The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-24
THE ELECTORAL PLAN.
BxLLAIRE, o., January ~, 1877.

bkLLAlhE, O-- huNhIN --r 1S'''
Editors Register.
The business interest of Bellaire is
worse demorslized than II has been 81
any time since or during the panic.
Most of our manufacturing establish
men,s have been closed during the last
month or more, and all other branches OF
trade. drawing as they do their iite's
blood from them, are correspond
.pgIy depressed. Unfortur stely our
city i: not sn exception. The dis
esse seems to be widespread and uni
verssl. proposed TO write ouslIess
Letter. bI: | trd that cannot well do
90 without mixing 1t Up with politics.
The uncertainty that hangs over tie
result, Of our late Presdentis! contest Is
the most important cause or factor by
which this unfortunate result has been
produced
Each party claims that they have
fairly and honestly elected their candi-
dates. and that nothing remains to be
done bu, 70 count them in according TO
the provisions OF the Constitution, and
then 10 insugurste them. No man can
cipher out the amount OF real danger this
condition of things present. Tooetermlne
who has been constitutionaliy elected
is the one single problem, tie proper
solution of which has caused and IL
causing more intense interest than any
,ha, has now been propounded 70 the
American people.
Three methods have been urged, the
friends of each claiming that the other
two are VI unconstitutional and reasonable.
1t is claimed that the Constitution en-
powers the President of the Senate 10
open and count the electoral votes, and
dsclsre the result, and that reither house
Of Congress can do more than
witness the transaction. Another
party claims that the President OF the
senate has nothing 70 do bot 10 open
the votes, and that no votes shall be
thrown out without concurrent consent
of both Houses of Congress acting sepsr-
stely, while third claims, thst no votes
shall be counted without the concurrent
actiCp Of both Houses IN the same wsy.
/, must be evident that neither OF the
foregoing plans would prove satisfactory
10 a msiority of the people. Either o;
the first two would certainly count in
Hsyes, while the last would as certsinly
count in Tilden. The President, who
should under the present circumstances
be counted in by either plan, wos!d Al
the bes, be only the President of party,
and not OF the whole people.
He would lack that moral sup
port and confidence Necessary 70
make his administration 8 peaceatie and
successful ore. To obvis:e this difficulty
has been the work of the joint committee
of the two houses, and the bill they have
reported is probably the very best ard
lesst objectionable OF any that could be
desired. Various objections hsve been
made to it, but the ole most relied on Is
It's unc Constitution slity-the same obJec-
ton that has been SO persistenly urged
sgsins; the other three methods. The
provisions OF the Constitution defining
the respective duties Of the President OF
the Senste and the two houses Of Con
gress are as unoquivical, plain and simple
As il is posrible for human language 10
make them. 1t does not require the ser
vices Of great constitutional lawyers, or
asiute and learned statesmen, 10 ferret
out this hidden meaning.
The president of the Senate shall, in
the presence Of the Senate and the House
OF Representatives,, open all the certit.
Gates This provision stands alone and
does not conflict with any other one, and
contains all the powers, rights and duties
snioined upon the President of the
Senate and the two houses Of congress.
The President of the Senate shall open
the certificates" that is al. Anything
more or less done BY him would be done
in direct violation Of the Constitution,
ain the presence of the Senate aid
House Of Representatives The two
houses must be present. that Is all thst
is required Of them. They are left s.
powerIess IS the President of the Senate,
and if either party do more they DO 50 in
direc, violation OF the Constitution. The
Con institution directs, however, that the
vote shall then be counted" BE- whom
How shall they be counted! Before
thew can be counted, il must FIRST be as
certsined wha, are legal votes, or in
other words, which Of the votes purpor,-
/ ing 10 have been cast sre the ones which
shall be countsd7 The joint committee
propose 10 do what has always heretofore
been done. and the only thing wsic b
Congress can constituronslly do. and
,hs. Is, BY appropriate legislation, enforce
or carry into effect this provision OF the
Cons,itution-"andt that the votes shall
then be counted" To DO this, they
might, BY proper enactment, empower
the President OF the Senate, the Speaker
g; the House. either or both houses OF
Congress, or they might do IS the JOINT
committee acknowledgement COM
mission mere satisfactory 10 all parties
than either Of the others. 1t IS the I'M
pe-ative duty of the legislative
I DEPARTMENT TO see tbs, every
provision of the Constitution is complied
with, and to this and for this purpose
thew are empowered to legIsste-
In conclusion, let me say that among
the msnv good hits, the best and mos;
=, In,ed we have met with from Gath IN
bis pen picture Of Morsen, Is when he
,s,ers 20 Tie two women zach claiming &c
he the mother Of child, who came be-
fore solomon 10 have their rights ssiudi-
cs,ed. when solomon ordered that the
child be cut in two. and one half given
70 each. The real mother plead for the
/ lie of the child, and IN order TO save u
consented for the other to take Il, while
J the other applsuded the verdict de
represented Morton Is anxious to poe,
sess himself OF the one-nalf Of the dead
child. FOR my part / want the child
INV country saved alive even II the
other weman Hayes) should get posses
sion Of il duriag the next four years.
Yeurs SC. J.RN.