The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-03
AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION.

The New York Ecening Post admits that
the success of the conspiracy to compass the
election of a president BY the grossest frauds
in opposition to an overwhelming majority
of the votes Of the people has subjected the
constitution to a fiery ordeal which it would
not be safe to risk second time. 1t there.
fore suggests ..r
| There is little doubt that before another
| President is elected the method of election
will be modified IN some particulars. The
process of ascertaining the result at least will
be made clearer than the Constitution has
made It, 1t would be mere folly lo expose
the country again to the perils from which it
has just escaped.
The Post fails to point out how, by tinker,
ing the constitution, that can be made clearer
which is already as clear as language can
make it, Never heretofore had congress any
difficulty TO ascertain the result of presl.
dental election. When the time came to
count the electoral votes the two houses met
in one chamber, the vice president opened
the packets" the tellers read them, and il a
| vote was disputed, the two houses separated
and investigated the facts No attention was
paid TO Governors certificates or returning
board frauds If they contlicted with such
facts as calm investigation on the part OF
either house brought to light and votes were
directed to be rejected or counted according
to such ascertained facts, an affirmative vote
OF both houses being necessary to count a
vote objected to. This was admitted on all
hands to be proceeding in accordance with
the plain terms OF the constitution and the
act of 1899.
Had the democratic party held majority
in both houses OF congress on the 18th of
February last, the presidential count would
have proceeded in precisely the same way,
the facts in the case of Florida and Louisiana
would have been calmly investigated, the
villsinous frauds there prac,iced brought to
light the Hayes electors would have been
rejected, the Tilden electors counted. and
Tilden declared elected without a single
serious objection in either house of congress
and with the universal acqu,escence and APP
probation of the people. Had the republi.
cans held a majority in both houses of con
eress they would have perfected the scoun.
drely plot Of counting in Hayes. and that
although Tllden might have had forty more
lndisputably honest votes than the 1876 he
really had.
Then how, when a party is thus bent Oh
rascaity and has the power to consummate
II in defiance of the constitution, can such a
crime be avsrted in the future by amending
the constitution? How can the constitution
be made clearer to those determined not to
read it Alright? Would writing it in letters of
fire help il any, Ifs returning board con-
spiracy like that which has just been con.
summated could be driven over the consttu.
ton, what Is to prevent some other conspi-
racy, equally destructive of popular freedom,
from driving over any constitution human
ingenity can frames
When they come to talk of constitutional
amendments, let the democracy say, Not for
Joseph" Two years hence doubtless the
democrats will have possession of both
houses of congress, and that congress VIII
have the counting in or out of the next presi.
dent. The constitution as il is is quite ample
and clear enough In It's provision to enable
a democratic congress TO make an honest
count We want no more electoral commits
sion traps and swindles, either IN the shape
of statutes or constitutional amendments.