Year: 1876

leans that buster OF demaRogues and no partisan
appeals passion obscure their vision Of the
true interests Of the Republic


An astonishing amount OF discussion OF legal sr1
political character all day. People who knew
about the Electoral College few days ago
than they did of the Calculus are to-day vastly en-
lghtened that mysterious piece OF governmental
machinery In the downtown lawyers Offices nussy
old tones, that have been accommodating The dust OF
years. hauled from their obscurity TO assist In
the great hunt for knowledge on tho bearings OF
the federal constitution, tho laws and prece-
dents governing the question OF insiigi-
BILE Presidential electors the power OF the
presiding officer of the Senate in regard TO the count


ing the electoral and the power also invested
In the houses Of Congress affecting the same ISSUE
IL amusing feature OF the hour to observe tns
oracular importance assumed by some feeble limbs OF
tho law when questioned the subject OF how the
constitution should be Interpreted in the matter OF
counting the votes host OF our lawyers have
managed to sail along prosperously for years without
disturbing their th oughts about the constitution;
but at the present crisis they feel they must assume


knowledge II they have il not and a consequence
u deluge of absurd ana ncongruous opinions has
been poured out TIL It is confusion worse coniounded
among those who have relied tho lawyers for tho
solution of every constitutional problenL But the
lawyers. nevertheless were In great request from tho
humblcst pleader the Court OF Special Sessions TO
the very Nes or OF the Bar. Politicians who are
thought TO carry about them full load OF iniorma-
ton on knotty points affecting tho methods OF
voting, the nature and duties OF returning boards
the qualifications OF electors &c, were found TO bo
sadly wanting on this specific branch OF political
mechanism. Few men were 10 be found agreeing In
opinion to tho power OF Congress 10 go behind the
returns any OF the three States In dispute
As to the twenty second joint rule not one in thou
comprehended ITS scope and meaning. and men
despair gave up endeavoring to comprehend the mud
die as II stands.


Nothing, however can be more certain than
that the discussion which occupied almost all
circles yesterday and must continue to absorb
attention Ior weeks yet to come must have wise
and sautary influence So far has helped TO direct
immense attention to the weak points IN the consttu
ton and may be expected measures will be taken IN
time place the fabric OF the government beyond the
risk oil a smash up.


The crowds that have been in daily the
corridors Of the Fifth Avenue Hotel considerably
thnncd out yesterday. The splendid weather
had carried hundreds to tho Park and
taken mems minds away from and controversy.
That democrat was aris who admitted TO him.
self body else that any other than Tden was
the duly elected President OF the United States There
were republicans to be found who doubted II Hayes
was honestly returned. ana on the whole they were
much candid and dispassonate than those OF the
democrats, most Of whom honestly believed that their
Candidate Is TO be cheated out OF his election, and
tnero were threats mado that trouble would
come, come II such such thing aoa should happeI. These
foolish and unthinkinR. The older ones, who
remember and may have had sad experience Of the
advice OF the HERALD, await with patience and COM
posure the legitimate issue OF the difficulty. 1t Is
natural enough there should be great reaction from
the intense strain OF the week. Hundreds Of men
felt the impulse come upon them strongly yesterday
TO slay the wretch who broached a word concerning
the elections in the South There Is fearful disgust
with the topic consequence Of the surieit that
beef had Of it. should be careful At present
whom ne asks Tor news about Louisiana.