The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-01-18

1t sill be observed that the Presidential
elector is one Of the fee officers whose eliyi-
bility there Is no tribunal to inquire into.
The right of every other person to the posi-
ton he ci.ims may b. judiciaily deiermin-
ed Ii ia clearly State Office. "Esch
State shall appoint, in such manner as the
Legislature thereof may Direct The Leg
islature may elect them They may au-
thorize the governor to appoint them. The
Law Of the State has entire control Of their
mode of appointment Their vote Is sealed,
but that merely refen to being put in a
sealed package. No appendage Of State
seals is required. If present thev are sur
plussge, merely for better Identification.
think there is but one course to pursue
in this Presidential matter, to 20 straight
ahead under the forms Of the Constitution.
The two Houses are to be present when the
ofhcer Who has the authority under the
Constitution opens the certificates, counts
the votes, and declares the result. They
| do not meet to make motions, offer resolu-
tions, or vote. They do not meet TO deter
mine that the President Of the Senate shall
not do that which the Constitution has
said he shall do. Does the Withdrawal of
each body to its own chamber to vote Civ
either House any more power than both
have jointly to enact q Law? Is there
single matter in legislation whic they can
determine separately? Has the House ju-
dicial powers on any subject, or has the
Senate on counting the electoral vote?
These are questions for Us to ponder and
answer.
think it must be admitted tina. to
give Congress the power to fill up by
Legislation the supposed gaps in
the Constitution. and in doing
so to add to its own powers in electing .
President, is matter of questionable ex-
pediency. Where is it to end? The anci-
ent landmarks may not be all We could
wish them, but where is to be eur safe
anchorage when We have swept them away?
In the interests Of quiet and pe.ceable
adjustment Of this question We might con-
sent TO yield an, thing not fundamental. l
have no desire TO be cautious or hang on
/ mere tschnicalities. Ii, under the consti-
tuition, We have the power to determine
anything, let us do il in a spirit rising
above ali party or its interests and above
the claims of all candidates /; vet, before We
/ embark on such = course let Us think of
| the difficulty oil harmonizing legislation at
such a time. Compromise, aiways of ques-
| tionable utility, never had such a difficult
task before it.
Are tie supposed difficulties really en-
titled TO the great interest they have
aroused? must confess l cannot dismiss
the idea from my mind that a large pOr-
ton OF excitement and disturbance is caused
by those who expect to divert attention
from the only legitimate aud constitutional
modes oil settling the question They wish
TO drive Congress to some new and unau-
hn- Izat & b., 10 of,
proposals are the only things that can dis
turb the public tranquility. Those who
resort TO them ought TO receive the con-
dernnation Of ali good citizens. Nor is
there anything necessarily startling in the
situation. One majority is, to all intenis
and purposes, as coed a. fifty. Nor can
there be any serious doubt as to which are
the State returns. 1t 10 in some respects
new in the aspects it presents, and yet 10 the
crowning test to our institutions. Must
close elections be followed by intrigue and
violence to change the result? Does any
man for q moment suppose that scheme
so monstrous a. the attempt to defeat the |
fair and unmistakcble election in Oregon |
on a mere technicality could I've for one !
moment tolerated BY the American people, |
even ifthe technically had, what il has not, |
the slightest color of law?
The question as to whether we should al |
low such of the reconstructed States, recent |
" in war, and who do not furnish Us the |
evidence that they are able as yet to con- |
duct fair and peaceable elections, to vote,
is one pregnant with the most important |
issues. Must we forever be kept in this |
condition of half war, half peace? Shall |
we permit wholesale fraud and murder to
elect President? or, having admitted
them, shall we accept such machinery as
these States present to us, and count the
vote of Vermont side by side with he vote
of Mississippi?
What are we TO think Of a great party
like the Democratic party, resortiDg TO tur-
bulent means from a fear that thew are
beaten? How questionable and unpatriot-
ic to call unpopular assemblages to pass on
the situation. What shall the Democratic
convention of Indiana do? Are they not
satisfied with the constitutional machinery
that has elected our Presidents since the
days of Washington? Is the design to
browbeat or threaten? The will of the peo-
pie is law, but in our American system its
only force lies through forms for nothing
is Jaw, orcan have the sanctity thereof, save
the will of the people legitimately ex press
ed. The only turbulent element is in such
movements. Will the shrewd Democratic
leaders countenance such scheme in the
vain hope of q temporary success?
do not wish TO rear any of the insane
talk of fixed ammunition and thousands of
muskets in the hands of the mobs to intimi-
date or assail our constitutional authorities.
All such rodomontade only exposes those
who Use it to Iidicule. Nor do / for a mo-
ment fear that armies will be lswlessly or