The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-24

whether II represents In the case of vote
by proxy. a the electors are, the will Of
the people who are their constituents.
All that OF course cannot be done by the
President of the Senate, and therefore
must be done by the two houses. lfit
can be done by the President OF the Sem
ate then the most alarming stride against
the rights Of the people has been taken
when the claim " made that the president
81 the senate is to count the votes. For
tunately. how ever, the claim thus made
by this very respectable body oi i;epub-
licans In Louisiana Ia entirely emascu-
lated by the coneomitanf assertion that
the president OF the senate Ia to be sim-
pie machine, ministerial officer or clerk.
Reporter We'll, what Is to be the out
come Of all this II the houses do not
agree in the count Of the votesf
General Butler-I cannot for moment
contemplate or entertain the idea that II
there is fairly expressed majority Of
the vote of the electoral college, properly
and justly shown Tor either Of the candi-
dates, that either house or senate will
iactiously take any stop TO prevent the
counting and declaration OF the votes in
favor OF the persons go chosen. The
people Of this country would huri to de-
struction any party which should under
take so gross an outrage. One vote ma.
iOrity fairly thrown and properly
counted is az good as 1000 under our
system Of determining elections. / can
conceive OF no greater danger to our
frame OF government, nay. to the very
government itself. than the idea. lift be
entertained, that the will of the majority
may be overcome by force, or frand. or
chicanery Of any sort.
Reporter-1'hen you believe that if the
houses should divide on the counting of
the votes 1t would result in revolutions
General Butler-No, doubt that, but
it would in bankruptcy. national and pr-
vate. Mr.. Belmont said, and probably
rightly enough, that the result of an
election would not affect the price OF our
bonds in Europe. OF course he meant a
fair election. But ne has not gwen his
opinion what the effect would be on our
bonds I'm Europe Of non-election, leav-
ing the country exposed to anarchy. In.
deed, this is a matter OF very grave con-
temptation. The constitution has dis
closed defect in our frame Of the gov.
ernment not well understood even by
ourselves. and one which probably never
came to the attention OF any foreigner
who owns our bonds-that is, the
possibility. and, perhaps, not dis
rant probability that the two houses
might divide upon the counting OF the
votes, and the executive government
lapse tor want OF q constitutional proyi-
sion az to who shall be at its head after
the 4th OF March, as the president can
only hold over, If at all, by an assump-
ton OF power, because OF the necessity
OF the case. tive get into this dilemma.
not only the funding Of our debt would
be stopped, but our bonds would be re.
turned upon us by millions, because an
unknown and unforeseen danger Is al.
ways the most fri2htful and most fruitful
In panic. The sagacious and patriotic
statesmen OF the country will pause and
reflect before they commit themselves
upon such dangerous and unknown sea
OF political and governmental action.
RepOrter-General. do you see any
way out Of this!
General Butler-lt IL always easier to
fOrsee danger or appreciate difficulty
than II Ia to find remedy. II requires
in so grave a matter everything Of the
most careful investigation and thought
and the coolest reflection. l. how
ever, may suggest, as means OF
getting as near regular government un.
der our constitution as possible, to which
there is no constitutional objection that
know OF General Grants calling meet
ing Of both houses Of congress on the 9TH
day Of March to act upon and deal with
the problems that shall then be presented
True, no president has ever called meet
ing OF congress to be held in the term OF
his successor. although, as have said,
there Is nothing in the constitution in
habting it that | am aware OF. The
reason why it has not been done Is that
no emergency like the present has ever
arisen TO call for 1t, and that an outgoing
president would be naturally reluctant to |
take any action which might embarrass
his successor. which ia sufficient cause
OF want OF precedent. Both houses
Of congress being In session some action
might be taken in which all would agree
to keep a government ailOat until sue.
cessOr to the president could be elected.
keporter-It has been suggested that |
the president Of the senate might act
after the 4th Of March.
General Butler-As he can only act in |
case OF vacancy by death, resignation
or removal Of president. and as there
Will be no death. resignation or rem oval
on the 18th day OF March. when the presi-
dent goes out, do not see how the presi-
dent of the senate could act ut all. But
II President Grant should resign on the
lst of March, and the president of the
senate should become acting president. | |
think his term would expire with the
term OF the president Tor whom he was
acting.
At tins point General Butler seemed
impatient TO attend to a pile of letters
and papers on his table. and to large
u1 Of ha g..