Union and American. [volume] (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1875-1877, 1877-01-18
THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRA
CY.

TIE CONSTITUTION PEOPLE SAFE GUARD
IN THE PRESENT CRISIS.
HARRISBURG, Pa, Dec 22-The
Democratic State Committee met
here today to consult regarding
the Presidential election. The
following committee was appointed
to draw up paper expressing the
sentiments Of the meeting: George
W. Biddie, William Bigler, james
P. Barr, Richard Vanx, B. F.
Meyers, w. H. Davis, John Latta,
J. Cummings, P P. M. M Pierce, A.
]. Steinman, S. A. Bridges, John
r. Reed and William McClelland.
The committee report the follow>
ing address which was adopted
unanimously:
To the People Of Pennsytuanta:
We address you in the spirit Of
patriotism which is common to oil
citizens of this Commonwealth. -
The politi al condition of our
country is fraught with impending
peril. The expression by the
people of their intention to sup
port those constitutional means
which will meet the issue made on
the Presidency may prevent what
otherwise we will deplore. What
ever violates either the letter or
the spirit Of the Constitution tends
to weaken and may destroy our
government. There is not ques-
tion or a measure relating to the
peace and happiness Of the whole
people exciting controversy and
pretending discord for which the
Constitution fails to provide, The
election of the President and Vice
President of the United States is
a high and solemn duty of the
people of the several States. An
attempt to evade obedience to the
popular will by any effort to dis'
tort the meaning of the Constitu.
tion by Interpretation of law, to
seek to set Up barriers against the
face Of this declared will. 10 sub,
stltuting reacting expedients tor
constitutional methods. The Sen
ate and House of Representatives
of the United States have by the
Constitution the sole and exclusive
power to settle all questions which
relate to the validity of the elec-
toral votes of the several States,
In one event the Constitution gives
the House of Representatives the
power to elected the President
We therefore earnestly invoke
from you every effort cognizablt
by law for the execution end sup
port of the constitutional methods
by which is to determined who arr
the lawfully elected President aht
Vice President of the UbiteC
States. We invite those who fee
the present danger to aid in al
lawful means which may induce
the Senators and Representative
of the States and people in Coo
gress assembled to obey the plair
intent and meaning of the Con
Stitution and laws, and not in de
fiance thoreto to place in the bigl
Offices of the Government met
whose title is tainted with fraud
AS free citizens of tho common
wealth we suggest that you con
slider those measures which sucl
: contingecy may invite or com
mand. We believe a large numbe
Of our citizens, who are too patri
otic to bound by the designs o
the managers Of the present ad
miDistrati6n of the General Gov
ernment are prepared openly II
condemn the disposition they man
ifest to pluug the county into
sea of danger rather than return
to the people the trust committed
to them for a specified period Of
Presidential term. The people vii
; with courage and clamness and
; full faith in their sovereignty a
the source Of political power max,
declarations that they may lister
and obey.
Believing that these opinion
are entertained by all honest ant
patriotic citizena, we declare tina
Samuel J. Tilden and Thomas A
Hendricks we're no the seventh da,
, Of November last elected Presiden
and Vice- President ne fha TTnitel