The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-01
The Final Count.

the GiectogI vote fOr PRESIDENT and vice
President, formally declared Oregon for
Hayes and Wheeler. b. s to ! votes. The
democratic trick to secure one vote through
the Cronin pretension was repudiated by the
Commission unanimously--a conclusion that
reflects seriously upon the morality, at least,
OF the men who suggested and attempted to
carry ont the fraud. Eight thousand dol.
lars, as the minimum figures. were thus
thrown away, with resultant Of damaged
character for those who sought to cheat the
people OF Oregon out Of their dearest politi-
cal rights.
The hope wac entertained that with the
disposition OF the issues Involved 10 the Flo.
rlda, Louisiana and Oregon cases, the COM
plications growing out OF the Presidential
dispute would be solved, let them be leciued
IN favor OF one or other Of the candidates.
The Republicans, who. rs party, were op
posed to the enactment of the bill creating
the Commission, because they believed that
it was Unconstitutional. rather than un-
constitutional, and that the traditional and
customary method Of counting the Electoral
vote should be adopted in this instance,
quietly submitted to it, with the assurance
given the country that its determination
would be respected and accepted, whether
favorable TO them or not. They would have
regarded the contest as closed il either CT the
States named had been declared against Gov.
| Havac apd unu11 hoya throyr No in,nod;.
| mcnts in the way of speedy announcement
| of the result, so that the popular apprehen-
| sion might be Gained into repose, and the
| business interests OF tie country resume
their normal channels. They realize the
| fact that every days delay IN the settlement
Of a controversy of such widely diffused in
| fluences operating upon every branch Of in
| dustry, is working disastrously upon enter
prise and capital, and that the highest con-
| siderations of craftsmanship and patriotism
demand The very earliest adjustment, COLI
sistent with the requirements OF the law un-
| der which the dispute is being adiudicated.
| There is nothing inconsistent with this spirit
| given out By either press or speakers repre-
| senting the Republican party. The law,
| framed at demo cratic suggestion, and created
| by democratic votes, was accepted rs the
pacific agent to allay fears and insure peace,
| and its mandate, whatever its political bear
| ing, was to constitute faality to the irri-
| tating controversy.
| But not SO with tie Democracy. They
had mental reservation In all their congratu-
| lations upon the passage Of the Electoral
bill. 1t was TO work ont the difficult problem
Of making 1874 votes count more than 1885,
| and by this species OF arthme.ical mon-
stroslty elect Mr.. Tilden. That was what
| che bill, In democratic estimation, was created
for, and any other result would be perver-
| sion OF its mission, to be repudiated. This
1 has proven to be a flrst-class deluson, and
the stubborn truth is presented that instead
Of Mr.. Tilden, Mr.. Hayes is found to be the
lawfully and constitutionally elected Presi-
dent. All the States, where any substantial
grounds OF controversy existed, have been
counted for Hayes, and, by universal conces-
sion, these, added to the other States, secure
declare him the President elect Were rea-
son and the interests Of the country to con-
troll, the democratic majority in Congress
would gracefully submit to the award, shape
their action so as to quiet the popular fears.
and address themselves to the legitimate
business before them-to consunmate such
legislation as Is demanded by the govern
ment before the expiration OF the session.
Instead eli this, however, they are introduc-
ing dilatory resolutions, raising technical OBJ
iections, and avaling themselves of parlia-
mentary privileges to delay the progress Of
the count Of substantially undisputed States,
that the last hour OF the time within which
hey can act, may be consumed, without the
final and formal announcement Of the result.
| OF course, tine country, nor the Republican
party, cannot afford to allow such revolu-
tionary proceedings to work out their logical
end, i'll the defeat of the object Of the Elec-
| toral bill, in declaring who is the President
elect. They may tolerate the tantalizing
| and sed;tious spirit, until the absolute neces-
| sity is forced upon them Of acting. and then
they Will proceed. with a firm and steady
purpose, to the discharge OF 4 solemn duty.
| II the final count is not closed by Saturday,
| it will be the duty Of the President of the
Senate to notify the House Of his purpose to
| proceed with the count OF the Electoral vote
to its completion. II the House attend, it
Will be well and good. Ii not. the President
Of the Senate will at once declare the votes
Of the States that have not been called, and
thus close the curtain upon this most shame
full page OF democratic history, leaving is
further anathema to be written and pro-
claimed by the people themselves, whose in
terests have been so trfed with and out