Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-03-14
COUNTING THE ELECTORAL
VOTE

There is reason for the strong dis.
satisfaction expressed concerning the
course Of the majority Of the Electoral
Commission there is just cause for
complaint, not because they have
awarded the votes OF Florida and Louis
lana to Governor Hayes, but on nc.
count Of their persistent refusal TO in
quire into the truth of the certificates
which covered these votes Thus far
their inquiries and their decisions,
when reduced to plain terms, amount
to nothing more than this That
Stearns was Governor of Florida ON
the 9th Of December last, and that
Kellogg sde fdcto Governors Louis
lana on the same date. 1t did not re.
quirc the creation of high and extra.
ordinary Commission like that now in
session to inquire into and decide his
torcal facts like these. They were
beyond dispute and were not disputed
The Commission was created under
circumstances of the utmost solemnity
to inquire and decide whether such
certificates as those given by Stcarn.
and Kellogg did actually certify to tn,
truth, and whether the electors named
in those certificates were in truth anc
in law the electors who received ma
jorities Of the lawful votes of Floridi
and Louisiana. This the majority o
the Commission have continuously re
fused TO do, and taking their stand OF
bare technicalities, have abdicated tb,
very jurisdiction and action they wer,
brought into existence to exercise
Without the belief that they would ex
ercise ii, the Commission could bav,
no existence. II was that belief tba
made the appointment of the Com
mission u possibility, and caused il
appointment To be hailed with wei
come and confidence throughout th,
United States.
This is said with profound regret
II is mortiiying to be obliged to say /
u
in the columns Of journal which wa
among the foremost in aiding 10 Great,
the Commission, and which, in fact
sketchcd its outlines long before th,
law took shape anywhere else. w
certainly understand that the Com
mission was to inquire into the rcrl
truth and right Of the disputed vote
in Florida and Louisiana. and that th,
decision OF the Commission was TO b,
given upon the merits after that in
quiry, and not upon bald tecbnicalities
The law gives TO the Commission al
the powers possessed in the premises
by the two Houses Of Congress, ant
to ,ake into v;ew s,ch o,idonoo =,
might he comne,s,, and ner,;n.n,
Tb;s nor,ion Of ,ho iow oo.,a,.,,
means something ii means prccisel,
what 1t says, and was universally un
dors,ood 70 mo.n ,ho, ro.,a,,.....
was IN i,ooire who,hor ,ho -.
from Florida and Louis;ono mn nrno,,
inc to he votes orc !, ec, ro,as =,
,alse nretonce h,, tho m.;o,;,,, - a.,
Commission have ,roa,od ,hot nor, =
the law ms If il means po,bin, hv re
tusing TO make that ;nourv
This tribpnaI was from, ,ho o,,.o,
trusted with the na,rio,io bonos an,
honored with the fnllcs, conf;derco o
tbree.fourtbs of tho roo,lo % Al,
United States in the b,i;,f ,h,i ~.
solemn circumstances o,,s,d;,o a.,
necessity and tho not tba, hror,,h, /,
into being. would cause all ia membor.
with possibly three exceptionsN 10 ,is,
above party considerations in the d;s
charge of their momentous dutv. Ir
the lipbt of this aptecedept hone and
confidence. and in view of Tho vote,
written on the record Of tho commis
sion. Il il pitiablo IN obsorve ,bo, oyer,
important oues,iop Tins far snhm;,,oJ