Year: 1877

day evening, it Is pretty clearly indi-
Gated that the Democratic Congressman
are not at ell harmonious in their views
as to the future policy of the party in
dealing with the count of the electoral
vote. There are reasons to be urged in
support Of the positions taken by both
sides. In favor of those, who think as
BAYAKD and THURMAN do, that the
count should be proceeded with and no
fillibustsring INDUCED in, it may
be contended that although the re-
suit is contrary TO their expections, and
that the Commission has miscarried, yen
they must abide the consequences in
good faith, as the passage of the electoral
bill was in great measure due to the
ardent support of tbe Democratic men,
bers. 1t is true that q number oil them
voted against it upon constitutional
grounds, and therefore are not expected
to submit to any decision rendered by
the Commission. But there are other
Democrats who voted for it, and now pro-
pose to disregard its verdict. The
argument advanced in favor OF their pos
ition is that they supported the plan III
good faith. not endorsing the principle,
but merely adopting 1t as expedient, in
order TO avert the danger of civil war.
But in doing this they supposed that
they conferred upon the Commission just
such powers as Congress had, and it was
appointed for the purpose of investigat
ing the disputed points and sscer-
tanning the facts. and upon the facts to
render an impartial verdict; that the
relation of the Commission to Congress
was similar to that of a Master Commits
sioner to Court of Chaucery. On the
ether hand. the Commission reversed the
supposed relative positions, and assumed
the powers OF the Court, leaving Con-
gress as its clerical assistant. The law
creating the Electoral Commission fully
contemplated that thorough in
vestigation of the alleged frauds
should be made The Democrats, who
are naturally the truest and most correct
interpreters of states rights, held that the
right to appoint electors for President
and Vice-President belonged to each
state, subject only to the conditions i'm.
posed by the Constitution and the limi-
tations prescribed by Congress; that by
the federal compact, binding on all and
each, all the states are entitled to have
these conditions and stipulations observed
and carried out; and hence that the power
resides in the general government
TO ascertain whether the conditions have
been observed, and if not, to ceclare the
electoral vote in question forfeited.
They knew that by thorough h analysis of
the work of the Returning Boards in
Florida and Louisiana they would Illus
trate the necessity of Congress
exercising tie power in the present
contest, hence they supported the
electoral plan with the distinct under
standing that the Commission would ex-
erclse this power. But the tribunal
having disregarded the law, aud abdi-
Gated its power, they now feel that there
is neither legal nor moral requirement
to abide by the decision and favor treat
ing the whole thing as miserable sbo--
tion, and proceed to exercise the power
constitutionslly belonging to the two
Houses OF Congress, as If no outside Com
mission had ever been created. They
find that a tribunal which was chosen to
represent the honesty and justice OF the
American people, has failed of its pur-
pose, and has carried on to filthy con.
summation tbe halt formed and incom.
plete frauds of the Returning Boards.


The trouble has been, in this whole
contest, the Democratic managers, to use
q common vulgsrism, have not had
asand in their craw" They have ever
been too ready to surrender principle to
expediency. The timidity OF the bond
holding interest Of the East and the
bull dozed condition of the members
from the South, have contributed to this
state of affairs. But there is one con-
ISOLATION, and that is, the people, without
leaders, Won the glorious victory for re-
form IN the late election, and the people
do not rely upon party managers to Sc
cure the fruits Of the victory. We are
told that the American people stand
helpless in the face of the gigantic frauds.
We are not brought to that complexion
vel. The people know that If this decis-
ion be accepted and respected as law,
it will be followed By bitter fruit. They
know that q chain OF evils will follow
this crime consummated by the iCommis'
sion. They know that it will give
deeper tinge to the contempt OF law and
of its tribunals that already dissstrously
affect public morslisyi it will prepare
the way for new frauds and usurpssions;
it will put higher premium upon sue
cessful villiany; 1t will establish prece.
dents that will be used hereafter to
the hurt Of honesty and the tri-
umph of knavery; it is q long and fatal


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