, 1877-01-13
COUNTING TIE VOTES.

EonstItntthHs
70 he. Editor NJ The TRIBUNE.
CHICAGO, Jun. io.-Tllc argument Of That
eminent lawyvr, the 1lon. ". II. West, on tic
powers and duties of Congress in the counting
Ut tic vntcs returned by the Electoral College,
based toc1y upou the language of the Constitu-
tten itself without reference tuprccclcnts, must
satlsfy every candid mind tllat It WAS
never contemplated to cunfcr up,n Congress
tic yast powers Of Returning Boarl for tho
canyassfnr and rejection af Electoral votes by
which, State may lJo uri'itrar}ty deprived by
IartiHan majority Of all partlcpattou IN the
choice Of Chief Executive, mitch less that It
wus intended to confer such powers upon sin
g1e branrh Of the Legislative Department Of
Government. The assumption Ut the De-
,no.racy that thts power rests with tic Hoilsc Ut
Representatives Is s,lbvcrsivc Ut tho principles
which werc rer,g.fscil ned accented by The lead.
Ing men and by an overwhelming majority Of
the people at tho time Of the formation OF tho
Constitution. Thus, happily, does tic
logical discussion OF the lawyer Of the intent
and meaning Of the language u The constitu-
ton harinolIizo With tho views Of tlDsc who
1aborcd for its adoption aud Immediately ttcrc-
after actively participated IN the tinvcrnmcnt.
Tic writings Of Madison, a1Hl Hamilton, nn1
Jc!rcrsan arc the bcst sources ot Information
~ ~ tae Pl"e'P'ea ""'eia uHoe'ue '"o ~p"s'F
tuition. Thosc who arc not familiar with their
politcaI discussions, and nrc Inclined 10 accent
the ncw creed Of tic Tildcn Democracy, would
do we'll TO consult ilIon. My purpose IL ruL to
quote them here, but to refer to the discussion
In tho scnatc In thu year 1870 on bill "rre-
scrbtng the mode Of deciding disputed cleo
tons for President aad Eice-prcsilent OF the
Unitctl Stntcs.''
kcgpiur In view the character of our Govern.
mcnt.-tlat II is neither wholly national MIR
w1,ol1v fsirra,-It /. clcor TINT a .c,t}n,ucu, ~
the present. PRESIDENTIAL tlisputc' oy yielding TO
&he1louHc Of Representatives. tho powers clainc1
for 1t. would be wide .aud revolutionary d.
,mrt,,rc frnm const,tut,nnn1 nr,nr,n,c. II Il
-. ..,...,s
Nv ,'.sa ossn ,t.. .u.e"ue. ',sss t!eSi.ent .,
by direct vote u tho people, then
In case OF tic Or Aagrant frauds
yjtIatlpg the vote, the House of Rcprcsc,,ta-
.o. "ss .e ~" tspt' '"s peoi.s' a'sns
very properly elect' bntln the 9to contingency
~ wi.lrn ~. tf ConstLa'vh pfoviles i9r a. clre,
Itoh ~ ttle ii9ase tle tnlcral ilea optalhs afai
ias 'ote H. taksr W STATES. preserve the
!'lspe.atfo ,' ot the E1rsutlvc, tate was taKGt1
10 tle VI congress 70 ant'h!hteflat
.iuty. "ilcli setshln!s IoT LUG llfst l"aftes ~
lug lug eehtafy *as Saseinl'y Observed. W. can-
l"ss l',o n1uen aullc tue "lHe eansessa,l*nl on-
Gtsea Ely ~ ..e ltahsss o. .Mc assa .i 1ohitt
sehtaliHs IN my unar'eC schcnc. lhc prupn'
fal hoW t!late ~ eliminate the power VI tic
senate-ts,v s.a Msiy pFop;r,Y representing ths
states, maturity ~ Which hare alrca;ly voted
.of o!io ealloaaAte-s ~ innst uahgTiu,is eyer
r4t 1orwnru even ny tne uetnocraty:: IiIdertln
CohstHalion' tt'U tIFs'leht acsiFcs Ills nrpotnt-
.nsnl isn,n t!'o statcs' a'nl every four yvnrs Is
agouhtab!e 10 mem: tCt IN hot lose AE,ht III
thls tf!1!sipe. Wlsleh Nti.l'o,l' applying t9tho
oeIlatG, tc representative OF thu st4ics IN their
Individual capacity. sa!!t L. tic nnrl'or " our
saiety. IA thu ut VI I'v. Congress did not
ln TIC ycar letV a'l attc!npt was tIadG To leg
islatc 1'i Tic subject nt l'feadts''id elections,
tlIE hill Introduced, anil Which pl..t the kctl.