Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 May 1878 — The "Frand” Question. [ARTICLE]

The "Frand” Question.

The renewed agitation of the Presidential question of 187<i is unfortunate in every aspect. It is one in which the country is not interested, and which it does not demand. Every public and private interest, indeed, requires relief from the wretched strife of parly and personal aims which are the sole support of the movement. It is exclusively a political job. The fullest and most prolonged investigation could prove nothing more than what everybody already believes, that both parties in certain States at the last election were desperate and unscrupulous. That has never been doubted; and it was that conviction, with the further persuasion of the danger of civil war unless some method were discovered of deciding the dispute by common consent, which produced the electoral commission. It was supported by the votes of both parties, and it is very probable that the democrats hoped and believed that it would secure the success of Mr. Tilden. But whatever the motive of action, the commission was created, its decision was accepted by Congress, and the quarrel was happily and harmoniously settled. That decision can not now ho reversed. The President is constitutionally installed, and he cun bo constitutionally removed only by impeachment, or hy the method provided by the electoral bill. . The hill creating the commission provided thst when obections were raised to the reception of a vote from any Slate, the objections and all the papers should be submitted to the commission, “which shall proceed to consider the same, with the same powers, if' any, now possessed for that purpose by the two Houses acting separately or togother.” It.further provided that the decision of the commission upon ■such objections should stand unless (he two Houses should separately concur in ordering otherwise. The decision of the commission, «s finally rendered, was ratified by Congress, and stood, therefore, as its act. Mr. Haves was thus declared to be President, in perfoct conformity with the Constitution. He was constitutionally inaugurated, and the sudden disappearance of a plain peril, with the patriotic wisdom of liis course, instantly tranquillized the country. If any investigation into questions which Congress, through the commission, decided that it could not Investigate, should now take place, the only possible result tinder the circymstsncos' would be fruitless excitement and trouble. No vote of this Congress could set sside the decision of the last Congress accepting the electoral award. If the judgment of the Congress which Is intrusted with the duty of ascertaining the result of the Presidential election may be reversed by a snheequent Congress, there will he no stability in the government, and the country will be at the mercy of revolutionists. A vote

of this Congress, therefore, tlmt Mr. Jlaye4 was not (July elected would ho merely on expression of opinion. Its only conceivable practical result would he disturbance of the public mind, nnd the industrial loss and injury tlmt always accompany such disturbance. Such a declaration of opinion could not nlTect the constitutional title of Mr. Hayes,'nor of itself effect anything toward his removal. Nor would it effect any change in public opinion. The moral aspect of the case would be what it has always keen, There was intense party fueling on both sides; them were violence nnd fraud; there war uo legal method of settlement accepted by both Hides, and a settlement was happily devised. It did not protend to adjust the questions of force and fraud involved, ft held that they werer questions beyond its jurisdiction, end it was agreed upon all sides that when Mr. Hayes was declared to be President, it was n declaration in pursuance of the soundest nnd safest principles. There is nothing in the “confessions” which affects those principles, or which throws any more light upon the foot of the real wishes of the voters in the disputed States. A mere expression of opinion, therefore, upon the part of Congress as to the Presidential title, is to be deprecated as a most dangerous precedent. A Congress whicli should deny the lawful right of a President to his position might be fairly expected to refuse to recognize him. In the present case the whole question having been opened before the commission, and the commission empowered by Congress to exercise all its powers upon the subj -ct having decided by what limits of inquiry it was bound, and its decision having been accepted and ratified by Congress, and the President having been constitutionally declared arnTTnaiigurated, the refusal of a subsequent Congres to recognize him as the lawful executive would be simplo revolution and anarchy. That is the common sonso view which is undoubtedly held by the great mass of the people of the United States, nod if the action of the present Congress makes it an issue in the elections for the next Congress, thoso who hold that view will tery willingly accept the contest. — Harper's Weekly.