New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-01-01
UNITED Sta TES.
TIE ELECTORAL CONTROVERSY.


The year opened with political deadlock in the
United States. While The electoral votes. if counted
III accordance with the letter Of the Constitution,
carried Mr.. Hayes into the Presidency by majority
of one there double sets of returns from sew
era States. In Florida third canvass had been
ordered by the Supreme Court, and the Democrats
had established themselves in the State Capital. la
South Carolina there were two Legislatures uphold
ing two Governors, one of whom had troops but no
money, while the other had money but no troops.
In Louisiana. also there were two Legislatures and
two Governors. Packard was in the State House with
a garrison of colored militia. and Nichols occupied
the other public buildings and was organizing
body of white police. The Democrats were already
plotting coup a 6tat, and il not long before
the Republican Legislature was bcSieced. Nhe
tie Democrats conceded he choice of the Hayes
Electors in South Carolina, the investigating COM
mittees which had beer sent TO Florida and Louis
ANA returned with evidence and reports
conflicting as TO afford no basis of settlement.
This collision between the two Houses mcnaced
the future Of the country all from every leading
city came petitions and appeals 20 Congress TO deal
with the subject in judicial spirit AT least
mood for compromise Ii under pressure Of tbs.
kind from the centres of population that the Joint
Committee proposed scheme by which q single
member Of tie Supreme Court was empowered 10
assume the functions of the presiding officer OF the
Senate and TO decide the face OF .he returns who
had been elected President.
The debate the Electoral Bill opened in the
senate January %, and, after an albright session
January 2J in which the resources of the oppO-
nens Of the measure exhausted, the bill passed
by vote of II 10 II. On Che following day il was
passed By the lIOuse-ayes, 10i nays, -. The or
position in each house came mainly from tho R,pab-
hcan party. The election Of Justice Davis to a seat
J II IL. IL. q Int. tl.p.lf
as the fifteenth member of a commission which WAS
already composed OF seven leaders of each party,
and the count began February H. with no objec-
tions untii Florida was reached The de-
| cision of the commission February n,
by vote of to Z that hey could
not receive evidence which was not submitted with
| the certificates, proved that the party which had
the forms of law on its side and consequently, the
pre- unption If equity, TO have its candidate de-
clared President. After the Louisiana case had been
! decided N the same way. the Democrats held eau
clls AZ which the Western extremists sirovc to re-
new toe effort TO iilibuster, which Speaker Randall
! had already checked, and 10 commit. the party 10
| tne policy Of holding aloof from 4 he commits
! sion and preventing the COMPLEXION OF Inc
| couut but. OWING To the ImucsS OF the
/ Southern members, this plot was brought ID
| raught. The decision of the commission IN the
Oregon case was & signal for 4 rev Democratic eau
MS The hlibusters rallied IN force. and Mr. tlcd
produced rwo bills ;or 2 new election and an appeal
/ 10 The courts The IlibuSf@rs fought 10 the el0,
| ou, after scenes OF terrible excitement, the an
| n,nncemcut was made at dawn. on t'e morning OF
March . that Nj. laycs had received ls9 lee oral
votes, and was elected. The scheme Of me JOINT
| Committee had lowered the character of the Su.
! premc Court but it had PROVIDED way OF
'.cape from civil war and, as the Democrats
| to the wall they could not withnraw.
| The logic of the commissions decision was ne iogc
of State Rigts--a fundamental Democratic doe
trirc-and the evidence b.ught out 10y tie Senaie
! Committee IN regard to the Oregon negotiations
enabled conservative members OF the party 10 ac-
! ccpt the result wan equauimity.
| The country was IN n mood 10 accep any Sifua-
| ton that gave promise of peace The Presidents
inaugural pleased men Of both parties. The refer
| "ncc of the Cabinet appointments 10 me senate
| Committees stirred up so mnch md2 natlon
as to make tho President master OF tho
! situation. rhe Senate confirmed The nominations
| and adjourned after short specll session lDo
| first problem which the Administration undertook
TO solve was the paoifcatOn of the southern States.
The Cabinet resolved March 22l to invite Governors
Hampton and Chamberlain 10 lay their oaS,s before
| the President. An order for the Withdrawal x
troops from the state House in Columbia "as issued
april y aad lire Republican STATE Government vert
10 pieces. The Democrats subsequently followed mp
their victory by insutirg series of prosecutions,
whereby they have secured the conviction Of several
! politicians who formerly he!u oihcc. IN Louisana
| peace was restored through the lnsfrnmen.
tally Of n commission appointed by The President
! a Legislature with an Gnd.spujcd quorum was
| secured Aprll l9l and an order for the wlthTaw!i
| of the United States troops was carried 0dt April
81, with Che same result as III South Carolina lhe
Republican lie gisatures of two states disappeared
when the troops retired 10 their barracks he MUIR
der of the Chish0lms. III kcinper County Miss fo-
lowed close upon this settlement, but only II Is 10 DO
hoped, mark the end of anarchy IN southern poll
| ucs. The admission of senator Bn'er OF South
Carolina and SENATOR'S Kellogg and EustIs, Of Lou
siana after protraCed struggle for the political
control of the senate has flied the remaining gaps
ia the Southern Congressional delegations.
THE RIOTS.
The decision of the United States Supreme Court
in the Granger cases, which was rendered in March,
had been a triumph for movement tina; had utterly
collapsed. The power of State Legislature 10
| regulate charges for grain storage, AMI the
tran sporaton of freight and passengers had
been affirmed too late 10 have any imme-
date force. The new insurrectiOn against rail-
way management was 10 depend upon tho
momentum of brute ,Orce rather than. the
sanctions of civil law After the discontinue
of bodies )f strikers Oh the Boston and
Maine the Erie and the Reading Railroads, and the
execution of the Molly Mcguire murdcrers the most
gigantic demonstration against capital, law and
ORD II III the history of human industry, was 10
startle mankind. The reduction of 10 per cent in
the wages of laborers which made by majority
of the railway managers during the first hall Of the
year. had evoked earnest protests feeling of dis
| content pervaded all classes of wOTkngmen Tho
| powder was dry an the mine; only spark need
| ed 10 cause an explosion. When the new sehcdnleof
wage, went into effect on the Baltimore and Ohio
| July IG), there was no concerted arrangement
| on the part OF the fremen and brakemen to offer
| resistance. At o p. III. forty iremen and half s.
MANY brakenen abandoned their tr; us Darir;
| the night the control of the main ae passed out
of the hands of the officers, and { 81. iation was
so threatening that the company called upon the
Go, ernor cf West Virginia to protect their properly
The first COM { Dc' prred at Martinsburg July IN