Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-28
EDMUND'S IDEA.
Certificates of Electors Will be Counted
Whether the Two Houses Are Present
or Not-The Republican, Purpose.

orNot-The Republicans Purpose.
WASHINGTON, December 27.-The le-
gality of Mr.. Garfield's election as presi-
dent is not contested, and there Is no
disposition in any quarter to deny MN
the right to which he is fairly entitled.
But there il no existing rule or law un-
der which the votes cast al the Presi-
dentialelection may be counted, and 1t is
proposed to supply that omission by the
fairest measure ever presented to Con-
gress, which may be briefly summed up
as follows:
l. II but one list OF votes OF electors
from any State he submitted TO each
House for its decision and the two
Houses do not concur in rejecting It,
that list shall be received.
III. II more than one list OF votes OF
electors from any State, or paper pur-
porting to be such list, has been sub
mi,ted to each House for its decision
upon objections made thereto, ami 1t
shall appear tha! the two Houses have
NOT concurred in receiving either ot said
lists, they shall be declared ss being re-
iected.
The Republicans have resisted this
prop,srd rule with extreme violence.
In the House they have asserted the
right of the Vice President to connt the
votes, which Republican leaders in the
Senate. like the late Senator Morton,
Mr. Conkling. and Mr.. Edmunds, have
absolutely denied. They offer no sub
stitu,e, but doggedly refuse TO adopt
sny method at all, thus leaving II an
open question, and with the POSSIBILITY
OF serious complications hereafter.
Georgia voted alter the day hSed ny
the act of Congress. Although her
eleyen electors will not effect the result
now. they might in a future election u :
! ,ermine. under a similar condition oi
things. In view of snch a poss bile con
tingency, ought not provision to be
made. wren no con,es. is pending, for
cases like thiS'
The Republicans counted IN threc
Presidents under the Joint twtnty-sec-
ond rule. which thew rassed on Feb. Il,
1Sj fer Mr.. Ii coins secon l ter n,
when they had msjorlty IN eoth
Houses. That rule enabled one House
70 throw out State. Grant was twice
declared President under 1t.
In 1876 the Republicans OF the Senate
wtra unwilling to continue their own
rule, because the House WAS Democrat
ic. They dropped it on the prete1'
that the House had not adopted any
ioint rules 10 govern the FOrty-fourth
Congress. and contended that thelr
adoption by each Congress was necessa
rv 70 keep them IN force. The authors
of this sharp practice knew that dlsa
ereement between the two Houses
would lead to deadlock, by which the
election must 30 to the House OF Repre-
sentatives.
Tha. thick was the entering wedge o'
the Electoral Commission, and It was
worthy OF the genius OF Mr. Eimunts
who pu, the iii any in the act ina
con,rived to consummate the Urea
Fraud by which HAYES was put in th'
White House after Mr. Tilien had beer
elected. 49,.
Mr.. Edmunds has gone further than
the most reckless partisan in the House
in declaring the purpose OF the Repuo
lican leaders on this subject. he ma
| announced his determination with em
phasis and without condition. Ever,