Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-01-27
THE NEW ELECTORAL BILL.

srs advised Of all the important polltl-
cal transactions of the day. 1t is our
first duty, and the one most imperative
upon US; but incidentally we are ex-
pected to exercise our best judgment
upon these facts, and to the extent OF
our ability to furnish such comment
upon the transactions as may serve
as some guide to public opinion in
drawing just conclusions as to the right
and wrong, the justice and wisdom of
Legislation proposed or adopted.
The first part of this duty we have
faithfully performed in regard to the
measure now under consideration, we
have given in full the text of the
bill, on our first page, but when II
comes to giving our own opinion on |
the merits of a measure, the fate OF
which IS now watched with such
intense interest by the national leg
;slature not only but by the nation
itself we confess that we do SO with
degree of anxiety and difidence which
we have never before experienced in
discussing a political measure.
We consider then, that there are
very grave objections to the measure,
and yet we are prepared to advocate its
adoption as the best way of settling
difficulty which has become in most
mems opinion, insoluble by any other
means, or else only to be solved by a
conflict which could only issue in either
war or submission of the right to
the dictation of armed force.
This conclusion, apparently para
doxical, necessarily demands, consid-
Grafton both of the objections and of
the considerations which in our judy
ment have over-ruled them.
The one objection We propose to dis
cuss is, we are obliged to admit, as APP
plieable to any other legislation by
Congress upon the subject as it is to
this; it is an objection to Congress leg
islating at all upon the subject.
We consider and the great body Of
those for whom we are writing, con-
slider that Messrs. Tilden and Hen
bricks are indisputably elected, both
by popular and electoral vote, Presi
dent and Vice President of the United
States, and that they can be only pre-
vented from exercising the high polit
zeal functions to which they are desig
mated by that vote, by a bare faced
overriding Of the fundamental law o
the nation, on the part of band o
conspirators in high places, who have
shown by their acts that they them
selves are aware of the fact of thu
popular election being against them
The objection then to the new modes
new arbiters, for deciding a ques
ton which we believe to be alread
decided by the constitution and tn
precedents of congressional action IN
der it-are of the same nature as thOs
which are made by an honest ma
against what is called compromising
felony. We believe man guilty tina
is. but we think it will be very Difficult
to catch and convict him, and stl
more so recover the property, so W
compromise matters by agreeing not
prosecute him on condition of his re
storing whole or part of the pre-
perty.
Such a proceeding has always bee
looked upon as dishonest, and, in TIN
country as we'll as England, is itself a
offence punishable in the crimini
courts.
The committee however avows /
purpose ofadding nothing to the const
tutional provisions (Which congress oil
viously could not do but only protest.
to specify methods of carrying out IL
will of congress). The following e1
tract from the Senate resolutions c
the subject are to the purpose.
This bill, then, is only directed
ascertaining for the purpose and IN a
of the counting what are the constitU
tional votes of the RESPECTIVE State
and. whatever jurisdiction exists fl
such purposes, the bill only regulate
the method of exercising it. The Co
stitution, our great instrument al
surety for liberty and order, speaks
the amplest language for all such case
in whatever aspect they may be pr
sented. 1t declares that Congress sha
have mower to make all laws whlt
shall be necessary and proper for ca
rviug into execution the foregoing pc,
ers. and all other powers vested by Z
Constitution in the Government of {
limited States, or any department
oAicer therein. The COMMITTEES
therefore. think that the law prOpos
can not be Justly assaulted as uncons
tutional by any, and for this Teas
think II unnecessary, whatever may
our individual views, to discuss any
the theories referred to. Our tidel
TO the Constitution is observed VIII
we find that the law we recommend
consistent with that instrument.
But to our minds the objection
tends beyond what can be covered
this reSOlultOu. L MS "OulN ~ eAAiA
eut if congressional action in
matter we're now to be adopted for
first time, but the provisions of
Constitution have been carried out
defined by the precedents of eigl
years, and these precedents have hit
erto been recognized as constituting
authoritative Interpretation of the cC
stitution, just as the successive dec
IONS of the Supreme Courts are autho
tative and become part of the law VIII
they interpret, and are thus made
ligatory upon all future assessors
the same court Now this prest
electoral counting expressly limits
action to the present presidential ell
tian. and Mr.. Proctor Knott in int
dueiug the resolutions of the no
passed prior TO the conference OF
two committees, expressly disclal
the power of one Congress to bind
successors to any mode of procedr
at the same time that, as Senator
MINDS saws in his speech intrOduc