The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-01-25
Carl Schue1.On the Electoral Blll.

view when, several weeks ago, we ad.
dressed petition 10 the Senate. II fur.
nishes for the decision OF the Presiden.
tial question tribunal that has the
character OF impArtiality, and whose yer.
dict will command universal respect.
supported Hayes in the campaign in good
faith and for good reasons OF public in.
tereSt; and il | had net strongly desired
lis success, should not have worked for
him. In the same manner others have
supported Tilden; but what the patri.
otirf men Of both parties want, and
what the public needs is President
whose Legitimacy can not lie seriously
disputed. For that end he must
not even appear to have been
lifted into the Presidency by the mere
Use Of party power, the legality oil which
is doubtful, do not mean TO speak here
Of troubles that might ensne. Perhaps
the country would in any event aquiesce
for the sake Of peace, but President
whose title can be seriously questioned
would be miserable and at tue mercy Of
the opposition, which OF course would
grow immensely in consequence Of that
very fact. The moral effect on the
National Government would be weaken.
ed, and that is always most dangerous
condition Of things in republic. More.
over, the successful resort to the exer.
else OF doubtful powers by party for
the purpose OF lifting its candidate into
the Presidency, would be precedent
fraught with the most perniciOus conse
quences for the future, for such prece.
dents are always not only taken ailyan.
tage Of lbut improved upon by unscrupu,
lOus politicians. For these reasons
l deem it Of such extreme
Importance that the decision oil
this contest should be removed
from the theatre Of party strife, and re-
ferred TO tribunal not controlled by
party interest. The trouble is that 40
many Of our politicians see only the OBJ.
jeCt Immediately before them, and not
what is to follow. see It is argued in
Congress BY some Republicans that in the
absence Of legislation OIL that subject, the
President Of the Senate has the C0nstitu-
tional power TO count and declare the
electoral votes, and on the Democratic
side that in the absence OF legislation that
the principle Of the twenty.second joint
rule must be maintained, which would
put the decision in the hands OF the Dem.
ocratic majority OF the House. The one
theory, it Is assured, would elect Hayes
and the other Tilden. II is not improb.
able that in the absence Of legislation
both parties would assert their advantage,
in consequence OF which we might be
cursed with u contest between q Presi.
dent and counter President. will not
argue now which Of those two theories,
II either, is right; but 1 do say the alb.
sence OF legislation isfull Of mischief, and
ought TO be remedied without delay.
To make an end OF that mischievous alb.
sence Of legislatiOn in this case, the con.
ference committee has offered this bill.
That the measure may not be perfect is
undoubted, although in my opinion the
objection that il Is offensive to the spirit
OF the Constitution cannot be maintained;
but the bill has that great virtue which,
in view OF the alarms and perplexities OF
the present situation, is Just the one need
ed. Put the question TO anybody: Do
you expect one to see any reason TO fear
that in deciding the Presidential contest
the tribunal provided for by the confer.
ence bill Will'render an unjust verdict?
Every candid man will have 10 answer
no. But tribunal OF which no candid
man has any reason TO expect an unjust
verdict Is Just the thing the country
stands at present in such need Of, This
being so, party leaders should consider
we'll whether they can afford To put their
respective parties in a position in
which they may appear 10 be afraid
Of Just verdict. | have no doubt that
Opposition by some Of the gentlemen in
Congress 10 the bill proceeds from con.
scientious motives; but il is also fact,
which leading men should not overlook,
that political policy opposing the bill
will lay itself open 10 the suspicion Of
reposing more confidence in the power
they WELD than in the Justice Of their
cause. In this respect the opponents OF
the measure, in my opinion, render n
very bad service to the respective candi.
dates, whose interests they seem to have
at heart. II the conference bill should
be defeated, am sure that the party re-.
sponsible for the defeat would sink under
the indignation Of the people. 1t is use.
less for them to argue how, under the
Constitution, the vote should be counted
in the absence Of legislation, for here
is. legislation proposed to them, and
upon their responsibility they have
to vote for or against it. Here
il method offered to them which they
can give the country what il above all
needs, President whose title is above
dispute, and who will be clothed with
that moral authority which the highest
Office in Republic can never lose with.
out danger to the body polite. That
method they have to accept or reject. As
to popular sentiment with regard 10 the
Conference Bill, can only Judge froul
my surroundings. In this community
there seems TO be scarcely any difference
OF opinion; among Republicans, as well
as Democrats, the feeling in favor Of The
bill is overwhelming. There are proba,
bly, few exceptions, but | have not seen
them. From my correspondence con.
clude that the feeling il similarly strong
in other cities, although offers seem to bt
made here and there, mainly by active
politicians, 10 make ashuw OF opposition
to the movement.