The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-20
fFor the Dispatcb.I
The Sessth and the Presidency.

The sudden disappointment which ha
oyerW helmed the hopes oil the SCUM ant
the patty of constitutional government u
the United States has very naturally canse'
thinking men 10 igquire what remedy u
I future can be applied to state OF things &
preiudicfal 10 the welfare and peace OF tb'
lcOuniry. Ii is evident that tbe support o
the "soIid South" viii prejudice The claiE'
Of any presidential aspTant TO the votes 81
the northern people. And vet, under tn
circumstances. the South ciunot be ANY
thing but solid" in support OF the part,
which holds out the only prospect OF ar
equitable conduct OF national afiilrs we
cannot afford to cit loose from The Demo
cratic party. the sheet-ancbor wbich h0id'
the ship OF the Constitution 10 her ancient
moorings. And yet our support hampers
that party in its contest with Its Toes al
home. What must we do!
Oar answer is: Return, so Iar as tht
South i concerned in presidential e'eclionS,
TO the electoral plan originally contemplated
bv the trainers Of the Constitution. III was
not. attended (anG until after the election oil
jefferson it wGS rot actually the caSF) that
the electors should be instructed beforehand
! for whom to vote. Let our congressional
delegation affiliate as heretofore with The
1 n
members Of that party understand that we
| 5uliv apprecia and are grateful Tor the no.
ble stand they have made in defence OF con-
stitutienai government and the rights OF a
doWn.ira0drn section of the Union; let III
be understood that we are not "sulking 10
our tents" hut simply holding ourselves IN
reserve as an Old Guard prepared TO Charge
when the fortunes Of the day are wavering
| In the balance. Let the National Demo-
| cratic Convention make its nominations Tor
the Offices of President and Vice-President
without the assistance ~ OF southern De
mccrats. Let the popular election TAKE
place in the northern states. TWO or three
DAVIS after this election let the Legislatures
of the southern States be asst mbled ana
let them exercise their constitutional right
OF appointing electors 10 meet the othei
electors ut Washington. unrdmmeled 6y
Instructions. or instructed as the LegiStd-
lures may seem it,
The Constitution OF the United States
saws that presidential electors shall be ap-
pointed ~ the Legislatures OF The several
States shalt determine. We have right
10 vest the Governor. or the Altorney-Gen-
eral, or either branch of the Legislature,
or both with The apt oinim OF electors.
Ii would De much better if the whole coun-
try, North ard South, should adopt plan
! hv which the excitement and The neiarlouS
practices of q popular presidential election
might be avoided. At any rate, let the
South be found on the side OF go0c order
| and peaceful, legitimate decision OF the
questions involved in presidential contest.
Does any one doubt that if Hancock bad
beeu nominated by Convention composed
| exclusively of northern Democrats he
would have received asuficlent NUMBER OF
northern electoral votes to ensure his cleo
| tiou with the aid OF electors appointed by
southern Legislatures? CHARLES DOB.
The election for electors must take place
in all the States on the same day. There"
fore, the southern Legislatures could not
assemble for that purpose two or three DAYS
after the election had taken place in the
other States.
Besides, il the best men in the Demo-
cratic party in the South should agree not
to send delegates 10 Democratic National
Conventions, the worst would do so, and
would here keep up third party for The
purpose of getting the Offices as the regular
Demo Gratis Of this section,
But, above all, the stalwarts could damage
the Democrats much more In the estimation
OF the northern people by representing us
as their secret sllies than by illusions TO the
fact that we are their avowed c,mrades.
With due respect to all who differ with
Us, we must think that all those schemes
are mpracticable which look to division
OF the Democratic party.