Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-22
rHE pRoposEn rRIBuNAI.

COuutluS IAO SiOOtOt"t wv
tribunal to decide upon conflicting
certificates coming from the same
State, seems to commend itself to
tine intelligence and common sense
Of fair-minded men irrespective OF
party. The committee reporting
the bill labored 10 devise a method
strictly to constitutional
law and in harmony with the great
theories that underlie our system
Of government. There is, as far
as may be judged from a surface
nsw, an utter absence of fayorit-
ism to either eide. For once, and
it is a hopeful sign, men have been
found who have a higher regard
for the peace Of the country ard
the perpetuity Of the government
Of our fathers than the temporary
success of the party to which they
belong. The bill has been very
carefully scrutinized and has al
ready brought forth a variety Of
opinions and comments. The ex-
IRENE Republican journals, such as
the New York Times and ST. Louis
Globe Democrat, generally con-
,lemn the measure. This is so
much in its favor. A few extreme
Democrats take the ground that it
will count in Hayes, and therefore
without further discussion condemn
it. Ex-Goy. Harris expressed him
self very happily when be said: 81
consider that the peaceful settle
ment Of the present difficulties is a
matter prominently more impor-
tant than the question as to which
party shall administer the governs
ment. Most of all we want the
present state of uncertainty, the
present unsettled condition Of
things done away with. Therefore
the committees report meets with
my hearty approval as pre-emi-
nently wise and pre-eminently pa
triotic." 1t is quite evident to all
thinking men that congress would
come to dead lock on the question,
and would perhaps arrive at no re-
suit until after the 4th of March.
Then the president Of the senate
would become President, aud we
would have to go through all the
excitement of another election
some time this year. Meanwhile
the business interests of the
country would suffer, enter
prise would stand still and
labor go unpaid. Either that,
or an attempt by one
Of both parties to inaugu-
rate a President which would result
in the employment Of the army and
navy, and possibly result in the en-
tire subversion of republican gov
ernment. But the committee has
agreed upon a plan to secure an
adjustment without resort to extra
ordinary or violent means, and
which looks fair enough upon its
face to effect a solution of the diff
Guilty acceptable to the great body
OF the American people. The bill
reads rs if it had been written by a
great constitutional lawyer who
was blind as the goddess of justice
to the success of any particular
party. This spirit SO opportunely
manifested, it is to be hoped, will
extend to the people at large, until
the bitterest partisans shall be com
PEELED to bend to their will. If the
bill passes, as seems likely now, it is
presumable that the minority in
each house will be represented on
the commission. This principle is
always recognized in the appoint
ment Of committees, standing and
special, and if observed now the
effect will be to promote mutual re-
spect and harmony. Honest men
want nothing but a fair solution of
the difficulty, but they want it set
tied peaceably and without military
interference or holding another
election. Either Tilden or HAYES
should be inaugurated on the 5th
of March, and the other should not.
One President at a time is enough
for this country. The people want
no confusion, want no dual gov
ernment, no second election. The
members OF the commission would
be five of the ablest senators and