Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-02
sssee hrst page for Committee Notice'
The Electoral Count.

The Electoral Count.
At the opening of the count of the cleo
toral votes, in the case of Alabama, the
unfair operation of the compromise act
will plainly appear. The State was car
ried for Tiden bv fraud and intimidation,
of which there is abundant evidence, but
the only returns of electors made are
those that will count for Tilden.
1t is provided in the compromise
act that where but one set of returns is re-
eeived from State, those returns shall
be counted unless both houses vote to re-
iect them. OF course the democratic
house will not vote to reject the Alabama
returns. and so they will be counted, al
though they are the product of fraud and
bull-dozing. Mississippi is in the same
category with Alabama. The case of
neither of those States can 90 before the
commission, because bat one return was
made from either; while States with
double returns, like South Carolina. Flor
ida, Louisiana and Oregon will be pre-
sented before the commission and adjudi-
Gated upon. In effect every State and
single electoral vote which the democrats
desire TO contest will go before the COM
mission, while States and single votes
which the republicans would contest ii
they could are excluded.
The action of the House in admitting
the representative from Colorado to seat
in that body. settles the dispute about
counting the electoral vote of that State.
When the count rea hes as far as
Florida the real contest will begin. Two
sets of returns have been received from
that State, which will ct once % before
the arbitrator. When a decision will be
reached it is impossible to tell. The two
houses will resume their regular business,
leaving the, commission to take its own
time in reaching a conclusion. The first
and most important point in the whole
controversy will then come up at once for
consideration, that Is, as to going behind
the returns of States. 1t may be quickly
settled, or several days may be consumed
in arriving at decision. This question
says Washington writer. should never
have been submitted to any tribunal ex-
cept the Supreme Court as court. In
deed, it should never have been raised be-
fore any court 1t suggests more peril to
the republic than any power ever claimed
under the Constitution, save alone the
claim of the right of n State TO withdraw
from the Union. II the commission should
decide to count the votes in Florida and
Louisiana, no election of an Elector could
ever be pronounced conclusive till it had
been counted by order of Con gress. Elec-
tons of President hereafter would be
practically and would soon DRIFT actually
under the control of Congress. The pos
siblity of such a decision by the commits
sion is not conceded by republicans. In
fact, there is reason to expect that the
commission will be positive on this point
and against any such power existing in
alton to 60 behind the returns, which the
democracy will strive desperately to Sc
cure, then there can hardly be any choice
OF President before the 4th, for it is quite
impossible for any tribunal to go anew in
to Louisiana for instance, and make an in
vestigation. and render decision upon
L.
weight, in less than sixty days. This great
question, greater than all others, will be
first met when Florida is presented to
them, and when it is decided the decision
will carry with 1t the choice of President
for if the commission follows the Consti-
tuition and the law nothing is more Ger
tain than the election of Hayes"
let