The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-02-02
The Electoral Compromise.

Tie Electoral compromise.
The Electoral bill passed The Senate on
Thursday, the House on Friday, was signed
by the President en- Monday and the count
ing of the electoral votes commenced yester-
day in Congress, The remarkable unanimi.
" of public sentiment in favor of the bill had
the effect OF fixing doubtful congressman
and it passed the Senate by a vote of A. to
II. Only one Democrat, Senator Eaton, of
Connecticut, voted against it. Morton and
Sherman exhausted their effolts to postpone
with the hope "i defeating The bill, but were
met ana ioiled ut every point. The disap
pointmcnt of Morton is extremely bitter, for
his defeat in this measure, through members
of his own party, means his displacement as
a party leader and the elevation Of rivals
In the House 1913 Democrats and 80 Re
publicans voted for it, and GS Republicans
and IS Democrats against it.
The Electoral Commission has been con-
stituted as follows: Justices Clifford, Miller,
Field, S rong and Bradley
Senators Thurman and Bayard Democrats,
Edmunds, Morton AID F.elinghuyscn, Re.
publicans.
Representatives Payne, Abbott and Hun
ton, Democrats, Garfield and Hoar, Republi.
cans.
Thus the congressional portion of the COM
mission consists of five Democrats and five
Republicans, all of whom favored the com
promise except Morton and Garfield. The
Justices of the Supreme Court appointed by
the bill, Clifford, Miller, Fled and Strong, Sc
lected Justice Bradley as the fifth Their
political preferences are somewhat uncertain.
1t is believed, however, that three of them
are Republicans and two Democrats All of
them are regarded as honorable men, who
may be depended upon to examine the qucs-
ions brought before them in purely legal
view, and without being swerved in their
judgments by partisan considerations.
With the exception Of Motion and Gar.
field, the commission is composed of men
from whom the country may expect an im-
partial and constitutional verdict. Neither
of the men named should have been placed
on the commission. Morton has openly de-
clared that Hayes must be inaugurated, come
what may, and he was one of the foremost
conspirators in the plot to count him in by
fraud and force
Garfield took part in The Louisiana fraud
He aided in the commission of the crime
and gave comfort to the criminals. II is
therefore unseemly for him TO take part as
one Of the judges to pass upon the conduc,
of the men he aided and ahetted in the com,
mission of fraud. They will both devote
their efforts TO embarrassing and rltardtne
the work of the commission in order TO de
feat, if possible, the attainment of Justice
Morton, however is not familiar with the
practice Of law, while the other mem
bers Of the commission ere men train
ed to legal methods and processes, SC
that Morton's dogmatic stump-speechcs vii
he estimated at their value.
There is a general determination on the
part of Democrats 10 accept the conclusions
of the commission, no matter what they May
be. A few Republicans however, led by The
New York Times are still engaged in TO
menting discord, being unwilling to trus
Hayes's chances to fair tribunal. Their ci
forts will be pUwelless, however; for if Mr.
Tilden is declared entitled to the office, {
power on earth can prevent his Inaugural
ton.
In agreeing 10 the compromise Tie Demo
Gratis surrendered portion of their rights
They knew TideI had been fairly and hon
estly elected, and taking their STANG upon
the Constitution could with propricty hay,
insisted upon his Inauguration nj all hazards
AT the same time they recognized the strength
and boldness of the conspiracy to count il
Hayes, even at the cost Of bloodshe2, and ia
Their than risk the horrors of another civi
war, they magnanimous!y consented to sub
nit their claims to the judgment of wha
they b.lieve TO be an impartial tribunal. I
was an act of the highest patriotism.