Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-26
The Great Perfidy.

Inc DTedt IeTuuHs
The democrats in the House who are de-
liberately filibustering toprevent the com
pletion of the electoral count by the 4th
OF March, appear to have gained Sufficient
strength to enable them to carry out their
design. Promises and threats have been
employed with so much vigor by Hewitt,
Field. Randall and other leading Tiden-
ties, that the ranks of the fiIibusters have
grown to formidable proportions and are
animated with the one fell purpose OF de-
feating the Inauguration OF Hayes AS Presi-
dent. This weeks proceedings will reveal
whether they will stick to their infamous
plan or not. If they do they will load the
democratic party with one OF the most
pertidious political transactions this coun
try has ever witnessed. Secession made
a more respectable plea before the world
than this act can. There is no word in
our language that will properly describe
its baseness.
A compromise plan was prepared which
surrendered the right of the President OF
the Senate to count the votes in the man
ner prescribed by the constitution and es-
tablished by the fathers of the country.
This plan provided that commission con-
sisting of five members of the Senate, five
members of the House, and five members
of the Supreme Court, should be appoint
ed, to whom matters in dispute in relation
to the counting of the electoral votes
should be referred, and whose decision in
all cases submitted to them should be final
and binding upon Congress and the coun
try unless set aside by concurrent vote
OF both houses to that effect
This compromise was carried through
both branches of Congress by nearly a
unanimous vote of the democratic men,
bers. In the Senate only one democrat
voted against it; while in the House but
Is democrats voted against it while 1859
voted for il. Whatever or who ever may
be accountable for its origin, it was a
democratic measure by adoption, and be-
came a law only by the support which it
received from democratic votes. Dudley
Field. Hewitt and Randall voted for it, the
latter taking good deal of pains TO give
his vote with dramatic effect, so that bis
position might not be misunderstood.
These men are now the leaders OF the fill
busters, seeking to repudiate and defeat
the action of the very commission whom
their votes aided TO appoint, and whose
acts they are bound by statute as we'll as
in honor to support and maintain. They
were not content to take the constitution
as their authority in the matter of count
ing the electoral votes, but they estab-
lished method of their own outside of
the constitution. and now because the ma
chine they made has failed to count in Til.
den, they are criminally bound together
in conspiracy to repudiate and disavow
the commission and defeat the decision
which it has reached. The simplest mar
shaling OF the facts makes clear the peril
dy of the filibusters. Even childen can
understand how faith will have been
broken by the democratic party If the fill
bussers succeed. They can find no excuse
that will avail them. They made the COM
mission against the earnest protests of
those who believe in adhering 10 the con-
stitution; can the democratic party escape
destruction if the bond is not faithfully
kept on their partp The democratic par
ty will be responsible for the acts of the
flibusters. Are democrats prepared
to have this perfidy branded up
on themselves and partyP viii they re-
main members of party responsible for
this gigantic infamy? Will they endorse
those democrats in the house who like
honorable men stick TO their pledge
or those who violate it This week will
show if honor or dishonor is to triumph in
the democratic party in Congress. In
the meantime let the republicans in Con-
gress see to it that they neglect no duty,
shrink at no justifable measures that the
emergency may demand. The crisis is
serious; principle aud country demand
that it be met with wisdom and firmness.
The people will sustain the President of
the Senate in counting Hayes in. notwith-
standing the filibusters.
DELAYING the COuut