Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-26
Choosing Presidential Electors.

According to telegram in yesterdays
papers the Republicans Of Michigan have
determined not TO respect the law passed
by the last Legislature of that State pro-
Wiling for the election Of presidential
electors by districts instead of at large.
These boiling Republicans have had un-
wise advisers. Otherwise, they would not
have decided to set at defiance the laws
Of their own State and the Constitution
OF tho United States. However, there
will probably be only small rebellion
in this case. If. rs is likely, the next
President Of the United States shall
be elected without counting the votes
Of the Electoral College of Michigan, then
the refusal Of the Republicans to obey tho
State law will have produced no dead
sen fruit" and may possibly be treated
with silent contempt. But If, as is barely
possible, Democrat shall be elected
President by the aid Of the votes of three
or more OF the members of the Electoral
College of Michigan, then possibly there
may be rebellion worthy Of the name.
The Dom rebellion in Rhode Island and
the whiskey instruction in Pennsylvania
will have TO "pale their Intellectual fires"
in the light Of the Michigan confagration.
We called attention 70 this new Michi-
gan law some months ago, We regarded
1t as a very important one. Not that there
was any doubt'on our mind as to the right
of the Legislature of Michigan to district
the State for the election Of electors Of
President and Vice President Of the United
States, but because the Republicans are
such a diabolicaln set that they do not
seem to think the Democrats have any
rights which they are bound TO respect.
The reader Will wish TO see what the Fede-
raj Constitution says on this subject, and
80 we quote it from that instrument as COL
lows;
zach State shall appoint in such manner as
the Legislature thereof may direct number OF
electors equal to the whole number OF Senators
and Representatives 20 which the State may be
entitled In the Congress"
There is here no room for two opinions.
II is az plain as day that the law of Michl-
gan providing for the districting of that
State for the election for presidential cleo
tors is constitutional.
What can be the object of the Michigan
boilers? Do they expect the people OF
the United States TO countenance their eff
forts TO override the Federal Constitution?
Or do they purpose simply TO take the
.hances,n and rely upon having their votes
counted in case the Republicans elect the
next President of the United States? We
know not. But it is certainly dangerous
ground upon which they are treading.
The statement that the Supreme Court of
Michigan will be called upon TO issue
mandamus in this c2se is scarcely
credible. The telegram is not explicit
upon this point. It's language is
that in case their ticket Is not recognized
as a regular one the Republicans will APP
peal to the Supreme Court of Michigan for
O mandamus. For what purpose? 1t must
be to compel somebody to recognize the
Republican ticket as regular" How
could this be done bsfore the day Of cleo
tionf And what is it TO recognize ticket
as a regular one?
Boiling is in the air. 1t is the order of
the day. We here in Virginia must stand
upon the old ways"