Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-09-05
Pittsburgh, Cincinnati &
St. Louis r. 4.

tribunal, or board, by popular vote. The differ
ent states have heretofore. in the exercise of such
discretion, adopted different modes. Formerly, in
Soutn Carolina their Electors chosen by the Leg
sisa anu not oy tne people Inc LeglsaInre oi
power, created a tribunal styled the Returning
Board, and directed by law that her Presidential
Electors should be chosen by majority of the pop
ular votes cast in the several precincts in
whieh It should be adjudged by the board
that the elections had been uninfuenced
by force fraud or intimidation.
In the execution of the power with which ii was
clothed and acting under the authority OF the Con.
stitution, and in the discharge of duty enioned
by law, the boord adjudged that in several of the
precincts the election OF 1876 had been Influenced
by fraud and intimidation and for that reason re-
1ected the returns therefrom thus giving the State
70 the Hayes Electors This is the action of the Re
n turning Board which the Potter conspratorS, who
q lnsugated and commanded the disfranchisement
OF OHIO Republicans, bewa as the disfranchsement
GU 9i the Louisiana Democracy and to ayenge which
revolution. Immaculate consistency!
| Gov PACKARD.
But was not the surrender of Gov Packard, who
| received more votes than the HAYES Electors in
koulssa1na confession that the Returning Board
taudulently exercised its powers in giving the State
| 10 the latter? This conclusion does not result
In Ohio the courts have jurisdiction TO hear
ana determine contested elections generally. By the
Constitution OF Ohio, the right to contest seat in
the Senate is exclusively vested in that body In the
| contest of Jones and Onderionk for a seat in the
Senate in 1863 the votes of large number of eolored
persons, more than half white who had always been
hed by the courts entitled to vote rejected by
donk; while in contest before the court for minor
| othce depending on the same votes. they were
| ceived, and counted. These two independent tribu
nas exercised the powers with which they were sew
orally clothed. They reached different results Was
the action of either evidence offaud in the other?
By the Constitution of Louisiana the right TO can
VeSs and declare the vote for Governor is exclusively
vested in the Legislature 1t therefore could not be
| conferred on the Returning Board, and the law
which attempted it was to that extent unconstitu-
uonal and void Thus the Returning Board, in re-
spect to the election of Presidential Electors and
| IN hos nf Cora
were independent tribunals clothed with with dis
tlnct and exclusive powers The Returning Board,
finding that in some Of the precincts the elections had
not been fair and free. excluded the returns, and
rlghteousy. as by its official oath, and the impera
| tive command OF the law, it was bound to do.
On the other hand, the Legislature although ii
might was not required by law to reject any vote
cast for Governor In the exercise of its discretion
u received and counted all the votes thus giving the
State TO Gov. Nichols 1t a case OF opposite
conclusions reached by independent tribunals in the
| the Ohio case before mentioned.
THE GERRTMANDER CONSPIRACY.
That the finding and decision of the Returning
Boaro was righteous is attested and confirmed by
record of the most bloody horrors and endish out
the other hand the act of the Ohio Legislature was
| without circumstance of palliaton. The
not even power extanuato eOeS IL. not 1qsI
prostitution. 1t was not required by the Consutu-
ton, 1t was not commander by law to redistrct the
state Its act in so doing was the arbitrary and
fraudulent abuse of its power in furtherance of
gigantic conspiracy concocted for the ayowed pur-
pose of depriving the Republicans of Just share of
their representation and securing to the copspira-
tors the control of the National LEGISLATURE This is
the infamous and far reaching purpose which they
seek to accomplish under the shadow of their Ku
klux banner. and lifts the act of the Legislature
above mere transient or local significance to the dig
nifty OF national importance. If it affected ordinary
legislation alone it is enough to awaken alarm But
the whole people are concerned in the character and
complexion of the popular branch of Congress
which though in numbers is many, in voice is one
and if the arrogant assumption and usurpations of
recent years continue, soon will be omn:potent Al
paraiyzes Presidents and Cabinets, strikes
down Senators, and smirches or destroys
regulations at will. Under its consideration
pass all the great questions of revenue
currency, commerce, industry, of peace and
of war. These powers alone give national impor-
whether Communism, Ku Kluxisni, Tammanyism
or Republicanism shall control its utterances Each
terested in the representation which every other
shall contribute, and the means employed to Sc
cure il.
