Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1879-12-19
NATIONAL TOPICS.
REPUBLICAN, ELECTORAL SCHEME.
Plan for Appointing Presidential Electors
by Republican Legislatures-Yester-
days Congressional Proceed
ings-The Census.

HSo lHO NS"SSS'
The Republican Scheme Of Appointing
Presidential Electors by Republican
Legislatures
WASHINGTON, December lS.-There is
no doubt that the extreme radical lead
ers among the Republicans are serious
" contemplating change in the mode
of appointing Presidential electors, not
only in New York, but in several other
States, where the result at the polls next
fall might be doubtful. The States par
ticularly spoken of in addition to New
York are Connecticut, New Jersey, Or
egon, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada and CALI
fornia.
1t is understood that the Republicans
will control the next Legislatures in
those eight States, and though New Jer-
sey and Oregon have Democratic Gov
ernors, who will hold through the COM
ing year, the Stalwarts think they can
frame such law as will prevent any OBJ
struction of their plans by the Execu-
tive of any State.
The Federal Constitution confers full
power upon the Legislatures in regard
10 the appointment of Presidential cleo
tors. But Congress has passed law
directing that they shall be appointed
in all the States on the Tuesday next
after the first Monday of November
and that they shall cast their votes on
the first Wednesday of December. This
is all the Congressional legislation there
is or can be on the subject. Ii any
State Legislature should, at its approach
ing session, take the appointment from
the people and confer 1t upon itself, the
law for this purpose would provide fOr
the assembling OF the Legislature on the
day in November fixed by Congress for
the appointing OF the electors.
IianybOdy should ask whether the Re-
publican party would dare to do this IN
the doubtful States above mentioned,
he may find his answer in the character
and history OF that party. The stake
would be the Presidency and Nice-Pres-
idency. The alleged excuse for this eX-
traordinary measure would be the
charge that the Democrats in most OF
the Southern States will resort to intim-
idatiOn and force to prevent the Repub.
liCans from voting in those States, and
therefore the Republicans OF the North
are justified in using all legal and con-
stitutiOnal means Tor cOunterbalancing
the unjust course of the Democrats OF
the South.
The Republican party was originally
made up of the most radical elements OF
the Wing, the Democratic and the AbO-
lition parties. Its youth was spent amid
the heated agitations that sprang out OF
the slavery question. In its early ma
turity it conducted one of the greatest
wars of modern times. Upon it de-
vOlved the reconstruction OF the Union
amid convulsiOns that had no precedent
in our history. The first fifteen turbu-
lent years of its existence brought into
its ranks large share OF the young,
hot blood of the country. When
Grant was first elected, 1t
had become accustomed to deal
with great questions, and to get along
whenever it was deemed necessary,
without paying too careful regard to the
Constitution. IL thus grew to be a very
bold, aggressive and somewhat unscru-
pulous party, and, upon the whole, per-
hapS the most skilfully handled party
which the country ever saw. During
all this time, and down to the present
day. it has never for one moment feared
the Democratic party, but, on the con-
trary, has rather jeered at its timidity
and despised its methods, and has ever
stood ready to take il by its throat, as it
did at the close of the last Presidential
election.
Hence, ought any close observer of
the events of the past twenty years to
doubt that the Republicans will change
the mode of appointing electors in six
or eight States, if they can thereby Sc
cure the Presidency? As to any recOil
from this bold step, the advocates of this
line of policy point TO the fact that the
next census will considerably reduce
the power OF the Southern States in the
Electoral College, while at the same
time increasing that of the States in the
West and Northwest, where lie the
strOnghOlds of the Republican party.
New Postal Bill
WASHINGTON, December lS.-The bill
reported by Mr.. Bailey to-day from the
Senate Committee on Postoffices and
Postroads is a general measure, and a
substitute for the various pending bills
which provided special relief for vari-
Gus postmasters entitled to readjustment
and increase in their salaries. 1t is esti-
mated that 1000 postmasters, princi-
pallv in Iowa, Kansas and other west
ern States, will be entitled TO its benefit,
and the aggregate amount required to
pay their claims will be something over
100000.
The Census.
WASHINGTON, December Is. - The
Census Committee of the House has
agreed TO recommend the increase of
compensation of ennumeratOrs in sparse
lv populated territories to two dollars per
diem. Several bills before the commit
tee were discussed to-day, and General
Walker was heard upon all points.
National Republican Committee.
WASHINGTON, December lS.-The eN-
ecutive committee of the National Re-
publican Committee has authorized
Chairman Cameron TO issue a call for
the next National Convention, and to
attach the names of the executive COM
mittee thereto. Senator Cameron left
this morning for New York. The fol-
lowing gentlemen were selected to fill
the vacancies in the Committee: Platt,
of New York; Cooper, OF Ohio; New, OF
Indiana and Heath of Michigan