Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-02-03
DIVISIONS OF OPINION.

DIVISIONS OF OPINION.
The vote upon the Electoral Bill in
9th Houses of Congress shows a division
# opinion among the Republican leaders
ipon its merits and its expcdiency. The
'o;es Of some Of the leading Republicans
# both Houses were cast against the
Measure. In the Senate the Republicans
it were in a majority Of four
over those voting against it, whilo the
Democrats were almost unanimous in its
support.
We must concede these differences of
opinion to be honest ones. With many
there is a seated belief that
Hayes has been legally elected and that
he should be declared and inaugurated |
President in accordance with the usages |
and forms Invariably followed heretofore.
To one class Of Republicans who enter
tain this belief, the Electoral Bill looks |
like surrender Of all the fruits ofa hard |
won victory, for the sake Of quiet ac |
quiescence on every hand. 1t is very
certain that the prestige is with the Re
pubicans-the Electors from the dispu-
ted States Of Louisiana, Florida and
South Carolina have received from the
Returning Boards of those States the
necessary authority to act, and have act
ed. The Constitution of the United
States provides that Each State shall
appoint in such manner as its Legisla-
ture may provide, Il number Of Electors
equal to its whole number Of Senators
and Representatives,. Louisiana, Flori-
da and South Carolina in pursuance Of
this constitutional permission, were gov
erned by laws regulating the appointment
of Electors very different from those Of
any other State, yet perfectly in accord
with She constitutional requirements
1t is clear that if the Legislature had Civ
en- the appointment Of Electors to the
Governor or any other person, the votes
of such appointees would have had to be
accepted. Consequently it follows that
by strict adherence to the fundamental
law, Congress has 10 right TO inquire in
what manner an election has been con-
ducted, further than TO know that it has
been substantially in accordance with the
requirements of the Statelaw. The same
applies to the disputed vote Of Oregon /;
the law of that State makes ample pro-
vision for flling any vacancy which may
occur in the Electoral College, and the
vacancy caused by the resignation Of
Watts was filled in the manner pointed
out by the laws Of oregon. And, in the
absence of any direct law governing the
matter it looks TO us that there could be
no other course adapted than 10 declare
Hayes elected, if the matter had been al
lowed to proceed in the usual way.
If the Republicans had acted the part
of partisans instead Of patriots they would
not have yielded their advantages. But
/ they have chosen to submit the question
to yet another tribunal and we for one
are willing that the claims of our candi-
dates shall there be passed upon. If
/ Hayes and Wheeler were not fairly cleo
ted no good citizen, let bis political opin-
ions be what they may, would care to see
him counted in through a technicality,
and the same is to be said Of Tilden and
Hendricks. Bigoted partisans, in Congress
and out, may justify Returning Board
/ in exceeding its powers or Governor in
falsilying bis oath to make n political
/ point, but a commission composed Of such
men as this is with subject of such gra-
yity entrusted to their decision, must
sink party out Of sight and decide in ac-
cordance with the demands Of simple JUS
tice. That is all which is asked by Re-
/ publicans, with the exception, perhaps,
of the extreme few who would override
law, order and everything else to gain an
end. If the strength Of the Democratic
party accepts the situation with equal
good faith, the Electoral Bill will restore
good feeling and give a sense of security
which the country does not possess.
1t is very Objectionable in one sense
that il establishes precedent for future
action by which the declared will of the
people could be set aside on some nimsy
pretext. Itwill be the part of wisdom to
guard against such contingency by suit
able amendments to the national consti-
tntion before the time for another Presi-
Dental election comes around. The past
year has shown the necessity Of changes
IN the mode Of procedure, and thinking
men Of every party viii agree that our
present method Of choosing a national
ruler is sadly defective. The contingen-
cy which arose this year should be proyi-
ded against in future, and in such man
ner that there could be no dispute as to
what tribunal, and in what manner, all
disputes grow out Of the Presidential sue
cession are to be determined. Ifmatters
are to remain as they now are, the ques-
ton Of precedent is indeed grave objec-
ton TO the bill. On this, however, as on
all questions Of importance, there will be
conflicts OF opinion, but where all are nc.
tuated by desire for the triumph of the
right, the action taken can scarcely fail
10 be for the best.
-
LEGISLATIVE BLUNDERs. - In the
; Thirteenth District Court w. II. Gran.
ice was convicted Of the murder of man
named Madden and sentenced to impri
sonment for life, but the Supreme Court
on hAbeas cnrnns dischnrnnd him ns iMn