Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-28
The Democratic Scheme for Counting
lie Electoral Vote.


1t is a striking illustration of the des-
perate feeling prevailing in the Demo-
cratic party that scheme so bad rs the
caucus plan for counting the Electoral
votes can be favorably reported. But
for the bold conspiracy in Maine and
the various seat-stealing operations in
Washington, we should deem it impos-
sible for so dangerous and revolution
airy measure to be carried. 1t is in
fragrant opposition to the spirit of the
Constitution, it is contrary to the only
political doctrine the Democratic party
has left, and it is sure to result in fraud
and wholesale injustice.
Nothing can be clearer than that the
Federal Constitution requires the Pres
ident to be elected by the States. The
Legislatures are to appoint Electors
in any manner they see fit; the Electors
are to meet in their respective States
and transmit the result of their ballot
ing TO the President of the United
States Senate. The laws enacted from
time to time to carry out these provis-
ions of the Constitution establish the
methods by which each State is to de-
termine through its own returning oili-
GERS what Electors have been chosen,
and the proper authorities of the State
| are to give to the Electors formal GER
tificates of title, which must accompa-
ny the statement of their ballots trans
mitted to the President of the Senate
/ Nowhere is it SO much as limited
that the choice of Electors may
be, or can be, determined, save
in their respective States, and by the
! lawful State authorities, The votes
which they are to cast are regarded as
| the votes of the States, not of the peo-
pie; and the States must select their
! own agents in their own way. This is
so plainly in accordance with the Dem
ocratic theory of State Rights that it is
not easy TO see how any Democrat can
! bring himself to question it. During
the arguments before the Electoral
Commission, the managers of Mr.. Til
denis case urged this very doctrine rs a
plea for rejecting the Hayes votes from
Florida. In the objections to the Re-
publican Electors, Senators Jones,
Cooper and Mcdonald and Representa-.
tives ID. ID. Field, Tucker, jerks and
Springer took the extreme gro md that
even if the certificates originally ISSUED
to the Republicans by Governor Stearn'
"ever had any validity" they had beer
annulled and declared void" by the
subsequent action of Governor Drew
and also by resolution of the Floridg
Legislature and " Judgment Of the Su
preme Court of the State. 1t would bC
impossible TO make broader assertion
of the final aud plenary authority of tho
State in passing upon the title of it,
Electors than by assuming, as the Dem
ocratic managers did in this case, tha
after valid certificate had been ISSUED
to one set of Electors the State coulC
annul it and issue another certificate t
different set, and that its judgment II
this extraordinary and arbitrary course
must be conclusive upon Congress il
counting the votes.
But by the proposed joint resolution
the two houses OF Congress are to re
solve themselves every four years int
a National Returning Board to revis'
the figures of the State Canvassers. Tn,
names of all the Electors are to be sub
mitted for approval, before the vote
are counted, and if the two house
agree in rejecting any vote it shall no
be counted. AS the two houses ar
now controlled by the same party, tn
effect Of this resolution would be I