The daily gazette., 1878-02-28

can or DemOCrat can SURRENDER the TlBnb
of suffrage in the choice of President
1t is, therefore, utterly impossible for us
to conceive Of the right of Congress to
confer legal title to the Presidency in
defiance Of the public voice. 1t is now
admitted by the great mass of the Re-
publican party that Mr.. Hayes has de-
fective title and very many of the same
party charge that he obtained the Presi
dency through "bargain" with certain
Southern and Northern Democrats
while the whole mass of the Democratic
voters assert that Mr.. Tlden was honora-
bly, and fairly elected, having carried
Florida and Louisiana in opposition to
the greatest odds in election officers and
federal interference every known. The
majorities in those States were not light.
In Louisiana they were decisive and in
Florida very respectable. This is admit
ted by the actors in the electoral frauds
perpetrated in those States Hence it
becomes more apparent every day that
whatever title Mr.. Hayes has to the Presi-
dency he derives from the Electoral
Commission. r- ~.. ... ...
1t now becomes an important inquiry,
and nothing can prevent this being made.
Had that commission the right to confer
title ? We answer for one of the news
papers of this State in the negatire. We
do not behsve that Mr.. Hayes title is
sufficient % cover a conveyance of real
estate or make bond where Presidents
signature is necessary to confer legal
right. We believe that Chief Justice
sworn to perform constituti onal duty
would reverse even the decision of the
Electoral Commission and declare his
official oath required him to pronounce
every such signature made by Mr.. Hayes
as not that of President elected by the
constitutional forms prescribed, and
therefore illegal andfraudulent, as weigh
ed by the laws OF the land.
We make no special objection to Mr..
Hayes. He seems disposed to do his du-
ty. If he signs the Silver bill he will have
come up to nearly all the requirements
that the great mass of both parties have
expected of him.
But it is too much to ask of the people
that they shall surrender the great right
to chose a President and Vice Presi-
dent. 1t is a monstrous sacrifice OF
power by the people. IL is no less than
handing over to one section of the Leg
islative branch of the country the whole
power OF the people-handing to the
President Of The Senate and The General OF
the ArHly the chaice which contains all
of the sovereignty of the people of all
of the States. Caesar feigned the refusal
of crown and paid the forfeit with his
life. But Mr.. Ferry asserted, without the
fear of any penalty, the right to make a
President in defiance of the people and
of the Representatives of all the States
Under this threat Congress agreed to the
Electoral Commission to count the votes
But it never was supposed that that Com
mission would refuse to take evidenc,
and examine into the election returns
and by party decision determine tn,
result in accordance with their politica
party views. This, however, they did
refusing to inquire into the very right o
the case, or evidence of the election o
the electors from the disputed States.
But after all the Electoral Commission
law itself acknowledged the inability O
the Commission to confer title by provi
dung that Its determination should no
preclude either of the candidates from
carrying his case to the Supreme Cour
by appeal TO test the rightfuness of tn
question. And now when it is an
parent that the Louisiana Returnin
Board committed the most stupendou
frauds ever known in the country b
changing the election returns and givin
the votes of some Z 900 voters who vote
for T1lden to Hayes, making an actus
difference in the returns of about IA. .OO
votes, Mr.. Mr. Hayes legal title to til
Presidency passes entirely away or rest
upon an unconstitutional agreement as
remedy to further the ends of peace an
TO last until the truth should be know
and no longer. Of course if no claiman
appears the incumbent will hold on an
over. But we maintain that Mr.. Tide
is the rightful President-elect, and wer
he to prosecute his case before an honest
unbiased and impartial tribunal he woul
be awarded favorable verdict
We take but little interest in this ma
ter but we should like to see a man i
the Presidential chair again who file
the position for the honor of the offic
in some sense and not for the fee-in fe,
words, man who would refuse, as
was said Mr.. Tilden would refuse, to tax
$4,000 year for the salary, and be full
satisfied as Washington, Jefferson, Jacl
son and other great men were with S25
o)O And especially now when it
known that the Presidential office cos
less than it ever did, Congress furnishin
almost all that the Presidents housebo]
requires.