Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-11-20
The ELECTORAL Question.

The Electoral Question:
The dispute at the last Presidential
election gave us warning enough that
our laws were in an imperfect condi-
ton regarding the settlement of ques-
tions arising from irregular returns,
cases of intimidation or fraud within
the States, and other matters affecting
the Presidential choice of the people.
These defects have been noted before,
and wise and statesmanlike bill for
their remedy been proposed by Senator
Morton, which was lost in the stress of
what is called practical legislation. The
crisis, which was to be feared, found us
unprepared, and an extra constitutional
method had to be devised to meet the
emergency. If there was any excuse
for negligence before it came, there
was certainly none afterward, and moth
ing but culpable neglect, or worse,
criminal design, could be the reason for
the failure Of both parties in Congress
to prepare promptly, discuss temper
ately, and agree dispassiOnately upon
a proper and efficient measure that
would obviate the difficulty in the fu-
ture. IT was not a difficult task in the
way Of Legislation, and it was one that
bore equally upon both parties. Near
ly three years have passed and nothing
has been done, and there is very little
prospect that anything will be done the
coming session; so that in case of an
other dispute we shall be as unprepared
as ever, with passions possibly higher
and the precedent of difficult and extra
judicial proceedings more dangerous.
The past failure and the future proba-
bility Of partisan struggle and defeat,
are distinctly to be charged upon the
Democratic party, and what is worse,
with very definite suspicious of ulterior
purpose.
In the Forty-ffth Congress a bill was
reported ard passed by the Senate for
the regulation of the Electoral count.
1t was not partisan, and was supported
by Mr.. Edmunds and Mr.. Bayard, two
Of the ablest, most candid and judicial
minded representatives of both parties.
II provided that cases of Electoral dis
pute should be settled within the States
themselves by such tribunals as they
had or should provide, and that such
decisions should be binding upon the
two Houses of Congress. Such prin-
ciple should have been acceptable to the
Democratic doctrines Of State rights,
and if not agreeable to the Republican
theories, was acknowledged by them as
q reasonable and practical arrange
ment, such as was possible in the con-
dition of the Federal compact and the
autonomy of the States. 1t was OPP
posed by Senator Thurman and the
bulk of the Democratic members, and
passed by the Republican majority in
the Senate. In the last session of the
Forty-hfth Congress the bill went to the
House, and was defeated by the substi-
tuition of a bill offered by Mr.. South
ard, Of Ohio, Democratic member,
which provided that the decision by any
State tribunal might be overruled by q
vote Of both Houses OF Congress, and
that, in case Of two tribunals giving OPP
posite decisions, Congress might decide
which one was competent. The bill
failed to pass, and was revived during
the extra session. 1t is now upon the
calendar, and il is probable that the
partisan majority will endeavor to force
its passage. 1t is opposed, not only by
the strong Republican minority, but
cannot be supported by Democrats like
Mr.. Bayard and his associates, who have
already put themselves on record
against It's principles and in favor of the
exactly opposite Senate bill, If it is
put through under the party lash, and
the honorable States rights Democrats
are obliged TO surrender their prinCi-
pies, It cannot be accepted by a Repub-
lican Executive, being so manifestly for
a party purpose, and the whole matter
falls to the ground, leaving us in doubt,
confusion and perplexity again.
The meaning Of this conduct on the
part Of the Democratic party is obvious
II proposes to count in Its
next candidates for President and Vice
President, If it can. It not only pro-
poses to take advantage Of Electoral
disputes in States, but to invite them.
Nothing short of an overwhelming pre-
ponderance Of the Electoral vote in IA
vor of the Republican candidates will
prevent an effort being made to force a
decision in favor Of the Democratic
party. Among the unwritten and in
tangible expressions Of partisan deter
which are sometimes not the
less real for not being acknowledged,
il is intimated that a majority of twenty
Electoral votes win not be more than