The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-01-18

! r.-s5.ss..s.s.. StkGECH OE.ss1 ssfi a.
GEN. THOMAS EWING,
Before the Democratic COnven-
tiOn at COlulnb bus, Jan. 8, 1877.
General Ewing being loudly called.
was introduced by the President, and
addressed the Convention as follows:
FELLow-CITIzENs: The people of
the United States chose q President
on the 7th Of November last. Rich
and poor, white and black, learned
and simple chose him by the equal
ballot. AL that remains to be done is
to complete the process Of ascertain
ing their decision. The powers of the
Canvassing and Returning Boards of
precinct, parish and State are fixed by
law. If any of those Boards acted
wrongfully, the question whether the
wrong can be righted is judicial
question to be decided by the proper
tribunals, and not by popular declara-
ton. Where tribunal acts unjustIy
or fraudulently, but within the scope
of it's authority, and the law or usage
gives no appeal, acquiescence is the
duty of every citizen. The law may
be amended to prevent q recurrence
of the wrong but resistance. in viola
tion of the law, were medicine far
worse than the disease. 1t would
make precedent on strong provoca-
ton to be followed thereafter without
provocation. and would substitute de.
cision by tumult for the orderly
methods essential to the preservation
of liberty.
But, on tho other hand. if the wrong
may be righted under the law,it should
be set rig hit at any cost. Our elective
Chief Magistracy is only better than
monarchy if the means given by the
law be used to give effect to the will
of the people. But if fraud, which
may be lawfully corrected, or mere
usurpation and force be suffered
through cowardice to defeat the choice
OF the people, the successful precedent
will be followed by bad men, and ere
long the Presidency will become
mere plize for the biggest bully, as in
Mexico, or cloak of imperialism, as
in France under the third Napoleon.
In Louisiana four men have assun1-
ed to reverse the decision of the peo-
pie, and themselves elect the Presl-
dent. They brought to their duties
national reputation for rascality. They
disgraced themselves and defrauded
the people in 1874, as shown by the
report of Republican Congressional
Committee. Their leader, Wells, was
branded by Sheridan as scoundrel'
and shown by Charles Foster TO be
perjurer. They usurped power te
count the vote of Electors which the
law of Louisiana never conferred on
them. They detied the law OF the
State and the law of fair play, in re-
fusing to fill vacancy in their Board
with Democrat. They rejected re-
turns which their partisan canvassers
in the parish forwarded without OBJ
lection, when the law forbade them
to reject return not accompanied by
such objections made on the spot. They
tacitiy approved the act of their Clerk
in forging returns. They concocted
the monstrous aud horrible Pinksten
lie to darken counsel with passi on, and
conniyed at the arrest and gagging Of
men charged with the murder whe
fastened to New Orleans to prove
their innocence. Aud finally they
sneaked into a corner and secretly
threw out 1000 Democratic votes,
giving no reason, specifying no poll
or parish rejected, but audaciously
substituting their will for the will of
the people of Louislana.
Their rco-conspirators at Washing
ton-a few audacious mon who, un-
| fortunately for the country, are in po-
sitions of power at Washington-now
seek to eonsunmate their Yillainy by
causing the President of the Senate to
usurp the powers of the House oiCon-
press and declare the result of the
election, while the army and navy are
being arrayed to silence all opposition
by the last argument of Kings.
On twenty-five different occasions
in the history of our Government the
Senate and House of the Represents
tives have assembled in joint Conven-
ton to count the votes for President
and Vice-President of the United
States. At Washington's first election
the President Of the Senate counted
the votes, but only in pursuance of an
order of the Senate and the assent o.
the House. AT every election since
the two Houses concurrently asserted
| and exercise equal and plenary power
over the whole subject OF the count
over the place of meeting, the order Of
proceeding, and the mode of ascer.
tanning and declaring the result
Whenever question arose a. to the
vote of a State (and such question did
arise at different times as to the votes
of twenty-onc States), the two Houses
separated and each decided the ques
ton for itself. In not single instance
i'm the whole history of the Govern
ment, was return counted agains
the objection of either House. Never
once did the President of the Senate
in the Joint Convention, say wore
as to whether return to which OBJ
lection was made should be counted
and never once did he do an act, ex
cept the mere manual act of Openin;
. the pa >kages, without the order or as