The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-12-16
THE ELECTORAL BILL.

Senator Hill. Of Georgia, was entirely cor
rect when he stated, In his speech opposing
tho passage Or the electoral bill, that the
Threatened anarchy Of two years ago. which
nccessitated tho creation Of tho Electoral
Commission, was attributed TO n disposition
to disobey the law rather than To tho defects
of tho law iteuir.
This spirit Of anarchy IL still abroad In tho
land, and In this very characterization to OK
listing law lies all the danger to our lnstitu-
lions. Tho problem Is how to correct this how
to make IL odious and to punish IT, and tho
remedy lies I'm tho creation Of vrtuous
public sentiment that will utterly crush IL out
and consign to everlasting infamy every man
whose INSCRIPTIONS ambition shall prompt
him to override tho law IN the attainment OF
his aims. 1t will do no good to make more
laws to DO broken. Legislation cannot posi-
bly, solve the difficulty or avoid the danger.
These arc refcrablo to q condition Of affairs
which legislation cannot touch. 1t is impos-
sible to make tho letter Of tho law clearer or
moro positive than 1t Is now. Az Senator
Eaton truthfuly observed. tho constitutional
provision Is self-executing and does not need
to be aided by legislation. II this were not
30, and II the peril OF 1876 had arisen from de-
foctivo or confusing laws, then there would
be grave occasion for Congress to exercise
It's functions. and some hope that tho remedy
1t might supply would DO effective But no
such occasion exists. and. therefore. there arc
no grounds for any hope OF relief through
tho instrumentality Of legislation.
Indeed wo very heartily concur with Sena-
tnr hat yiDt, - I,
least-thc addition OF sixty days to tho In
term between the day Of choosing electors
and that OF the meeting Of tho electoral col
lege will only serve to make matters worse
and to develop tho very dilemma 1t Is in
tended to prevent by allowing n longer time
for conspiracy to perfect its plans to defeat
tho law and the will Of tho people Time
here" said Mr.. Hill, adds to the danger and
the uncertainty rs to tho results. am afraid
to give partisans In these days Of high party
spirit ninety days for their Vaccinations"
III, as Mr. Hill says, and as the DEMOCRAT
held before him. the dangers OF the past, and
those which threaten us In the future. are the
outgrowth Of a lawless spirit, born OF unscru.
pulous craftsmanship and personal ambition, 1t
must be apparent that every day that Is add
cd to tho interval between the election and
the installation OF an official, but increases 80
much tho opportunities OF schemers to con-
coct conspiraces and frauds and prepare the
way for their success by debauchng public
opinion and organizing the means OF enforcing
them.
The reason given by Senator Edmunds for
tho proposed change of the day OF the presi-
dcntial election TO the first Tuesday In Octo-
Der, IS, that it will give month more time
for the settlement Of all disputed returns. and
thus the contingency which occurred in 1876.
OF having tho inauguration come around with
the electoral vote of n number of States unde-
tcrmined, would be definitely provided against.
Everybody knows that ii was not for want OF
time that tho votes OF Oregon, Louisiana,
South Carolina and Florida were yet In dis
pute and it had not been definitely settled to
whom they belonged when the day for the in
OF the President elect had arrived.
This proposition Is too plain for argument,
and 1t is all that is necessary to show the folly
of Senator Edmunds' reasoning.
This legislation Is all supertuous and I'M
necessary. The constitution is plain, unam-
biguous and seif-eXecuting. Its provisions
have always been found ample to cover all |
exigencies arising out of the election and in
auguration of a President, that can be pro-
gided for by the law. The trouble lies in the |
disposition to violate and override the law,
md not in the defects of the law itself. All |
lat Congress has to do Is to discharge
honestly and fcarlessly, its clearly imposed |
functions and leave all cleo
ions and election disputes to be settled by
he State authorities, to whom they properly
,elong.