Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1878-06-28
A Neglected Duty,
OoNFEDnTr x RoADs.
WIcH Is IN THE STATE Nv KENTUCKY, !

1t is now evident that the most i'm
portant question which the situation i'm
poses upon Congress will not have been
thought worthy of serious considera-
ton at this session. We mean the
method of determining disputed Pres
idential election. 1t cannot be too con-
stantly repeated that there is now no
provision whatever for such a dispute,
and nothing more likely than that it
may arise. 1t is agreed that the plan
of commission will not be adopted
again; that is all which seems to be set
tied, and that seems to satisfy Congress.
The press has not been recreant to its
duty in the matter, and it has been the
subject of constant private comment and
inquiry. Congress alone has dawdled
along from December to June; and
when in the very last weeks of the ses-
sion Mr.. Edmunds introduced a bill
containing plan, Mr.. Thurman inti-
mated that he should oppose it, and
the Senate refused even to take it up
for consideration. Yet a very little
care, a very simple provision, is all
that is needed to save the country
from very probable and disastrous
peril.
The principle of Mr.. Edmunds' bill,
as we have explained, is the settlement
of electoral disputes in the States, and,
in case of a contest in the congressional
count, the consent of both houses to a
settlement. This is strictly oonformed
to the general tone of the Constitution
upon the subject of the election. The
| theory that the House as such has SUI
| -, 10 .f
because the House in a certain contin-
gencY elects the President, is prepos-
ferrous. The State basis is observed
throughout. The House is merely
resort in the last extremity. Not only
can it not elect at pleasure, but it must
select from candidates already desig-
mated by the States, and it must not
elect as House of Representatives, but
as House of States, the State delega-
tion in each case casting the vote of
the State. So far as the counting of
the electoral vote is concerned, the two
houses are absolutely equal, and this
equality must be preserved until the
contingency contemplated by the
Constitution has arisen. The Objec-
ton that if unanimity In receiving
a challenged vote should be re-
quired, it will enable the House to
wrest the election into its power, is an
objection which would not be Obviated,
certainly, by destroying the equality of
the houses. A disputed vote must be
rejected or accepted. If the houses are
equal, it is plain that the question
ought not to be decided by the vote of
one only. Honorable action on the part
of each must be assumed, ald if they
cannot agree to count a disputed vote
it ought not 10 be counted.
But as the loss of an electoral vote is
one that no State can be presumed to
bear willingly, this provision of the
bill of Mr.. Edmunds becomes the
strongest argument with eacl State to
conform. to the other provision for the
settlement of disputes at hone. The
Presidential election is mean to be an
affair of the States, and it is the duty
of the States to take care nat their
voice is truly heard. There should be
time between the election anC the cast
ing Of the electoral vote to hear and