The Portland daily press., 1877-02-03
The Electoral Bill.


Hon. William P. Frye in acknowledging the
receipt of q numerously signed memorial of the
citizens of Bath in favor of the electoral bill
sets forth his reasons for opposing it in the fol
lowing letter, to Mayor Reed:
WASHINGTON, Jan. 90, 1871
Hon. Edacifa Reed:
Dear Sir:-I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of petition signed by you and 9TH
er citizens of Bath, asking the Maine delegation
in Congress to support the so-called "compro-
mise BILL" / know personally and by reputa-
ton the most of the signers of both political
parties, and confess that seldom is petition
presented to your delegation entitled to greater
consideration than this. received it some
hours subsequent to the final vote on the meas.
ure, but am frank to say that its earlier recep-
ton could not have changed my vote. In mat
tiers involving no great principle such request
emanating from such source, would probably
ing constitutional rights, duties and obligations
must be submitted to and determined by the
conscience and Judgment of him upon whom
you, my constituents, have imposed the respon-
sibility.
Knowing early in the session that the ques-
tions and principles involved in this bill mu st
be presented to Congress in some form, exam
ined the subject with more than usual care, and
arrived at conclusion entirely satisfactory to
my own mind. In my opinion, the trainers of
IL,
the hands of the President of the Senate, not to
the right, but the duty, the imperative duty of
opening the certificates placed in his custody
by the states, of determining which was the
true certificate of electors where more than one
from a state was forwarded to him, by counting
the votes in the two Houses and declaring the
result.
If this opinion is correct, and of this each
man must be his own judge, then sit logically
follows that no legislation can abate one iot or
one title of this officers power, can be allowed
to affect other than mere formal matters, and
that this 'Compromise BilP' is a clear invasion
of the powers and solemn duties of the Presi-
dent of the Senate. OF course have not the
assurance to assert that l am right in my con-
illusions, and reality admit that gentlemen
doctrine radically different; but my sworn
obligations of support to the Constitution are
relieved by conscientious and personal per-
Torrance of its requirements as l understand
them. You will cheerfully concede that in the
discharge of such duties am the representa-
tive OF my constituents not their agent.
This answer will suffice for you and your fell
low petitioners but inasmuch as my vote may,
after all, have been wrong, though 1 believe it
was right will say further not as excuse but
in palliation, that manhood was the steady
friend of the side your delegation espoused.
know that you and many of the signers of this
petition with you, would have stood firmly with
US, ii you had been present through the contest
1uI6dtS VI WAR WeI6 dS pieuClIul as drops OF
water in q summer shower; gatherings of one
hundred thousand ''unarmed" democrats to
assist in the count were counselled by leaders
IN the democratic party; charges of conspiracy,
fraud and every crime were daily made against
our side. Compromise was not asked, but was
demanded.
This condition of things would have reminded
you of that darkest day in the history of the
republic, when, at the demand of a threaten
ing South, the yielding North offered COM
picot hn onfa aaf oh
bound our country forever to the car of slavery,
made it the very slave of slavery through all
time; and You would have hesitated long before,
in response to the same threats, made largely
a ne w9p ba have
nately for the Republic, was, in madness, re-
jected; the latter, wisdom having been born
from experience, was eagerly accepted.
am satisfied that some men who supported
this measure was actuated by the highest mot
Constitution, controlled by the purest patrjo-
tism; but cannot accord to all of that great
majority the same lofty purpose. We of the
minority were indicted as partsans and put on
trial. Does no suspicion attach to the grand
Jurors who brought IN the bill against us?
say to you, there was combination of infu-
ences here almost resistless. Threats of war,
az time when its terr0rs and its sorrows were
90 fresh in tie memories OF the American
people; piteous appeals Of PROSTATE business
at time when thousands and tens of thous-
ands Of men and women were crying for the
bread they could not carp by the sweat of tn g
brow; the necessity pressing upon public me n
to make the record of to-day consistent with
that OF yesterday, and chance for success for
the democratic party where no chance existed
before, may we'll account for part of this over
whelming majority, indeed may have enacted
this bill into law. Sincerely hoping that this
measure may prove to be 'eminently wise and
patriotic" and gifted to bring this perilous
crisis of the Rupublic to a speedy and peace
full end.''
Il am, very.respectfully, your servant,
VIM p FRYE.