The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-05-28
IN. Y. World. 18th inst.l
The Republicans and the Frauds.

we no nOt Wonuer luhl tu6 hepuUil'
cans in Congress should have put upon
Mr.. Hale, Of Maine, the responsibility Of
signing the wild and unwise address
which they issue to day to the country
To describe q resolution looking TO the
investigation and chastisement of frauds
upon the electoral vote, and to measures
which may effectualIy prevent the repeti.
ton Of frauds upon the electoral vote, as
an attempt TO "inaugurate anarchy and
Mexicanize the Government" Is TO ex
cite the very clamor and confusion
which those who thus misrepresent the
action Of the Democratic majority pre-
tend to deprecate.
Language Of this sort jars sadly with
the clear and emphatic declaration of a
Republican Congressional committee of
Investigation In 1869, that "the power to
punish frauds In choosing Presidential
electors by the voters of the State is es.
sential to the national existence, and in
heres in the supreme government" In
1869 political body of partisans, the
Union League Club of New York, con.
ceived the impression that the electors
who in 1858 had cast the vote Of the
great State Of New York for Horatio
Seymour had been appointed "by votes
fraudulently or Illegally cast in the city
and State" Upon the representations
Of this club the Republicans in Congress
instituted an elaborate Investigation
The alleged frands had not become ope
rative upon the Presidential title, because
Grant had majority OF all the votes in
dependen,ly Of Now York; but as the
Republican msj"rity of the committee
very truly said, sin view Of the great
wrong perpctrated against Republican
Institutions and OF the possibility that
similar frauds in one great city may at
some future time determine Presiden-
tial election and endanger the peace Of
the country, it is of the highest import
aDce TINT Congress, now forewarned Of
the danger. may ascertain il there he
remedy, and, II not, speedily provide
one."
Has remedy against this danger since
been found or provided Certainly not,
/ il the allegations Of Senator Conkling
as to Louisiana and of the Chairman OF
the Board OF Slate Canvassers as to Flor
lila are true and substantial. All that
Mr. Potter-s resolution aims to accom-
plish is TO carry out measure which
Republican committee of Congress In
1859 truly pronounced to be OF "the
highest importance" Is that measure Of
less importance now, when, as majori-
" Of the people Of this country believe,
the absence Of proper remedy against
this danger in Florida and in Louisiana
has actually resulted in the elevation OF
a candidate to toe Presidency "by votes
fraudulently or illegally cast 2"
The authors Of the Republican address
charge the Democrats with "stiaing all
inquiry into attempts at bribery In Ore
gon and South Carolina" or anywhere
else. There certainly is no warrant for
this charge in the effort Of the Democrats
to present the specific case OF certain a.
legged operative frauds specifically by H.
self. There should he no warrant given
for it,and doubtless there will be no war
rant given for it, by any hesitation on
the part Of the Democrats in ordering
any further Investigations into inopera-
tive frauds which the Republicans may
think It wise and we'll to propose. By
all means let us have the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth, no mat
ter whom II may help or harm.
As 10 the alarm to which the Republi-
can address gives expression about the
titles Of Hayes and Wheeler, II the con.
tentions of two of our esteemed contem.
poraries have been wise and we'll found
ed, those titles cannot be oyerthrown
either by the resolution Of Mr.. Potter or
by any other resolution. For the Trib-
une insists that Congress exhausted its
powers year ago last March, when, it
says, the votes were counted as the Con-
stitution requires. And the Sun main
tanned, on the 2lst OF November, 1876,
| with great pcrspicacity, that there nei.
ther was nor is any power whatever 10
the Federal Governmental in any branch
Of it, to assail or look behind the certii-
cate Of State returning Board il legal
| in form, no matter how saturated with
fraud. II both or either Of these two
propositions be true, Mr., Hayes and Mr..
Wheeler are safe in their present posi-
tions as against everything but death, re.
signation, mental or physical debility or
impeachment. The World has not ad-
vanced either OF these propositions. -
Tie electoral votes we're not counted in
February or March, 1877, a. the Consti.
tuition commands, for the reason that
such votes cannot lawfully be counted
Cor President sgainst the determination
and decision OF the House. For the
Vice President they may be. Nor is il
constitutions truth that the House had
not Jurisdiction TO look behind the State
canvassers' certificates to see if they
had the power and right to do what they
assert they did. This is q popular Gov
ernment, it must be remembered, and the
House Of Representatives has especial
and exceptional powers in the matter oi
the electoral votes for President not for
Vice President,) as it has in bills for
''raising revenue" and for the same rea.
son, that it is nearest to the people.
Senator Conkling declares that he in-
vented the idea OF an Electoral Commis-
sion by which the Senate swamped and
usurped this constitutional power which
the House had previously exercised IN.
der the Joint rule, and therefore he was
chiefly instrumental in counting in Hsyet
and Wheeler. Did he do this after be
knew of the sinfamous" acts in the Elec
toral business which be now charges and
denounces This is question which The
Senator from New York cannot very well
evade answering at no distant day.
4 wMRs. Grimes. relict of the late Ds
vid Grimes, residing on the farm o.
Frank Taggnt two and one-balf milei
west Of Morristow wn, was burned 80 seri
ously, on last Thursday, that she died ir
few hours afterwards. While her two
SONS were on some distant part of the
farm engaged in planting corn, awhile be
fore noon, she attempted to set fire to 9
bush or log heap short distance from tht
house, and in doing 30 her clothing caugh
fire. Immediately upon discovery of the
| fire the affrighted woman, who by the way