The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1878-08-02
The Electoral Commission.

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There are some undetermined per-
sons who entertain the idea that the enact
ment Of the Electoral Commission law
committed the Congress Of the United
States to ratification Of the decision of
the Commission to be appointed under it
that the enactment Of that law was rat
ification in advance of whatever the Com
mission might do. Such persons, il they
ever read the law at all, failed to see and
understand what its provisions were-fail-
ed to observe in it the important provision
which subjected the decision of the Com
mission to revision by the two Houses and
to reversal il disapproved by both Hou-
ses. There are other human beings, who,
being a little more enlightened, while they
know that Congress was not legally bound,
noleRs role1ls, to confirm the judgment Of the
Commission, yet think and warmly insist
that there was a moral obligation upon the
Congress to endorse and acquiesce in that
judgment. 1t was these Interpretations
Of the true intent and meaning of the Elec-
toral Bill that occasioned the wild clsmor
Of the people for the ratification Of the
S to verdict. And it was this senseless
clamor, born Of Ignorance, that forced, or
frightened weak-backed Congressman into a
hasiy ratification Of that which their judg-
ments did not approve, and which they
knew To he a most aagrant and audacious
violation Of every principle Of right and
justice.
There has been a fearful amount Of silly
and hypocritical speaking and writing on
this subject, designed to saddle the blame
Of the great wrong upon this, that, or the
other party, and generally upon the wrong
one. Every politician who figured ia the
case is able TO show-to his own satisfac-
ton, at least-that he was not in fault, and
to point out the very fellow or fellows who
committed the very blunder or crime which
caused the defeat of Mr.. Tilden. One very
distinguished and wisdom-burthened lead
err attributes the great disaster solely to the
fact that the Democrats in Congress did
not know exactly What Mr.. 1aden wdRl,d
them 10 do. lie says Mr.. Hewitt destroyed
the victory by falling to report what Mr.
4. thought Of the Electoral Commission
scheme-which is implicitly saying that
the Senators and Representatives had no
opinion Of their own respecting the Con-
stitntiOnality and righteousness of that
measure, but merely waited and listened 10
hear from their Chief, and TO do his bid
ding, whatever il might be. While they
were in this state Of suspense and uncer-
tainty, Hewitt returned from a visit to the
Chief, and though he did not report that
the great man was in favor Of the bill, he
failed to report to the contrary, from which
the inference was drawn, and |
acted upon, that he favored ii. The gen
tleman, whose explanation Of the great po-
litieal abortion we are giving, was at the
Jme a member Of Congress and cutting a
figure as such. So, he now
records his confession that he and his fell
ow-democrats in Congress in that great
when the existence Of civil lib
srty was at stake and in imminent peril,
Shen forty million Of the noblest aud
best people ON cart stood anxiously wait
ny and relying ipon the wisdom, states
nanship, and riotism'of the men whom
hey had = N to represent them in the
National Councils To solve the difficult and
dangerous problem according to Law, and
according To justice, and 10 give peace and
luiet to a deeply distressed eountry--in a
'risis like this he oonfesses TO the world
hat he and the rest were ready TO take
shateyer course, and no other, might be
dictated by a particular candidate, without
topping to inquire whether that course .
accorded with the laws OF the land and
With principles Of justice or not And, ,
ceording TO this statesman, they passed
he Electoral Bill, not because their judg-
nents approved Il, but because they guess {
q that Mr.. Tilden wanted II done Wedo D
ot hesitate to pronounce this representa-. a
lon OF our Statesmen In Congress, noiwilh- Il
landing the high source whence il ema- \
ates, a SANDER. There may have been