Richland beacon., 1877-01-27
The Counting Of the Electoral
Vote.

The biz recommended by the Joint
committee of the Senate and House
of Congress, end agreed to by all
except Morton, seems TO meet with
pretty general favor from both parties,
except, as it is said, the ultra men of
each. We dislike TO he counted among
, The ultra, and, besides, are anxious TO
see peaccable solution of the vexed
political question, which has so long
agitated the public mind. deranged
businc's and threatened the peace of
the country but it is called q CON-
promise. which it certainly il. aud q
compromise always signifies u sur.
render Of rights or principles or both.
by one or both parties; and, desirable
as peace is. it is not worth the sur.
render of the privilege of franchise or
the great principles which underly
our form of government. if they were
worth a seven years struggle and all
the rich I'oOd of our ancestors which
was shed in the accomplishment. of
American independence and the estab-
lishment Of the Republic of the
United States.
Wiser heads than ours framed this
compromise bill, but we fail to see
how any lasting good is to be accom-.
plished thereby, or how just decision,
as to the presidential election, is TO be
arrived at through the means proposed.
1t Is certainly a surrender of 3D.
vantage on the part of the democrats,
who know they have elected their
President and Vice President, to ksve
the dacision Of the question to . com.
mittee q majority Of which will be
composed of republicans. whether
they are partisans or not. However,
the gentlemen composing tho com.
mittee. it is to be hoped. will have
too high sense Of honor and patriot.
lem te allow their political feelings
control them 80 far as to set aside the
will Of the people. a. expressed at the
ballOt.box. 1t is doubtless this fear
Of the honorable character of the
committee which disturbs Morton so
much.
Tie substance of the bill is, that
the electoral votes, as given to him.
shall be opened by the President of
the Senate in the presence of both
the Senate and House, and counted
and tabula,ed by tellers appointed
from each body; that, if objection is
raised. BY member of either house
in writing. to tho counting of the |
votes of q STATE, tho Senate anu
House shall each 90 INFO session, |
where, after discussion for q certain !
length Of time. . decision shall be !
made, and, If the decisions Of the two
houses do not agree, then the matter
is to be referred to q tripartite com.
nitteo Of 6feens composed of five
Senators. FIVE Representatives and
i've Associate Justices of the Supreme
Court, whose decision >hall be 6nal
as to the vote Of the disputed State;
provided, that this decision does not
deprive either candidate of the right
to contest the election before tho
proper tribunal.
1t is the opinion Of great many
that this compromise will ultimately
lead to another compromise. which
will seat Tilden as President and
Wheeler as Vice President, which
would work injustice to either Hayes
Or Hendricks. and a. effcctually over.
ride the will Of the voters as if they
were to declare some man dictator
and place fm at the head OF Govern
nent. We do not entertain such
views ourself for We do not believe
20 silly q job would be put up by
men claiming to DO statesmen and
wrists.