. Among these are Missouri,
Tennessee, New Jersey, North Carolina,
and Oregon. The Republican States care
fully remedied the difficulty by the resigna-
ton OF the ineligible electors, and the cleo
ton Of Others according to the specif,
term Of their State laws. There are yer,
grave doubts in the opinion of some Of the
aolest lawyers in the country. whether IL
the case Of Frost of Missouri, the vacanc,
was legally filed. Yet none of these
Democratic states which made choice OF
Ineligible electoral candidates. have mad,
duplicate returns to the President of tn,
Senate. The questions OF iueligibility o
electors, and those growing out of tn,
same. arising in part from the mperfec
and inadequate provisions of the laws o.
some Of the states for filling vacancies
will, by the terms of the Compromise Bill
all be decided by the votes of the tw,
Houses, save 10 the case of Waits of Ore
gon. which alone of this class of questions
is to be decided by the Commissioners
No vote can possibly be excluded from tht
count 10 any OF the states that have for
warded but one set OF certificates, as i
will require concurrent action of the two
Houses to do it. while one of the eleclora
votes Of Oregon may be rejected by tn.
Commissioners. Yet. the filing of the
vacancy 10 place OF Frost of Missouri
will stand as legal under the action takel
BY the Senate and House, should the bill
become law. BY every principle o
equity and faii dealing. IL the Commission
e-s are TO pass upon questions of ineligi
bil.ty in Oregon, they should also pas
upon and decide all questions OF the kline
10 other states. Thus it is clear that the
scheme .. reported by the Joint Com