The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-01-18

E. D. Mansfield is very able writer
and his judgment is excellent. The fol- |
loving article Of his we take from the /
Cincinnati Gazette Of last Friday:
No CoNPRoNsE-OPIxIox OF rHE FA-
rHERs-SEIEs BRtUHT-The Gazette Of
the 4th inst was entirely right in oppos-
ing any compromise Of the political situa-
tion, for the plain reason that there is
nothing to compromise. There is no
power in Congress, OF any branch Of the
Government, or any political meetings,
TO compromise the Constitution. The
Constitution is plain and complete, and
nearly all the fears, objections. discus
sions, and suppositions, on the difficult
ties apprehended in counting the Elec-
toral vote are founded upon imagination.
not the Constitution imagination Of
what might happen in this or that con
tingency. No such contingency can
arise unless there is a departure from the
Constitution and long line Of prsce-
dents under it. On the election Of John
Adams, think, a question incidentally
arose on the mode OF counting the vote
Some members Of the Senate thought
the Senate had something 10 do with IL.
while others thought il was clearly a
ministerial Office It rlay interest some
persons to know the opinion OF twp OF
the ablest Of the fathers Of the Constitu-
tion, both Southern men. Charles Colin
worth Pinckney was a m, n,Ler Of the
Convention from South Carolina. In the
debate in the Senate, he declared that
the counting Of the vote was a purely
ministerial Office, and TO other idea was
Al
ham Baldwin was a member Of the Con
vention from Georgia, and a friend Of
Jefferson. lie said, IA answer 10 some
suggestion Of amending the Constitution.
that this clause as TO counting the
Electoral vote was right as IL stood.
agreeing with Pinckney. The only
question raised in the Senate on count
ing the Electoral vote. has been whether
the State giving the vote was a State or
not, as in the case OF Indiana or Missouri.
That is a proper question, for unqucs-
tionably n territory or a province, not a
State, could not vote. There are only
two modes Of what are called "compro-
misses" proposed that have any bearing
on the question. and both are destructive
Of the Constitution, by making the Con.
stitution a secondary matter to the in
terests OF political parties. The first is
to refer some questions TO the Supreme
Corrt This is the most impractical and
absurd Of all propositions. II there be
any one principle that is settled among
political writers and statesmen, IL is that
the complete separation Of the three
functions Of government, the Executive.
Legislative, and Judicial, is necessary 20
the preservation Of freedom. In the
United States this has never been viola
/ I'll -. nd -.
would preserve the Constitution as the
defense and guardian Of our public liber-
ties. The next proposition is almost as
destructive Of Constitutional rights IL
is that the House and Senate shall agree
that the votes shall not be counted
without the consent Of both. This as-
surance that the votes Of the States. but
the votes Of the United States. where
Representatives (as a whole) now under
take to determine whether such a State
has voted for A or b. without any regard
to what the State says through Its au-
thenticated certificates. This is TO over
,urn State rights on the shortest and
| simplest method Ii is not only a viola
/ ton Of the Constitution. but il is an
overthrow Of all the recorded and tradi-
tional principles of the Democratic party.
which, in some form, insisted upon State
rights during seventy years OF it, history.
Office seekers, hungry as wolves out oi
snow, will seek to do this, but IL is at
least doubtful whether the Democratic
leaders will consent to such a plunge az
this for the sake Of temporary advan-
tage. At any rate. the Republicans must
compromise nothing unless they want
to take their last leap. Compromises are
false to principle and generally disas-
/ =. - n.,e n -
fail, there will be no need OF any TEN
porary expedients The last two weeks
have cleared the skies wonderfully and
| il the reader has attended to the current
Of political events, he will see that the
moral power (for il had no other) usinp
the term in the sense Of force outside
the law, 10 resist or invalidate the cleo
ton Of Hayes is almost totally destroyed
/ Ii was founded on two suppositions
first, that Tilden was elected, and Hayes
returned by virtue Of fr4t.ds in three
Southern States, and, therefore. Hayes
election would be resisted. IL necessary
by force A great many simple-minCed ed
people really took this in earnest, and
were seriously alarmed If they had
| lived in the time Of Jackson and Van
Ruren they would have felt no trouble
about Democratic threats. The Northern
Democrats are like the house dog whose
ba. X is worse than its bite. When you
once come to understand them they
give you more amusement than alarm
Now, all the moral power, IL il may be
called such, to alarm people with threats
Of trouble, has passed away. The Demo
Gratis have been holding many meetings
and have passed many resolutions. and
they are the most harmless things imag
Unable They are exactly like those al
Pixies Opera.hall. close limitations o
Snug, the Joiner, who, for fear Of fright
ening the ladies, roared as gently as q
nightingale The truth is. if they ever
cant any trouble at Hayes election
they have been completely squelched by
the declaration Of the Southern leaders,
that they will have no part or lot in any
revolutionary proceedings.
The second supposition Of the Demo
Gratis was that they could inquire into
the ac' ual votes OF Florida, South Caro-
lima, and Louisiana, and then show that
these votes were .eally not given
HAYES legally. This involves two ques.
tions: frat, whether they can 60 behind
the certificates to inqui about anything
This we have already considered. 1t Is
simply to overthrow State Governments
and create universal anarchy. OF course
| il will not be allowed. But there is, un-
doubtedly, a moral question. which
ought, and in some contingencies would.
have great weight Ii is for that reason.
we imagine (for il could not be for any
other) that Congress has sent its commit.
tees into those States to examine into
the facts The result is that the whole
question is already settled, and far bet
ter and quicker than we supposed il
| could he In the frat place South Caro-.