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

u
eency demanded the invention Of some
plan Of adjustment. The Nation was In
great and dangerous difficulty, which II
seemed impossible to settle without resort
to an extraordinary plan. The plan Of the
Electoral Bill was prepared and proposed
after long and earnest study asd free dis
cussion, by men who, for such task we're
the choice Of the country-men whose
characters were above reprosch or suspi-
cion, and who were pre- eminent for their
intellect and their legal learning. Besides.
the plan when Il was announced met the
almost unanimous approval Of the people.
II seemed to every body to be fair and
right II was fair and right. II was not
the plan that defeated the will Of the peo-
pie, but il was the dishonesty Of those en-
trusted with its execution. AMI Il vas
not the Electoral Commission alone that
had In charge the execution Of the plan. II
Is a mistake to lay all the blame on the
notorious Eight" While Il IL true that
majority Of that body did disregard every
principle Of law, Of justice and common
sense, and did disregard what they knew to
be the expectation and the desire Of nine
teen-twentieths Of their fellow citizens in
refusing 10 inquire into the alleged frauds
and corrupt practices connected with the
election, still Il Is equally true that the
Congress Of the United States In failing to
reverse their action, as IL had the legal
authority to do, exhibited precisely the
same want Of regard for right and justice
which the Commission did. Whatever vas
unjust and dishonest in the doings Of the
Commisson was sanctioned and enacted in.
to an irrevocable decree by the Senate.
Yet no body abuses the Senate, nor even
criticises it. All the abuse is heaped upon
poor Joe Bradley. Is not this stranger
II Is we'll known now that a very strong
and influential Radical Senator, one Ros-
coe Conkling by name, became thoroughly
Disguised with the programme Of the Re-
publican leaders, which was to claim for
the President Of the Senate the sole and
exclusive right to count the votes and de-
clare the result. II is we'll understood that
we are more indebted to this Senator than
to all other men for the everlasting de-
struction of that monstrous idea. II vas
his ponderous blows that crushed il, never
to rise again. This was done In the dis
cussion Of the Electoral Bill. The is.ue
in that discussion was. whether the dntv of
ascertaining the Iesult of the election va.
simply a lerical or arithmeticsl one-a
mere counting of the votes a certified.
which could be, and should be perso.ms,,
by the President Of the Senate alone. he
having authority in case of a multiplieitv
Of returns from the same State to decide
which were the true votes, or whether the
Congress, instead Of being mere idle spec
tator Of the proceeding, had the power
and authority to inspect the returns, de-
termine which were true and count them
and declare the result. Those opposing
the bill took the first stated view and those
fayoring il the last one. So, when Con- |
gress enacted that bill it decided that the
election returns were subject to investiga- |
ton, and that every allegation Of fraud or
illegality connected with the election
should be investigated and the truth ascer.
tanned and declared. But for this under.
standing and expectation the bill never
would have become law. Aud il was un-
der this view of the matter that the people
from Maine to California with one voice,
announced their hearty approval Of the
measure.
Inc refusal oil the commission TO re-
eeiSe evidence, not only disappointed The
hopes ana wishes OF every true patriot
ana honest man IN the on'on, ont' IN the
light OF previous discussion, IL was fafci. /