National Republican., 1880-12-03
THE CEoKGIA uLUNDrp.

N'"s 'hNJ "N''''
THE GEORGIA BLUNDER.
We have the best democratic authority for
saying that from June "a TO November 2 the
campaign for Hancock was a series Of demo-
cratic blunders. Tho announc cment that
Georga's vote Is probably lost to him cer-
tainly caps tho climax. Instead of being tri-
umpha ntly elected by carrying nearly all the
states of the union, us the delegates north
and south promised at Cincinnati in the great
whirl of simulated patriotic enthusiasm
which eliminated in his nomination, he does
not even carry tho solid SOUTH" which
WADE HAMPTON assured him was his by pre-.
emption. The governor of Georgia, believing
that the principles of LEE and JACKSON are
to be maintained at any cost, even to the sacri-
flee Of a democratic candidate for president,
decided to obey Georgia code in summoning
electors rather than to recognize the revised
statutes of the United States us tho supreme
law of the land"
The provision of tho United States statutes
governing tho assembling of the electoral col
lege was passed in 1702; yet ten years ago the
Georgia legislature adopted code which fixed
a different day for such assemblage. Tho
United States revised statutes fixes the first
Wednesday In December MS the day on which
| the vote of the state shall be east the Georgia
code says the college shall be called together
by the governor on the first Monday of De.
cember, and that the vo to shall be cast the fol.
lowing Wednesday. This year December
comes in on Wednesday, and consequently
there is no Monday preceding 1t. Governor
CoLQUITT had the choice of obeying ono Of
two provisions. He Enthusiastically de.
cided to show that ho still "goes with his
state"
We are informed that the Georgia electors
will meet next Wednesday, cast their votes,
aud forward the certificate TO tho vice
president in the usual manner. viii II bo
| counted
The first incident in our history which re.
sembles tho present position of Gcorgas vote
is that of Indiana's first vote for president in
1917. She had not been admitted to the
union until December 1917, after she had
voted for electors. Her three votes were re.
ceived and coun ted for JAMES MONROE. Dur
ing the joint session objection was made to
the reception of the vote of Indiana by Mr..
TAYLOR, of the house, and the two houses
separated. After discussion in both houses
| the count of the vote was allowed to stand,
1888 for MADISON, "a for RUFUS KING, as it
was originally tabulated by the tcllcrs in.
cluding Indiana's three votes for MONROE.
Tho next difficulty of this kind arose in
1921. upon the counting or rejection of the
vote of the state of Missouri. The house had
rejected the resolution of the senate admitting
Missouri to the union, although that state had
adopted its const tuition, elected its senators
and representative and had voted for presi.
dent in anticipation of admission previous to
the counting of the electoral vote. As 1t was
known that Mssouri's three votes would not
change the result (JAMEs MADISON receiving
228 votes, including those of Missouri to
for JOHN QUINCY ADAMS the two houses
adopted resolution to count tho vote Of Mis-.
souri, alphabetically. This was ono of CLAY's
first compromises. Tho resolu tion provided
"That If any objection be made to the votes
of Missouri, an d the counting or omitting ia
count which sh all not essentially change the
result of tho el lection, in that case they shall
be reported by the president of the senate IN
the following manner:
"Wcro the votes of Missouri to be counted
tho result would be for A. B. MS president o.
the United States, votes; but in either
event A. B. is elected president OF tho United
States, aud in the samo manner for vice.pres
idcnt."
A scene of confusion occurred when th,
president of the senate made the declaration
of the election to tho joint assembly In &c
cordance with the resolution quoted, Mr.
FLOYD of Virginia and JOHN RANDOLPH en-
deavoring to be heard on protest; but beinI
put down by cries of "order" and the gavel o
.t la ,in lao nt,,N IT,,
dissolved amid some murmuring.
subsequently RANDoLPH's motion IN tn
house declaring the election vitiated and thu
proceedings irregular and Illegal was table,
by Il majority of 80 votes.
In 1887 the state of Michigan was found I,
he in relation to the count analogous /,
that of Indiana in 1917, and as her vote coult
not change tho result II was received anC
counted for VAN buren, under Il resolution
identical with that proposed by Mr.. CLAY il
the case of Missouri quoted above.
| We next come to the case of Wisconsin Il
1856. The five electors of that state wcr
prevented from meeting by a storm of snoy
so blocking tho railroads as to suspend travc
to the state capital. The college met tho mex
dsy and voted for JOHN q, FREMONT. As II
the TWO previous cAScs lHc NoIc III uOuO
, would not affect the result, whether 1t wa
counted or not. The certificate was read b,
tellers, including u statement of the reason
for its being cast on u day different from tha
fixed by law. No provision had been mad
by either house in regard to meeting th
, question involved.
I MI LErcHER, of Virginia, when the ceriiG
. cate of Wisconsin was handed to the teleri
, rose aud objected to its reception. Tn
presiding officer, Mr., MASON of Virgins
called Mr.. LErcHER to order ana dsrcgarde
his objection. One other certificate only hs
to be read which completed the count. Th
objection was not renewed and Mr.. MAsol
= met the case by declaring;
"That JAMES BUCHANAN Of the state a
/ Pennsylvania, having tho greatest number q
= votes for president, aud that number being
majority of tho whole number OF electors
, has been duly elected"
} MI TooMBs OF Georgia protested agans
+ tho action of the presiding officer and ami,