Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-16
Adhere to the Constitution.

There is no safety in any plan to settle
the Presidential question outside of the
method pointed out by the constitution
and the fathers of the government. No
matter how specious such a plan may APP
pear it will prove delusion and snare.
the closer we adhere to the constitution
the more satisfactory the result will be.
The plan said to have been adopted 10y
the Senate committee is defective in that
1t proposes to set up tribunal to decide
the Presidential question for which there
is not shadow of authority in the consti-
tuition. Lacking this it will not command
the support of either party in the contro-
versy. No cunning compromise or ad-
justment by lot will answer in this case.
Let the republicans ground their action
upon the constitution and the usage of the
originators of our government and they
will stand secure. The way is plain, our
duty imperative.
An article in the Tribune of Saturday
In discussing this matter says "As mat
ter OF fact, we have all through this dis
cussion strayed away more or less from
first principles and lost sight OF the main
point in the argument in disputes over
matters of subordinate or merely collater-
al importance. The first fact to be con-
sidered, and the one that must not be lost
sight of, Is that the States and not the
People elect the President. 1t is waste of
words to talk now about the wisdom or
unwisdom of this feature of the Govern
ment. The State provides for the casting
OF its own vote in its own way, subject to
scarcely any limitation of its authority
over the proceeding by the General Gov
eminent. The Federal Government in the
matter of the Presidential election simply
invites the constituted authorities of the
State to cast the number of electoral votes
to which it is entitled for the candidates
fer its preference. 1t leaves with the State
the responsibility of seeing to it that the
honest vote OF the State is cast. So much
1t trusts to the honesty of State Govern
ments. And it certainly does not seem to
be reckless or overweening confidence
ii the people of State are competent to
the management of their own affairs, they
are certainly able to see to it that their own
choice in the matter Of the Presidency is
regarded and their vote honestly cast At
any rate, the Constitution has placed
the responsibility there, and there
we must leave it. Nothing is palmer
than the intention of the trainers of the
Constitution to leave the whole matter to
the States, and in no event to the people
This purpose is clearly kept in view in
providing for every contingency. 1t is
especially marked in the provision for an
election by Congress in the event OF
failure of choice by the States at the reg
ular election. In that case the vote is
taken BY States. each State having one
vote, and the vote of each being cast as a
majority of its representatives may direct.
So that it may happen that party having
a minority in Congress but majority of
the States would elect President.
1t seems quite clear then that there is no
power In Congress to revise the action of
the legally constituted State authorities
in other words, to 60 behind the action of
the Returning Boards. The friends Of
Gov. TiIden have then but one recourse,
and that lame one upon their own con-
Isssion--to fall back on the Oregon case.