New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
OPINIONS AS TO MIR. BLAIR's IDEA.

OPINIONS AS III Mis-. bLAlh . iDLA
THE AGITAToR PROBABLY A DECEIVED MAN-WHAI
SENATORS AND OTHERS SAY.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUfEJ
WASHINGTON, April 5.--The ancient philosopher
who searched with a candle for an honest man
would have equal difficulty to find in Congress
to-day any Senator or Representative VINO is
anxious to lead in promoting Montgomery Bialrs
scheme of reopening the electoral question. Many
of the Democratic Senators and Representatives
listen to the old gentleman politely and he has in
ferred from their failure to antag0nize his
views that they approve of his movement, when
in fact they will vote against any measure
which looks to giving this case a standing IN the
Supreme Court of the United States. Be
fore the whole subject is forgotten, the
opinions of few leading men in regard to
Mr.. Blairs memorial may be interesting. E.
Senator COnking thinks that if it is intended
simply to have the State of Maryland go before the
Supreme Court with quo warrantO proceedings,
then no act Of Congress is required. Any State al
ready has standing before the Court under the pro-
visions Of the third article of the Constitution which
declares that In all cases affecting ambassadors
and other public ministers and cOnsus, and
those in which State shall be party, the Supreme
Court shall have original jurisdiction" The Senator
had heard that a special tribunal was con-
templated by Mr.. Blair and others. and
that this tribunal was to be composed of
the Chef-Justice of the United States and those
members of the court whose judicial districts are
arranged that their services would make them
represent different States of the Union. This
tribunal was TO be given new and special powers,
but Congress would have to create it and give 1t
authority.
Senator Howe remarked that If Mr.. Blair proposed
to secure Congressional action to further his scheme
of reopenng the Presidential election controversy,
Mr. Howe did not propose to be a party to it.
Senator David Davis of Illinois, and Mr.. Morgan,
of Alabama, both agreed that the Supreme Court Of
the United States. if the case was brought
To itsattenton would hold that Congress has already
exercised its reserve power under the Constitution
to settle the Presidential difficulty by the creation
of the Electoral Commission. Neither of them is IN
fayo- of reopening the electoral contrOve rsy espe-
cially with the moral certainty that any decision
! given by the Supreme Court would be adverse to
! the Democrats.
! Mr. William f. Chandler who was at the capitol
to-day, said: That Blair memorial amounts 70
| nothing The Democrats could put Hayes ont to-
| morrow if they wanted to do 1t. They don't need
! special tribunal" On beng asked for an
| explanation, he said that the Democrats
| could do il by simply passing law Tor the fresi-
dents removal but the Democrats, he said, are sat
| isUed with Mr.. Hayes. They are getting all they
want as long they get the offices they VIII never
! interfere with the Presidents title Bairs memo
| rial lac said, has 40 support.
| Mr. Abram ;. Hewitt il IN favor of any remedial
legislation that may be devised 10 correct the wrongs
suffered by Governor TIlden, but il opposed to leg
islatiOu for the purpose OF creating special rlbu
nal He believes that the two Houses of Congress
when they declared Mr.. Hayes TO be President set
tled the question, aud that was the end Of the
Presidential controversy forever
senator Paddock looks upon Mr.. Blair's move
meut nonsense.