Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-03
PASSED By BOTH HOUSES.

we can use no words in copgratu-
latlng our readers on the passage of
Congress, which would express our-a-y-
feelings better, or as-vdItor of the
which are Go1rier-Journal, on the
skfne subject.
1t has been matter of self-con-
graduation with US, that our views in
relation of this whole matter have
been very nearly identical with those
expressed by that very able journal
the more so as those views have been
independently expressed, sometimes by
anticipation, sometimes following close
upon the utteranees of our contempt
rary:
The Electoral Tribunal bill now
needs only the approval of the presi-
dent to become law, and there is no
reason to believe that he will refuse to
give it his official sanction. So little
time was left for action, and the meas
ure was so vigorously urged through
both houses. that people who have
been disposed to subject it to rigid
criticism have hardly found time for
the purpose before the bill passed be-
yond the sphere of congressional de-
bate. Unless the Democratic party
organization is constructed wrong end
upward, and unless the most eminent
in the Democratic party are the ones
who ought to be at the tail-end of the
rear rank, the Democracy have all the
assurance that presumed knowledge,
ability and high minded courage can
give that the bill is constitutional, Just
and honorable. There are differences
of individual opinion on this measure
just as there are such differences on evry
public measure that can be proposed
and on every question of law that can
be raised. To be extreme in political
sentiment, and to be utterl y uncompro-
missing in accepting means for the set
telment of controversy, are character
istics which may be found exclusively
in no one party, or in no one man.
Men are entitled to their own individ-
ual opinions, and in all free countries
| they enjoy the liberty of expressing
! them; but there rests an obligation on
every man when the issue is closed By
the lawful official action of the consti-
stuffed authority to lay aside his per-
scnal opinions and give his hearty
support to the decision that has been
rendered. Probably before the week
is out the electoral bill will be law OF
the land. 1t is certainly not the work
of patriotism to endeavor to disparage
the law or the instrumentalities which
it employs. Every good citizen, what
ever opinion he may have held while
the bill was in issue, should, now that
it has been adopted, give his hearty
support to it, and pledge himself to
cheerfully abide by the result of the
| decision to be reached thereby. Iften
of our foremost public men and five OF
the judges of the highest judicial tri-
bunal in our land can not come to a
true, fair, honest and satisfactory de-
termination of the question to be pre-
sented to them, government might as
well be given over to anarchy, and
American society had better resolve
itself back into the original state Of
nature. If our most eminent states
men are such Williams, and our most
distinguished judges such rogues, that
they will cheat and juggle in the per-
| Torrance of duty they are specially
sworn to perform truly and honestly,
the American people might as well
quit right here. Somebody has been
elected. We say it is Tilden, others
say it is Hayes. We want the vote
counted one way, and we believe our
way is right; the others wanted il
counted another way. The House OF
of Representatives backed our way
the Senate backed the other way. The
House and Senate are of equal dignity
and power. Would two men, or two
| business companies, or two churches,
or two anything ever come to an agree
ment under such circumstances? Nor
any more would two legislative bodies
The appropriate thing to do under
i such circumstance Is to arbitrate
This, the bravest and most sensible
men of both houses have agreed to do
and the men of the country thank
them for taking such a sensible and
practical view of the matter. IF two
gentlemen are engaged in hot dispute
that they can not themselves reconcile
and which may lead to blows, we can
not see that there is any compromise
of principle, or any mere choice of
evils, or any sacrifice of honor, in re-
! ferring the matter to mutual friends fol-
| adjustment. On the contrary, if either
or both should refuse such arbitration
we would set him or them down as
wanting in the first element Of good
| sense, courage and manliness.
For our part, we have not been
whipped, betrayed or scared into ac.
ceptance of this measure. We are for
it because we believe it is legal, expe-
dent and honorable and fair to both
sides, and we venture to predict thai
when the history of these times is
written this bill will take place as the
wisest legislative action of the period
and that posterity will regard it as one
Of the most conspicuous evidences OF
the power of popular government tt
right itself, and one of the most illus
trious examples of the virtue of {
people who rule themselves. The oc.
casion of its consideration and adOp.
ton has certainly furnished the frs
example in many years, and the mos
remarkable example at any time, OF
men forgetting their party differences
in their country's welfare. IF the
measure had serious defects, the fac
that it has elevated the patriotism o.
our land would serve to cover many o.
its blemishes.