But the extraordinary powers which the con-
sprators assert for the House over the Presidential
succession gives a vital and dangerous Importance
to their crime against the rights of Ohio The Con-
sttuion requires that the returns of the Presiden
ta election shall be opened by the President of the
Senate in the presence of the Senate and House of
Representatives, and then counted; and that if no
candidate shall receive majority of all the cleo
oral votes the House of Representatives shall choose
the President. After the late Presidential election
this clause of the Constitution the of much
acrimonious controversy. Ambition has often
waded through slaughter to throne, and the sue
cesson to the Presidency threatened to be achieved
by like means. Gov Tlden lacked but one Electoral
vote.
He had directed his first effort to the purchsse of
an Oregon Elector. Here is the damning record of
kilograms between Gramercy Park his residence and
his coconspirators under the name of his kinsman
and Secretary Pelton:
"W W. T. Pelton, No Is Grumercy Park Ne,U York:
Certificate will be issued TO one Democrat Must
purchase Republican Elector to recognize and act
with Democrats. and secure the vote and prevent |
trouble Deposit $40 900 to my credit with Kountze
Brothers, Wall street. Answer, J. H. n. PATRICK.
Il fully indorse this, JAMES K. KELLY"
"U you make obligation contingent on result in M1rch
Il CON be done, and ncremGbe slightly If neceSsdry'
"OHe Eector must be paid TO recognize Democrat to
secure majority Have employed three lawyers; editor
OF only Republican paper as one lawyer; fee. 5000:
money: can't make fee contingent Must act |
promptly
Orleans with an offer of 100000 to corrupt Mr. |
LeviSsee, q colored Elector. But the black man |
scorned to betray his country.
Foed here he turned his batteries against the Elec
tora count before Congress The rejection of single
State would devolve the choice of the President on
the House, which was Democratic. 1t was con-
tended by some that the power to make the count
exclusively belonged to the President of the Senate
the House attending only TO witness it. By Others
the power of the House to direct and control it was
asserted. OF this latter opinion was Gov Tilden
and in letter of the Hon. Clarkson n. Potter, now
claimed to have been inspired by him. this dangerous
and revolutionary doctrine was, in November 1876,
thus stated:
bOuSe VI Representatives Will permit the
counting of the Electoral vote; it will permit the
counting of every vote which it may judge lawful to
be counted and Uote be ldlgfLy counted tUith-
out its concurrence and against its Judgment
Wnomsoever by the vote SO counted shall appear
to have majority of all the Electors appointed will
be President ana will be accepted by the Democratic
party as such; and wnomsoever, if no President be
chosen, the popular branch of the government shall
then in due form choose to be President will be so
accepted by them
In a recent communication to the public by Mr.
Manton Marble, the Boswell of Gov. Tilden, he
ctotaS NJ he of tir,a
that the Governor urged upon his friends
in Congress the adoption of this bold
policy, and that the House should
reject the vote of Louisiana. defeat an election by
the people and proclaim him President; but that in
disregard of his wishes timid counses prevailed the
Electoral Commission was raised. and all was lost
The nation has cause to thank God and these timid
counsels that it not convulsed with a war for
the succession, as sometimes i'll starred Poland,
and for fifty years has been unhappy Mexico.
The purpose of Mr. Marble obviously is to bring
Gov. Tilden prominently forward for the succession
in $780, and stab his great rivals, Senators Bayard
and Thurman, who were among the most distin-
guished authors and advocates of the commission