The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-03-14
A Chapter ina the sGI~f ~ If fhe
Electoral RiiI-Why tiae Headi-
cal B-cssder- Supported H.

The following letter OF senator Eo
muBds, the author of the Electoral bill
by means of which Mr.. Hayes was as
certained to be the lawfully elected
President with majority of the electo-
raj college against him, will show the
perfect impregnability of the Demo
cratic position before that measure was
tives Of the Republican leaders in advo-
eating its passage; and it shows that
from the beginning of the government to
that date, the power to count the vote
had not been claimed for the President
of the Senate; that the sole power be-
longed to the two Houses that no State
could be counted if either objected; and
that the Republicans of the Senate
had committed themselves to position
which In the event of failure of the two
Houses to agree, would have placed
''the absolute decision of the dispute
:" (between Tilden and Hayes IN the
"poteer Of the House Of Representatives.
g and to make tie Democratic case certain
''of success" ''The present bill, there
{. FORE" (said Senator Eimunds) s4ves
tie Republican cause from the predeter-
mined destruction of its hopes and for
tunes being left entirely IN the hands of its
opponents" It has, he exclaimed, sta
ken the Republican cause out Of the ral-
ley of the shado,0 of death" to which we
will add it had been consigned by a ma
jority of a quarter of million of voters
and majority of the electoral college.
This was the real motive that induced
Edmunds and his r tdicaI co-adutors to
advocate the bill while they were M
king outward pretensions of desire to
save the country from civil war. They
were playing a hypocriticaI game to
entice the Democrats from their strong
hold. The letter is SO essential a fea
ture Of the gigantic fraud, and so valu-
able for its historical references that we
have deemed it worthy to be recorded
in our columns for reference when the
SUBJECT comes up again.
WASHINGTON, ID. c, January 27, 1877
DEAR SIR: have yours. Some mi.apprc-
hension seems TO exist as to the history and
present state OF the law and practice the
opening and dispoSing of the electoral
votes. In order correctly to Judge of the
propriety OF the bill now pending on the
subject, it is necessary TO know what has
taken place hitherto. 1t is this:
First. Down TO 1917 objection to or
dispute concerning the vote of State
arose. During that time the President of
the Senate opened the certificates of votes
and they were tabulated by tellers appoint
ed by each House and handed up 10 the
President of the Senate, who declared the
result OF the tabu' alton, and then, under the
order OF the Senate, sometimes he certified
that lie had opened the certificates and
counted the votes, and the result was that
so and so had been elected, or that there
had been no election.
Second. When che first doubt or dispute
arose, in 1917, in respect to tGe vote of In
diana. the two Houses, as of right, deter
mined what should be done, without a hint
even from any one that the President of the
Senate had any deciding power.
Third. When the next doubt or dispute
arose, In 1921. as TO the vote of Missouri
the two Houses did the same thing, without
any suggestion of power in the resident Of
the Senate
Fourth. When the next matter of dispute
arose, III 1897, as to the vote of Michigan
the same course was pursued.
Fifth When the question arose, in 1887.
as to the vote of tile Ineligible electors, the
committees on the subject reported that
the substantial question was whether the
electoral colleges i'll the several States
should decide, or whether Congress should,
and that this should be provided for by a
permanent provision; there was not the
suggestion from any source that the Presi-
dent of the Senate could determine any
thing.
Sixth. When, in 1857, question arose as
to the vote of Wisconsin,, the same thing
happened. The two Houses discussed il,
and aim 1St every speaker, il not every one,
and the President OF the ) nate himself de-
claFed that he had no deciding power. On
chat subject, Mr.. Collamer, of Vermont
said that, question arising ''the chair
should have imme lately stated the condi- |
ton of things and the two Houses should |
have separated to make provision in relation |
to the manner of settling IT," an that l. |
should have been provided tor by law |
lorg ago. And there was scarcely an ex- |
ception to the opinion that the two Houses |
must decide.
Seventh. In 1865 the two Houses pa ssed /
joint resolution determining in advance |
the questions touching The electoral votes of |
some of the States. and President Lincoln |
in a message on tie subject declared that |
he had no power over it, even part of |
the law making power, and that the two |
Houses had the sole power.
Eighth. On the same occasion in 1865 the |
Two uousts OF congress. Deln9 almost en- |
tirely Republican,, adopted the twenty-see-
ond rule, providing that votes objected To
should not be counted without the consent |
Of both Houses.
Ninth. In 1869, under the same joint rule. |
the two Houses decided all disputes.
Tenth. In 1873, under the same Joint rule.
the two Houses again decided every cues
ton raised.
Eleventh. So far there never was a ques-
ton of dispute or doubt that the President
q lodi 9y. all Il -frrt,e
to decide. and in every case the count pro-
ceeded upon the idea that no vote could be
counted without the consent of both
Houses.
Twelfth. In 1876. when the House of Rep
resentatives had become Democratic,
through the action of some Republicans
now supposed 10 be misleading their party,
the twenty second JOINT rule fell. Had it
stood, the election OF the Dem ocratic candi-
date would be morally certain.
Thirteenth. In the same year, and in
March last. the Republican Senate passed
bill (afterward suspended on a motion to
reconsider. male by Democracy, with only
three Republican votes against it-Coak
House the power to reject any vote when
there should be double retHrns the effect
Of 'chtch tc0nld be % place the absolute decis-
zen q the present dispute in the potcer or the
House Of Representatives, and TO make the
Democratic case certain II success.
fourteenth The present bill. then. sarss the
Ret@tttean cause from the predetermined de-
st'1lctton Of its h0pes and fortunes beinq lett
solely in the hands az It's opponents
Fifteenth. Is there much ground, then
to condemn the action OF the Senators who
have StriueH to get the Republican cause as
soeH as he cause OF free g9rer1nlent under lac
out 0 rbe raiiey OF the shddolc Of death. and
pu- them on ground where they can have a
fair and equal contest, in whatever way il
may terminate?
Very truly yours.
GEORGE L. EDMUSDs
Hon Daniel Roberts, Burlington Yer
mont.