The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-12-27
Maxim. "a Republican
President Certain.
Tie Republican, Scheme Of Ippoinf
ing Presidential Electors BY
Republican Legislatures.

Washington, Dee. l6.-Ther"
is no doubt that the extreme rHdi
cal leaders among the Republic
cans are seriously contemplating
ii change in the mode Of appoint
ing Presidential electors, not only
in New York, but in several other
States where the result at the
polls next fall might he doubtful.
The States particularly spoken OF
in addition to New York are Con
nec,ient, New Jersey, Ohio, Colo~
radio, Nevada, California and Ore
gun.
1t is understood that the Repub
Leans will control The next Legis
laturvs in those eight States, and
through New Jersey and Oregon
have democratic Governors, who
will hold through the coming
year, the stalwarts think they can
frame such ii law as will prevent
any obstruction of their plans by
the executive Of any State.
The Federal Constitution con
fcrs full power upon the Legisla
tnrcs in regard to the appoint
ment of Presidential electors.
But Congress has passed IL law
directing that they shall be ap
pointed in all the States on the
Tuesday next after the first Mon
day of November, and that they
shall cast their votes Oh the first
Wednesday OF December. This
is all tie Congressional legisla
| ton there is or can be on the sub
jet. If any State Legislature
should, at ilsapproaching session,
take the appointment from the
people and co.sfer it upon itself,
the law for this purpose would
provide for the assembling CT the
Legislature on the day in Novem
Der fixed by Congress for the ap
pointing of the electors.
If anybody Slonld ask. whether
the Republican party would dare
to do this III the doubtful States
above mentioned, he may find his
answer in the character and his
| tory Of that party. The stake
would be the Presidency and Vice
Presidency. The alleged excuse
for this extraordinary measure
would be the charge tlrat the den,
! acrlls in most of the Southern
States will resort to Intimidation
and force to prevent the republi
cans from voting in those States,
and therefore the republicans of
the North are justified III using all
legal and constitutional means for
counterbalancingtl the unjust cour-e
o. the Democrats OF the South.
The republican party was origi
nally made up OF the most radical
elements OF the Wing, the Demo
cratic and the Abolition parties.
It's youth was spent amid the heat
ell agitatioiis that sprang out OF
slavery question. In it's early MA
turr:y it conducted one of. the
greatest wars Of modern times.
Upon it devol, ed the rccons1ruc
OF the Union amid commissions
that had no precedent in>our his
tory. The first fifteen turbulent
years of its existence brought
into its ranks Il large share OF the
young, bot blood of the country.
When Grant was first elected, it
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.
1t thus grew to be d very bold,
aggressive, and somewhat unscru
pulons party, and upon the whole
perhaps the most skilltully hand
leg patty which tllo country ever
saw. During all tins time, and
down to the present day, it has
never :or one moment feared the
democratic party, but on the con
trdry, has rather jeered at its tim
idity and deSpised its methods,
aud has ever stood ready to take
it by the throat, as it did at the
close OF the last presidential cleo
ton. -
Hence, ought any close observ
er OF the events of the past TWEEN
ty years to doubt that the repnh
llcans will change the mode of ap
pointing electors in six or eight
States, If they can thereby secure
the Presidency AS to any re
coil from this bold step, the aolvo
cats OF this line of policy point to
! tue fact that the next census will
considerably reduce the power of
the Southern States III the Electo
| raj Colleges. while at the same
/ time increasing that of the States
III the West and Northwest, where
he the strongholds Of the republi
can party.
A minister who had been reprcy
ing ore OF his elders for over H.