Mexico weekly ledger., 1879-12-25
REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT.
The Republican scheme of APP
pointing Presidential EIec-
tors by Republican Leg
islatures.
From the New York Sum.

ne doubt that the extreme radical
leaders among the Republicans are
seriously contemplating a change in
appointing Presidential electors, not
only in New York, but in several 9TH
er states where the result at the polls
next fall might be donhtful. The
states particularly spoken of in addi-
ton to New York are Connecticut,
New Jersey, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada,
California and Oregon.
1t is understood that the Republic
ilcans will control the Legislatures In
those eight States, and though New
Jersey and Oregon have Democratic
governors, who will hold through the
coming year, the staiwarts think they
can frame such a law as will prevent
any obstruction of their plans by the
executive of any state.
The federal constitution confers
full power upon the legislatures in
regard to the appointment of Presl-
dental electors. But congress has
passed a Law directing that they shall
be appointed in all the states On Tues
day next after the first Monday in
November, and that they shall cast
their votes on the first Wednesday of
December. This is all the congress
sional legislation there is or can be
on the subject. Il any state legisla-
ture should, at its approaching ses-
sion, take the appointment from the
people and confer it 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.
If anybody should ask whether the
Republican party would dare to do
this in the doubtful States above men
toned, he may find his answer in the
character and history of that party.
The stake would be the Presidency
and Vice-Presidency. The alleged
excuse for this extraordinary meas
ure would be the charge that the
Democrats in most of the Southern
States viii resort to iiHnsimiaatio and
force to prevent the Republicans from
voting in those States, and therefore
the Republicans of the North are JUS
titled in using all legal and constitu-
tional means for counterbalancing the
unjust course of the Democrats Of the
South.
The Republican party was original
~ made UP of the most radical ele.
ments of the Wing, the Democratic,
and the Abolition parties. Its youth
was spent amid the heated agitations
that sprang out Of the slavery ques-
ton. In its early maturity it con-
Quoted one of the greatest wars OF
modern times. Upon it devolved the
reconstruction of the Union amid
commissions that had no precedent il
our history. The first fifteen turbu-
lent years of its existence brought in
to it's ranks a large share Of the
young, hot 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 Con-
stitution. 1t thus grew to be a very
bold, aggressive, and somewhat un-
scrupulous party, and, upon the
whole, perhaps 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 contrary, has rather
ijeered at its timidity and despised its
methods, and has ever stood ready to
take it by the 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 there
by secure the Presidency? As to any
rscoil from this bold step, the advo-
Gates Of this line of policy point to
the fact that the next census will con-
sideraSly reduce the power of the
Southern States In the Electoral Col
Ileges, while at the same time increas-
ing that of the States in the Yves:
and Northwest, where lie the strong
holds of the Republican partv.