The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-24
Oregon Given to Hayes-Wfh She
Democrats. Filfbusters

What all good judges have regarded as
strong probability since the action of the
Electoral Commission in the case OF Florida
has become an accomplished fact. The de-
cision announced yesterday giving all three
of the electoral votes of Oregon to Hayes
and Wheeler determine the Presidential
question SO far as the power to determine
it lies with the commission. There remains,
to be sure, one other State which may be
referred to that tribunal, but there cannot
be the slightest shade of doubt as to what
the decision will be in the case OF South
Carolina. Even the committee OF investlga-
ton, sent to South Carolina by the demo-
cratic House, came to unanimous con-
clusion that the Hayes electors were really
chosen in that State. After render
ing decisions adverse to the democrats
in each of the three States where
there were grounds for contesting the
Hayes certificates it is matter OF
course that the commission will overrule
the democratic objections to counting South
Carolina. The Presidential election is,
therefore, virtually decided. If the Electoral
law is carried ont in good faith and the COM
pletion Of the count not obstructed by dila-
tory action on the part Of the democratic
House.
Unfortunately, 1t is in tho power Of the
House to defeat the purpose Of the law
and prevent on election by protracting
the proceedings until the 4th of March,
now only q week and one day dis
tant. Next Saturday, March 8, will be
the last day of the session, and there will be
no difficulty, if the democrats are so in
cllned, in blocking the count, on one pretext
and another, until the clock strikes twelve
on the 4th Of March, when this Congress
will be dead. We do not abandon our
hope, nay, our strong belief. that the ma
iority of the democracts will act manly.
patriotic part and keep the pledge they
made in voting for the Electoral law. They
have an intractable element to manage in
their own party, and may think
it expedient to slacken the reins
for the ensuing two or three days, with
view to tighten them more etfectually
when the malcontents have run themselves
out of breath. If the democratic caucuses
safety valves to let off the high-pressure
party steam at the moment when fresh
supply of pitch is flung into the furnace
and give time for the new passions to burn
themselves out, brief delay may be Of some
advantage. But at this late stage even
a few days of excitement and suspense
will have disquieting effect in view of the
easy practicability OF defeating an election
altogether in literal compliance with the
forms Of the law while fagrantly violating
its spirit.
The methods by which this miserable and
miscreant game of faction might be played
with success are too obvious after what was
done on Saturday last and Monday last. 1t
will be remembered that the Louisiana
decision was reached late in the day on Fri
day, as the Oregon decision was also reached
ct a late hour yesterday. On Friday
week the Louisiana decision was COM
municated before either house had ad-
journed for the day but yesterday the
Representatives got an intimation of what
the Oregon decision was to be and took a
recess in advance of it's announcement,
thus precluding any official knowledge of
the decision until the House reassembles
this morning. This trick facilitates now
recess to-day, which will stave off
meeting of the joint convention until
objections will be made to the Oregon
decision and the two houses will separate to
consider them. After the Senate has retired
the House will repeat its dilatory tactics of
last Monday and take q recess until Tues
day before debating the objections. The
Oregon votes will not be counted in joint
convention until Tuesday afternoon, when
the close of the session will be alarmingly
near, and the excitement growing out of I'M
certainty and suspense be infamed to high
pitch. During the afternoon of Tuesday
the counting will go on in regular order I'M
til South Carolina is reached when objec-
tions will be made to the Hayes certificate
by the democrats and to the Tilden certif-
cate by the republicans, and the case be
referred to the commission in pursuance of
the Electoral law. Time will be given for
argument both by the objectors and by coun-
sci for both sides, and, although the case is
free from doubt, the decision of the commits
sion cannot be reached before Wednesday
afternoon. If the House should then pursue
the same tactics it adopted yesterday it will
take n recess before the decision is an
nounced and another recess on Thursday
morning, which would put off the next
meeting of the joint convention till Friday
morning, when hardly two days would re-
main for completing the count. Under the
law objections may then be made to the
South Carolina decision, when the two
houses would again separate to consider
them. The House could then take another
recess till Saturday before debating