The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1879-05-09
Weed Of Liquidation fH Regard "a
Presidential ETecffons.

Need Of Liquidation TO- Regard n
Presidential EIecfions.
The Presidential contest Of 1876 wa,
not very far from plunging our coun
try into civil war. II is one Of The
Democratic party's greatest claims t.
merit that, while believing that Il had
won the election, aud that its candi
date was fairly entitled TO his seat, il
consented to submit It's claims to ar,
bitration rather than imperil the peace
Of the country. The whole trouble
on that occasion came about through
the absence Of regulation. Had the
two Houses jointly, under provision Of
law, or either House separately under
like provision. had the power to ascer-
tain, determine and count the electo-
raj vote there would have been no
danger. But the two Houses had no
rule, neither House had definitely
fixed powe-, and each claimed in ef.
feet all the power. The danger was
bridged over by the institution Of the
Electoral Commission. and then uni.
versal expression was given to the
opinion that We could never again
safely pass through such an ordeal, and
that the first duty that lay before Con.
gress and the people was by law ~
constitutional amendment To so regu.
late the determining Of the electoral
vote that We should not be placed in
another such situation. The cam
paign for the next Presidency has al
ready opened, yet Congress has failed
to take any steps to provide against
the danger We incurred in the last
contest. The only suggestion against
the recurrence Of danger is that both
Houses Of Congress are under the con-
troll Of the same political party, aud
that therefore there is no danger Of
collision OF authority. That sugges-
ton IS based upon the assumption
an assumption too often true in prac-
teal politics--that the controlling ma
jorities will certainly agree on what.
ever is the interest Of the party,
and that will be the controlling
consideration Of each house. Such
an argument does not contemplate
equal and exact justice. and has very
much the flavor Of the counting
in process. Besides. it loses sight of
the fact that the regular presiding
officer Of the Senate, who is charged
by the constitution with the duty OF
counting the electoral vote, does not
belong to the political party represen.
ted by the majority in the two Hous-
es. The greatest apprehension was oc-
casioned in the last struggle concern
ing this very power vested in the pre-
siding officer Of the Senate. and it was
the question that arose in regard to
the scope Of his power and authority,
more than any other cause, that IN.
duced acceptance of the proposition
for the Electoral Commission. If the
Vice-President. presiding over the
Senate, should in the next count as
sert all the power claimed for the pre-
siding officer on the last count, and
his course should not be approved by
the majorities In the two Houses, it is
easy TO see that very serious trouble
might result. His action would doubt
less be sustained by the executive de-
partment Of government, and when
such contingency happens the force
Of the executive can be overcome only
by resort to physical force, and such a
conflict means civil war. There is a
very great responsibility resting upon
Congress in this matter, and amid the
great mass of legislation thus far
sought, no bill looking to the adjust
ment of the impending struggle for
the Presidency has been pressed to the
front, if it has ever been offered. II
General Grant should be one of the
candidates, and the presiding officer Of
the Senate should back him and turn
the government over to General Grant,
there could be but one result unless
the Democrats resorted to arms. and
we're successful in such an appeal.
| The Age.