The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-25

THURSDAY JANUARY d. 1877.
Views or ex-senator Carl Sahurs.
rs coSsTITUTroNALfTf MAISTAISED--iTS M
crsmTY CRdEp--THE POPULAR IMPRESSIONS
IN IT'S Favor.
81. IsopIs, January 49, Ex-senator
Schurz, in nm interview with the agent Of
the Associated Press this afternoon, in re-
ply to d question addressed to him, gave the
following "a his opinion on the electoral Dill
now before the United States Senate:
The bill reported by the conference COM
mittee serves the end which ex-senator He'll
tierson and myself had In view when, sege-
raj weeks ago, we addressed petition 10
the senate. II iurnishesfor the decision OF
the presidential question tribunal that mas
tho character OF in1partlality, ana whose
verdict viii. command universal respect.
supported Governor Hayes in the campaign
! in rood faith ana for good reasons OF puD,
In snscrest. II I had not strongly desired
his snccess should NOT have worked for MIN.
IN the same manner others have supported
Governor Tilden, but what the patriotic
rocY, OF both parties, and what the republic
needs is President whose legitimacy can
mot be seriously disputed. To that end he
must not be, and must not even appear to
have been, lifted to the presidency By the
mere use OF party power, the legality OF
which IL doubtful.
I de not mean to speak here Of the trou-
bles that might ensuc. Perhaps the coun-
try would in any event generally acQuiesce
for the sake of peace, but President whose
title can be seriously questioned would be
miserab1y at tho mercy OF the opposition,
which, OF course, would grow Immensely
in consequence OF that very fact. The
moral authority OF the National Govern
ment would be terribly weakened, and that
is always most dangerous condition Of
things in republic. Moreover, the sue
cessiul resort to the exercise OF doubtful
powers bya party for the purpose Of lifting
its candidate into the presidency would be
precedent iraught with the most perui-
cious consequences for the future, for such
precedents are always not only taken adj
vantage of, but improved upon by unscru-
pulous politicians.
For these reasons deem 1t OF most eX-
.reme importance that the decision OF the
presidential contest should be removed from
the theatre OF party strife and referred to O
tribunal not controlled by party interest.
The trouble is that so many Of our politicians
see only the object Immediately before them,
and not what is to follow. ] see it is argued
In Congress by some Republicans that in
the absence of legislation on that subject the
president OF the Senate has the constftJl.
tional power to count and declare the electo.
ralyote; and on the Democratic side that in
the absence OF legislation that the princi.
pie OF the twenty-second rule must be
maintained, which would put the decision
into the hands Of the Democratic majority
~ no 30
sumed, would elect Hayes, and the other
Tilden.
I. is not improbable that in the absence
OF legislation both parties would assert their
advantage, in consequence OF which we
might be cursed with contest between q
President and counter-President.
Twill not argue now which OF those two
theories, il either, is right, but I do say
that the absence Of legislation is full OF mis-
chief, and ought to be remcdied without
delay. To make an end Of that mischievous
absence Of legislation in this case the con-
ference committee has offered its bill. That
the measure may not be perfect-undoubt-
edly it is not, although, in my opinion,
the objection that it is offensive to
the spirit Of the Constitution cannot
great. virtue which, in view OF the
alarms and perplexities of the present situa-
ton, is just the one needed. Put the ques-
ton to anybody: Do you expect or sec any
reason to fear that in deciding the presiden-
tial contest the tribunal provided for by the
conference bill will render an unjust YER
dict? Every candid man will have to answer
"No." But tribunal of which no candid
man has any reason to expect an unjustye
dict is just the thing the country stands at
present in extreme need OF. This being so,
party leaders should consider we'll whether
they can afford to put their respective par
ties in position in which they may appear
to be afraid Of just verdict.
have no doubt that the opposition Of
fered by some OF the gentlemen in Congress
to the bill proceeds from conscientious mo-
tives: but it is also q fact which leading
men should not overlook that political
party opposing this bill will lay itself open
to the suspicion Of reposIng more conf
dence In the power they WELD than in the
Justice o? their cause. In this respect the
opponents of the measure render, in my
opinion, very bad service to the respec-
tive candidates, whose interest they seem to
have Ct heart.
Ii the conference bill should be defeated
am sure the party responsible for the de.
feat would sink under the .distrust Of the
people. It is useless for them to argue how
under the Constitution the vote should be
counted in the absence Of legislation, fol-
here is legislation proposed to them, and
upon their responsibility they have to
vote for or against it. Here is q method
offered to them by which they can give the
country what it above all needs, President
whose title is above dispute, and who will
be clothed with that moral authority which
the highest executive Office in republic
can never lose without danger to the whole
body polite. That method they have to nc
cept or reject.
AS to the popular sentiment with regard
70 the conference bill, / can only Judge
from my surroundings. In this community
there seems to be scarcely any difference oil
opinion among Republicans as well as De
mocrats. The feeling in favor Of the bill is
overwhelming. There are probably few
exceptions, but have not seen them. From
my correspondence conclude that the feel.
ing is similarly strong in other western
cities, although efforts seem to be made here
and there (mainly by active politicians) to
make ashow Of an opposition movement.
Mr. Conklins's Speech.
Especial to Baltimore Gazatte.] y,r..~
WASHINGTON, January Ex-senator Conk-
ling was recognized by the Chair. There
was quite a commotion in all parts Of the
house as be opened, for something extraor-
binary was looked for. There were several
books and few notes on his table, to which
he would occasionally refer, though he
epSiroiy hxvitIo1,f ,,raporodS