Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-05
Hon. VIM. l.. Frye on the Electo-
raj Bill.

Hon William p. Frye in acknow lodging the
receipt Of memorial OF the citizens OF Bath IA
favor of the electoral bill, sets forth bis reasons
for opposing it in the following letter, to Mayor
Reed
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29th, 1871.
Hod. Edria Reel:
DEAR SIR. ! have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt of petition, signed by you and other
.cltizeus of Bath asking the Maine Delegation IN
CONGRESS to support the so called Compromise
BIN" | know personally and by reputation the
most Of the sisners Of both political parties, and
confess that seldom is petition presented to your
delegation. entitled to greater consideration than
this received it some hours subsequent to the
fna vote the measure, but am frank to say
that it, earlier reception could not have changed
MY vote. In matters involving no great piinci-
pie such a request emanang from such source
would probably have been decisive; bat a great
question, aft, citing constitutional rights, duties
and obligations must be submitted to, and deter
mined bv the conscience and Judgment of him
upon whom, YOU, my constituents have imposed
tie responsibility. knowing early in the session
that the questions and principles involved in this
bull NUT be presented to Congress IN some form,
| examined the subject with more than usual care
and arrived at a conclusion entirely satisfactory
To NV own mind. In my opinion the trainers of
the constitution intended TO and did, deposit in
the hands of the President of the Senate, not the
rig ht hut the duty the imperative duty, of open
ing the certificates placed IN his custody by the
States of determining which was the true certl1-
cate OF the Electors where more than one from
State was forwarded to him. by counting the
votes in the two Houses and of declaring the re-
suit. If this opinion is correct, and of this, each
man must be ms own Judge. then ii logically fol-
lows, that no legislation can abate one l0t or one
ttleof this officers power, can be allowed TO af-
feet other than mere formal matters, aud that this
compromise Bill" is clear invasion OF the pow
erS and solemn duties of the President OF the SEN
ate OF course have not the assurance TO assert
thai am zig Al in my conclusions, and readily
admit that gentlemen thoroughly honest and emil
uenty able. hold to doct Inc radically different;
bat my sworn obligations of support to the con-
stitutioa are relieved bv conscientious and
personal performance of its requirements as un-
deisau Them You will cheeifuily concede that
il the discharge OF such duties, am the represcn-
taliYe CT my con tiitncnts not their agent.
This answer would suffice for you and your fell
low petitioners, hut ina,much as my vote may
after all, have been wrong though believe it
was right, will say further, not as eNcnse but III
palliation that manhood was the steady friend Of
the side your delegation cspOused. | know that
YOU and many Of the sinners Of lhis petition vi h
you, would have stood firmly with rs, If You had
been present through the contest Threats Of
war we're as plentiful as drops OF water in sum
mer shower; gatherings OF one hundred thou
sand "unarmed' democrats to assist ia the count
were counselod by leaders in the de mDcra,ic par
y; charges of conspiracy, haud and every crime
were QHi!y mace against our sfie- : ulpIoUli-c
was not asked, bat was demanded. This condi-
ton Of things would have reminded you of the
darkest day in tue history OF the Republic, when,
at the demand of threatening South, the yield
ing North offered compromise, the acceptance
of which would have bound Our country forever
to the car of slavery, made it the very slave Of
slavery through all time, and you would have hes
iaed long before, In response to the same threats
made largely by the same men, you would have
rendered this Compromise Bill" The former,
fortunately for the republic, was, in madness re-
ccted; the latter, wisdom having been born from
experience, was eagerly accepted.
am satisfied that very many men, who sup
ported this measure were aCtuated by the highest
motives, governed by conscientious regard for
the Constitution, controlled by the puiest patriot
ism; but cannot accord to all of that great ma =
jority the same lofty purpose. We of the minor
ity were indicted as partizans and put on trial,
Does no suspicion attach to the grand jurors who
brought in the bill against uai ] say to you,
there was a combination Of influences here almost
resIstless Threats of war, at time when its ter
rors and its sorrows were so fresh in the memo
ries of the American people; piteous appeals OF a
PROSTATE business, at q time when thousands and
tens Of thousands of men and women were crying
for the bread they could not earn by the sweat
OF the brow, the necessity pressing upon public
men to make the record of to-day consistent with
that of Yesterday, and chance for for the
democratic party, where no chance existed be-
fore, may well account for a part of this over
whelmng majority indeed NAV have enacted this
bill into a law. Sincerely hoping that this meas
otto" and Gifted to bring this perous crisis OF
the Republic to speedy ind peaceful end"
am, very respectfully, your servant,
WIN p FIVE