Year: 1879

Walter A. Wood of the Seventeenth district. repub-
lican. he had not looked the question up. and
cannot definitely speak it at this time.


David WILDER. of the Twenty-arst district. repub-
ican, does not the necessity for change in the
custom of eecting Presidential electors that has
been long established He thinks it better to leave
1t as 1T is. as change would be very bad policy.
He thinks if New York makes a change other States
will follow. He does not think New York should
start the movement.


John II. Camp. of the Twenty-sixth district.
republican. says he is half inclined to think Il
is unwise to make the change this time He would
be in favor of it If 1t not just before Presi-
dential election. He does not think it ought to be
done at this time as it would look like tho repnb-
icans were endeavoring obtain political advantage
without having it passed upon by the people, This
Legislature was not elected with anything Of tho
kind in view. Otherwise the project would be good
thing to take away temptation for repeating In New
York.


Elbridge G. LApham. OF the Twenty-seventh dis
trct. republican. says Now York State republican
aud the party need not resort to any such make
shifts would look like political strategy. Let well
enough alone, he said. State Is certain OF
casting its electoral vote for the republican party
than New York. and without that vote the solid
South and all possible democratic States in the
Hc&0on4kJ
choice.


DEMOCRATIC ExPRKssIoNe.


s. s. Cox. of tho Sixth district of New York ldem-
ocrat). said


II think it was gotten up by the republicans in
New York to hold in terror over the democracy who
might be tempted to that something like 1t In the
Southern States. As there 10 real apprehension
of such thing being attempted in the South.
even under the provocation which came out Of
1876. and as any such attempt in New
York would be resented by the American people
almost with unanimity no politician or statesman
who can even through glass. .darkly would risk
his reputation in indorsing such scheme device.
No doubt 1t can be done. can jump of the dome
- N spitol and break my neck and mutilate my


ds Y, for various domestic and public reasons
AZ lot propose to do it while ! have my
Ssrses The day for making electors BY
N ares has gone to the dead q. past
we're done. however, my dtstE1ce
tho elector unanimously; that much
(, "A In saying for the sixth New York dis
Il --rablicans would be hoist with their
own petsrd In the city Of New York. No. mol The
people are not ready for any such change, and al
changes would be looked upon with suspicion. As
to the constituuonality of such act / would not
like to say until have examined Il carefully. The
constitution has been variously Interpreted of
late that LIE the good Book. It has been prostituted
in support Of tho worst hsresies." a


Fernando Wood of tho Ninth district of New Vora.
said .s ~ s


"what / have to say il predicseed solely on the
assumption that 1t Is truc that such measure Il
seriously discussed. though do not believe any in
telligens do 1t, and that is that those who
the gods seek to destroy they arst make mad"


Daniel OReily. Of the Second district OF BrookiyA
- 49, -
connection with tho count in Maine. but he had not
given 1t tho considsrstion 1t deserved While his di
trict was largely dsmocratc he did not believe tho
effect OF such measure wound be limired to the demo
cratic districts. There would naturally be feelings
Of the deepest indignation against party that would
attempt such programme for political purposes
and it would unite the democracy Of the Stats ~
surely as foreign would unite every section AZ
the country in brotherhood Of arms. The New
York State Legislature Is to-day republican. not
through the strength Of the party In that State but
because Of personal Quarrels in ranks purely
local affairs. When those differences arc harmon
lied New York IL denocratic State. Al
at least one branch Of the Lsgislstss1S
would be democratic. He did not favor
taking advantages Of petty partisan character at
any time and was ~ much opposed to overreaching
In Maino on the part OF the democracy he was of
the repuDllcaue oOlnR u ike meonne66 In New 1OrK.
The fact that the attempt to make the Maine Leg
islature democratic quoted precedent for
the New York Legislature to follow. It would be no
gain for the democracy to do this at any time.
especially now. when any provocation would be
taken advantage Of by tho republicans to divide the
Southern States and make them believe that the
hope Of democratic President had forever departed


Archibald M Bliss. of the Fourth district, Brook
lyn. democrat. said he believed that any movement
Of the kind discussed in the New York republican
papers. radical in its operation, would arouse q
sentiment of the bitterest indignation against the
party originating 1t. not only in New York. but
throughout the Union. He thought 1t = measure
better calculated to help the democracy
than to defeat It, for the people would
arise in their might and vote against
the nominees Of party that would bo
guilty of such outrage. In his district it would
mako difference. and for that matter he thought
the democrats would DO able to carry eighteen
out Of the thirty three Congressional districts. The
recollection OF the wrongs suffered in 1876 would be
intensified by the enactment Of such abi. and there
would be but one feeling that of resentment
awakened throughout the land to rcbuke tho over
reaching scheme Of the republicans OF Now York
State Granting that It could be done. and that IL
would stand the test of constitutional Law and dis
cusson. the measure is repugnant to the American

feeling fair dealing that could afford trust
the result to tho people with confidence that the
democracy would be vindicated At the polls.


Nicholas Muller of the Fifth district Of New York
democrat said the proposition had attracted his st
tention moro because 1t struck him as . confession
of weakness on the part Of the republicans. i'd
mission that they did not believe the State could bo
carried next year by their party. In that they were
right. andtwhile it is good sign for the democracy





was very bad. No political expedients would
however, deprive the party of Its power next year.
None would operate to prevent tho present method.
honorable in all its details from being carried
''Let well enough alone" was u good maxim for the
republicans to follow. Az TO its legality. Whatever
the right might be under the constitution tho people
Of the state had not boon consulted. The question
was never discussed before the people. and such
trickery chicanery. any other torn that would
suit such conduct. would become tho exccutioncr Of
the party resorting to 1t.


Waldo Hutchins, Of the Twelfth district dernocrat