The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-08-17
A Practical Method Of Settling Dis
puted Electoral Votes Proposed oy
Jefferson before HIS Election I'm 1900.

from the New York World, 15th.l
We are indebted TO Miss Sarah Nicholas
Randolph, OF Virginia, daughter Of the
late Thomas Jefferson Randolph, who was
Jenerson's oldest grandson and his execu-
tor, and who published the first edition OF
Jefferson's correspondence, Tor 4 most in
teresting memorandum, prepared by her
illustrious ancestor. the founder OF Amerl7
can Democracy, of practical suggestions
towards bill to regulate the decision Of
disputes over the results OF 4 presidential
election. Miss Randolph Is granddaughter
also Of Wilson Cary Nicholas. who was a
senator from Virginia ia 1900, and Is lie
possessor OF hts narers, AMONG Which the
s,n.;inorandum abe sends us was found some
two months ago. Senator Nicholas, as will
be seen by referring to the annals OF Con-
press. led the discussion in the Senate over
fhe presidential bill OF 1900 as a friend OF
Mr.. Jefferson, in anticipation OF the bitter
contest which followed at the end OF that
year, and resulted in the election q Jerfer-
-, eyer Burr, senator Randolph, of New
.fassey, and the Hon. James S. Thayer, OF
The titF=both OF whom are now In
V;rran,a, and have inspected the orr
INA document-ioin with Miss Randolph
z, testifyipp to its unquestlonabie au-
thenticy. which is, however, SUM-
cisntIv ayouched both by the hand.
writing and by the internal evidence
~ the suggestions themselves when studied
in the light OF the protracted and most IN
terestine congressional debate OF january,
: 1900. over the bill in which Jefferson oe-
sired TO see these suggestions incorporated.
Miss Randolph, doubtless writing without
the necessary books OF historical reference
at hand. hits the date Of the suggestions, II
will be seen. very nearly, though she was
evidently unaware that they were prepared
for the particular occasion with which by an
Investigation OF these books we have been
enabled to connect them. Miss Randoiph,s
letter to us enclosing the document Is ltseli
50 interesting that we take the liberty OF
laying it before our readers:
"TaE WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, August
II, lS77.-Io the Editor Of the Wortd
Sir,-Wnl you allow me TO- make PUBIC
through the columns Of the Wortd the con-
tents OF most interesting paper In my pos
session, OF which the enclosed Is photo
graphed copyy It Is, rs you viii see, un'
signed and undated, but the handwriting Ii
too Enthusiastically Mr.. Jeherson's Tor its
authenticity to be for an instant doubted.
HThe original was discovered last Apri
among. some papers OF Governor Wilson
Carey Nicholas, o. Virginia, who WIS Mr.
Jeferson's intimate friend and his mouth
piece in Congress. Its interest would hayi
been doubled had 1t come TO light tvs
months sooner, when Ii might have sounded
amid the din Of angry faction, as Yoic
from the dead, .ff8t
!. 1t Is little strange that, while the ma
ton was CONFUSED and its leading me-
confounded by the danger which threat
ened, there should have been slumbertnl
in the archives Of private family papee
whose prophetic words and wise counsel
would have commanded the respect, eve
though not the consent, OF the bitterest
paftisans, - sE@i {,
!. Happily, Ii is not now too late to plat
it on record as proof Of the far~seetn
statesmanship OF Its author, which prepare
. remedy for an evil three quarters OF
century before Its occurrence, which OIL