Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-07-03
The Eighth Congressional District.


in the contest Eow progressing in the Eighth
Congressional District, as to who shall be the
nominee of the conservative party, l cannot
permit the structures of Shenandoah in your
issue of Thursday last to pass unnoticed. That
writer says: 1T may be fairly said that the
Judgment of the present incumbent was greatly |
at fault in supporting the Electoral Commission
bill. l am one of those whose Judgment upon
the wisdom and propriety Of that measure at
that time accorded with our representative, and
| cannot reconcile it to my sense OF justice to |
SEQ him attacked for bis support thereof with
out expressing my disapprObatlop. 1t cannot |
be FORGOTTEN that when Congress met after The
Presidential election in 1876 both parties claim
ed the success of their respective Candidates;
the democratic party, that Mr. Tilden had not
only majority Of the popular vote, but also OF
tho electoral votes. The republican party claim
cd the election of Mr.. Hayes; that majority
of the electoral votes cast 10 the several otates
were found to be 10 bis favor; were forwarded
to the Vice President, and would be counted
10 his favor by that officer, and that result es'
tablished. 1t was then alleged by the demo
cratic party that the votes OF three OF the south
ern States had been so manipulated lana inc
recent Investigations provo the truth or lbe
charged by the returning boards and others as
| to give tho returns to MIR. Hayes.
As the period approached when the votes
we're to be counted it cannot DO forgotten that
the Senate and the republican party; with but
slight exceptions, maintained that the president
pro tempore of the Senate had the right TO
omen and count tho electoral votes and declare
which of the two candidates is elected Presl,
dent of the United States; the democratic
party on the other hand, both 10 the Seuate
and House, maintaining that the President OF
the Senate had no authority to count che votes
but that that power resided 10 the tWo houses
of Congress. Upon these two modes OF settling
this question the two great parties OF tho coua
try, each numbering from four to five millions
of voters, persistenty divided, neither being
wiling to yield its convictions to the other. aud
unfortunately there was 90 mode provided py
law regulating the settlement OF contested presl.
Dental elections. The 22i rule. which had
been previously adopted, aud which covered
this question, had been no doubt purposey re
pealed by the republican Senate as 5000 as the
democratic party obtained the control OF tlo
House. 1t was obvious then that co1nIct
must arise; the public mind became highly agl'
lated. the fears Of tho patriotic were excited
and il was becoming daily alarming that the
|
of both sides might light torch which would
plunge the country into revolution aud kndle
} the flames Of civil dscord.
Whilst this danger was imminent tho good
end patriotic united 10 proposing as means OF
peaceabc adjustment the Electoral Comnl5
sion BILL Now what was the duty OF the hour.
MIR. Tucker says the democratic party are 10 q
dilemma, or rather tremms. shall they be
/ guilty Of surrender Of what they h"i'o W
TO be their light to az unno1a'it Gtioual auu al
bjtrarv declaration? Shall they malntaln their
right as they conceive it By an armed conflict
J or shall they by mutual concessions between
differences of opinion on doubtful issue, not
expressly fixed by the constitution, permit 1t
! to be determined through tribunal ct honor
able arbitration" He further said: IF this be
feir statement Of the condition Of things,
feel [ would not be justified upon conflict oil
power, such az this, 10 eieot the only measure
which is offered 10 preserve the peace and SO
cure the happiness OF the country.
Gen. Hunton, who was keeny alive to the
condition of affairs, ard indisposcd to sec the
country involved in another civil war, said -
Tho time has arrived when the two honses Ct
Congress should rise abova partisan feelings
and agree upon some mode OF settlement to
tide over tho difficulty impending, and avoid
the peT5 Of war.
Mr.. Fill, Of q eorgia, aud | might quote tho
expressions Ct all the patriotic CONSERVATIVE men
of the South 10 tho samo effect, said The
South uttcrs to those who have boen her dis.
poilers aud who now threaten to be the dlspol!
ers of each other, but ono voice; that voice Is
Peace peaca! Civil war redresses no wrong,
preserves 90 right. If you doubt look here
apd be convinced
Under these impulses tho Electoral Com
| mission Dl was passed. Il avcrted civil Wnr.
1t preserved tho institutions of tho country
from the overthrow then threatening. Ii will
not do for MIR. Potter or any one else to say
that it was gigantic game, 10 which We held
the cards and the republicans blutted Us. |
should like to know what cards VIC held suth
, cent to win the game if sheW had been had.
Is it not matter Of history that the executive
power was 10 the hands Of the republicans. -
That every State north Of Mason aud Dixon i
line was under the control of the same party;
that every governor with the exception, perhaps,
of one or two, and 10 those Instances the
legislature Of the States belonged to the
republican party; that the general governm ent
was at that very time concentrating troops at
the national capital. and that the greater part
of the army Of the United States were convent
emily quartered in the Southern States; that
Forney' press stated that bill had beep pre-.
pared at Washington and forwarded to the
Governor Of Pennsylvania, was approved by
him. and held ready to be submitted when the
necessity arose, appropriating one million Of
dollars TO arm aud equip the national guard Of
Pennsylvania, to be used 10 case of an emer'
gency ct Washington.
Is it not moreover knowo To Mr.. Potter that
the northern democratic party 10 Congress were
asked jn case the Vice President should under
take to declare tho President and the conflict
should arise what aid could they pledge from
their respective States in resistance thereto
Did they even promise single regiment of sol
diers2 leave him to answer.
The rejecting people of tho whole country
recognized the danger then existing, and they
endorsed the measure that removed the ques
ton to tribunal that they then believed would
decide fairly, honestly, unaffected by bayonet
rule. If in this they have been disappointed
let the blame fall upon the msjority of those
deciding who would not yield their allegiance
to party to serve their country, but do not cen