The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-01-26
The Congressional Compromise.

The bill reported in the Senate by Judge
Edmonds, from the joint committee to ascer
tain mode for counting the electoral votes
and settling the questions likely to arise in
regard TO disputed votes, has been received
with the utmost satisfaction by fair men OF
both parties, Already n sense of relief is
felt, and the feeling is general that the crisis
is safely passed, and The good ship Of Stat,
is rapidly gliding into smooth and peaceful
waters Memorials are being sert TO Sena
tors and Rel rcsenativcs, urging them to
vote for tie bill. The pressure brought to
bear upon them will be too strong 10 be re-
sisted, and the bill will doubtless become n
law The strongest and most determine
opposition to it appears ameng the Republi-
can managers, such as Morton, Sherman,
Cameron and others, who have all
along manifested determination to seat
Hayes, whether elected or not These men
have no future before them worth prcserv-
ing, for with the return of better feeling
among the people of all sections of the
Union they will disappear from public notice
and be utterly forgotten. Ii is q noticeable
fact, too, that all the Republican office hold.
ers and office seekers are bitterly opposed to
the plan, fearing TO tiust the ella to of Hayes
and their own hopes of placeims the judg-
ment of an impartial tribunal Some pro-
.mnent Democrats also express themselves
adversely to the bill, but their influence will
60 10 ,Inl,,
sentiment of the country in its favor
With such sound constitutional lawyers
and sterling Democrats as Thurman. Bayard
and Hewitt, and able and trusted Republi.
cans as Edmonds and Conkling in favor OF
it, while Morton and other extremists oppos,
it, the opposition t. it will not amount t.
much. The people at large viii look upol
this fact rs strong argument in its favor
AS the committee is to be constituted, il
is plain to see that the conclusion of tn,
matter rests chiefly with the Supreme Courr
Judges. As these hold Office for life, are
farther removed, perhaps, than any Other
tribunal in the land from partisan passions
and prejudices, and have weighty personal
reasons to desire to avert the turmoils of
civil war, it is fair to presume that their con-
illusions will ut least be based upon sound
legal and constitutional grounds.
AS the bill requires the concurrent action OF
the two Houses to reject the report of til
committee in any disputed case which ma,
be submitted to them, we may take it for
granted that their award will be final.
AS the case stands at present, if the bill
becomes q law, the prospects are all in favo
of Tiden. The compromise bill will secur,
him 1874 electoral votes 10 start with and il
is scarcely possible, under the circumstances
TO deprive him of the votes of one or NOR,
of the disputed States, and one more elector-
al vote will secure him the place If the
commission award the votes of all of the
three disputed Southern States to HAYES
which we do not regard as probable-thpre
will yet remain the vote of Oregon 10 BE-
settled. II they decide that there is no law
to go behind the certificates bearing tn,
broad seal Of State, then the one Tilden
vote in Oregon must be counted, and that
will elect him, If they apply this rule to
Louisiana or Florida, they must also appl,
it to Oregon. If they decide that only two
electors were chosen in Oregon, after giving
the other disputed votes to Hayes, the ques-
ton will revert 10 Congress, under the Con-
stitution, and the House in will elcct
Tilden.
The compromise will afford convcnien,
standing-room for such Republican leaders as
Edmonds and Conkling who desire to retain
their position in their party without sacriflc-
ing their personal integrity. Such men have
future before them, and are not willing to
commit political hari-kari for the benefit of
a rival like Mr.. Hayes.