The Jasper weekly courier., 1877-02-09

Washington Letter - the New York SUM-
In order TO appreciate properly the plan
proposed for settling the Presidential COM
piication. II II well 10 bear In mind few
salient facts touching the general situation.
The Senate assumed by IT. own power 70
abolish the Twenty second Joint Rule.
which originated In that body In 1860, and
under which three successive elections for
President had been counted and declared.
II was maintained by Speaker Randall and
rule still exists and could not be revoked
without the concurrence Of that body.
No new form Of proceeding could be
adopted without the cooperation Of the
Senate, where the majority was held tightly
In hand by few leaders. Mr.. Morton re-
fused TO press his bill OF last year, and every
possible obstacle was opposed 70 an sgree-
inent for fair and peacesble count. Mean
time, the conspiracy which was organized
Immediately after Hayes's defeat, had gain
ed headway and assumed large proportions.
II was backed by the whole power Of the
Administration, and troops were gathered
In Washington TO support fraud by force.
II was openly announced that II the two
houses failed 70 agree upon plan for count
ing the vote, the President pro tempore Of
the Senate would assume that function, and,
upon the papers presented, declare Hayes
President on the 14th Of February. In the
face Of that usurpation the House would re-
tire, hold there was no election, and pro.
ceed TO elect Tilden. Grant was prepared
was reached, TO bring In the troops to up
hold Ferry's decision, and TO arrest mem-
Ders OF the House who would refuse SUBJ
mission TO that outrage.
As result Of these extreme and irreconcil-
able schemes, there was the probability of
two persons claiming to be President on the
4th Of March, when each would be sworn In,
and of = revolution such ~ Is now progress
ing In Mexico, To be precipitated by blood
shed at the capital. IL may be said that the
extremists would pause when the pinch
came, and refuse TO take the final leap. The
answer is that their preparations we're made
in detail, and still exist. Beyond few me-
lied opposition confronted this conspiracy,
and Congress was rapidly drifting 70 the
day for counting the votes, without the least
agreement, or even plan for settling the
difficulties.
Under these circumstances the commit
tees came together, and finally adopted the
compromise, which has been for some days
before the country. TO those who fully
believe that Tilden was fairly elected on the
7th OF November, and that q combination
was then formed to defraud the people OF
the fruits of their victory, any concession
seems hard and unjust. There are many
Republican,. not connected with the con-
w
was chosen, because they have been deluded
into the belief that the Tilden majorities in
several States were obtained by ''intimida-
tion and violence
The extreme men OF both sides, at the
first blush, opposed the commission, and II
Is known that neither Mr.. Tilden nor Mr..
Hayes favored Il. Indeed, that knowledge
was one OF the obstacles to be overcome.
The fact that Mr.. Hewitt was a member Of
the committee has no significance in this
regard. He acted for himself, and not in
any representative capacity. Mr.. Morton's
refusal TO sign the report Is strong recon-
mendation in its favor.
This project IL not perfect, and IL open to
various objections, but, taken A. a whole, II
IL perhaps the best that could be obtained,
and has the great merit Of insuring peace.
Two chief grounds of exception have been
taken Ia Congress against the bill. First,
that IL il Unconstitutional, by delegating
power conferred alone on Congress; and,
secondly, because the clause relating TO tes-
timony Is not as clear and broad Ms IL might
be.
The bill expressly reserves TO Congress
the power which IL claimed, though the
Judgment Of the commission Is Of course
morally binding, and will hardly be dis
puted. A commission on the silver ques-
tion, composed In part Of experts, has been
sitting for months, upon the authority OF
Congress. Two Senators from Colorado oc-
cupy seats, without objection, merely by the
proclamation Of the President, and without
the approval OF the State Constitution by
Congress, which alone has the power TO ad-
init new States. Other instances might be
cited, though these exceptions would not
justify an infringement Of the Constitution
now. But they shut the mouths cf some Of
the present objectors.
Nhile there Is a positive feeling in the
public mind against mixing the Supreme
Court in politics, there are questions In
volved In this controversy which may be
vital 70 the decision. and which are no more
political that the decisions upon the Recon-
struction acts in 1878. In fact the votes Of
Louisiana and Florida may be said TO turn
upon the legality OF the existence in one
case. and their acts in both, OF the Return
ing Boards. II Is c0ntended that no law
exists in Louisiana by which the Returning
Board has the right 70 cDvass the election
Of Electors, and that II there IL, II has been
flagrantly violated by disregarding the
plainest provisions, In order to make fraud
easy and successful.
The political classification Of the Judges
designated on the Commission is hardly fair.
With single exception. the whole present
Court was appointed as Republican. Some
Of them were originally Democrats, and
others were Wings; but, except Judge
Clifford, all were regarded as good Repub-
leans. a life appointment and the habits
Of judicial thought have doubtless produced
changes, and the recent decisions may be
regarded as great departure from partisan
loyalty.
No doubt is entertained that the five
Judges Of this commission will treat the
law and the facts as they would deal with
any other great case, and with scrupulous
desire TO be entirely impartial. They have
nothing to gain. The eyes Of the country
will be upon them, and no at will pass
without scrutiny. The friends OF both can
didates will do we'll, therefore, TO reject
every unworthy suspicion Of their conduct,
which would impair the final judgment.
What One or Taft's Marshals Did for
the Cause OF Hayes and Wheeler.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2i.--United States