Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1876-12-05
THE ELECTORAL VOTE.
n proposition from Carl Schurz end
Others Relative 10 Settling the
Eexed Question.
A Proposed Petition from the PeODIe
20 the Congress OF the United
States.

ST. Louis, December 4.-Ex-Senators Carl
Schurz and John 3. Henderson. and ether
prominent men Of this city. have forwarded
a letter 10 the president OF the United States
senate relative to the counting Of the electoral
vote, with request that he lay it before the
senate. They say that the present condition
OF the country calls for some action which
shall settle the political disquietude. The
clause IN the constitution respecting the can
vasslng O. the electoral vote is quoted and
pronounced indefinite and IS liable to divers
construction. The attempt to canvass the
vote IN JOINT session Of congress is deprecated
as certain TO ralse partisan issues and develop
a strife which may prove most disastrous to
the country The letter proposes as the
remedy that the whole matter shall be trans
terred TO the supreme court Of the United
States. 1t Is urged that that Is the only tri-
bunal from which a fair and bipartisan deci-
slon-one winch cen satisfy the whole people
can be obtained. To effect this the letter
proposes that the two houses shall improyide
the three weeks preceding Christmas in franz
ing ana agreeing upon a constitutional
amendment placing IN the supreme court the
duty OF canvasslng the electoral vote The
most Of the State Legislatures viii meet i'm
medlateiy after the HOLIDAYS when the amend
ment could be submitted: aud the letter holds
to the opinion that the amendment would be
ratified without delay, so that it could be
made part Of the constitution and apply to
the present election. Both 81 the Presiden-
tai candidates, it is urged, would recognize
the wisdom OF tl;s course, and both the r.
publican and Democratic legislatures would
ratliy. The letter dwellS al length on the
wisdom of removing ttis important matter
from a tribunal likely to be affected by party
strife.
LATER.
ST. LOUIS, December At nov appears
THAI 5he communication, a synopsis of which
was given n these dispatches Sunday night.
was Tot letter addressed to the United States
senate by Messrs. Scnurz and Henderson, but
q newspaper article written 10y Mr. Schurz
for hls paper to explain and 10 recommend to
public approval and support a petition ad
dressed by E1-Senators SchIrz and Hender
son TO the congress Of the United States, and
which has been mailed to Washington. The
petition, which Will be circulated here and
elsewhere for signatures, Is as.follows:
To the Honorable the Senate and the House OF Rep
resentatlyes in Congress assembled:
The undersigned, citizens Of the United
States, respectfully represent that 1t is highly
important that the electoral votes should be
counted and the result Of the Presidential
elech0n declared by tribunal, which ac-
cOrdnlg TO the principles Of or government,
Is 10 stand aloof from the ambitions and con-
tiicts Of political parties; that the meaning
Of the constitutional provision touching this |
mater baing the subject Of different con-
struct,ons as to the power conferred by the |
fundamental law upon the president Of the |
senate and 10 the two hO1ses OF congress, 1t |
Is especially desirable IN the present |
excited state OF the popular mind to remove |
the counting Of the electoral votes from the |
very theater Of such contentious, and that |
the counting of the electoral votes and the |
declaration OF the result by the supreme court |
Of the United States would, IN or opinion. |
inspire universal confidence a. 10 its JustIce |
and impaEtIaity, and insure a ready acqui- |
esceace on the pari OF all citizens, without |
distinction Of party. The undersigned, there |
fore, respectfully pray that the two houses Of |
congress, at the earliest possible period, pro |
pose to the legislatures OF the several States |
an amendment to the constitution, whereby |
the duty Oi counting the electoral votes, |
and declaring The resalt thereof, may
be conferred upon the supreme court |
Of the United States, with such |
powers and subject to such restrictions and |
limitations as may, IA the wisdom Of congress, |
be deemed Necessary TO secure the Objects de- |
sired. In view OF the fact that large ma
jorty OF the State legislatures Will be IN ses-
slon during the month Of January, and those /
that are no; may be convened forthe purpose, /
a proposition promptly submitted bycongres5
nly be considered and ratified by the re-
quisite number Of State legislatures IN time
TO secure its benefits IN the settlement OF the
present Preside contest.
Robert NIX. Omsby has done into about
twenty pages Of verse q supposiGtiols discus
sion between q christian and q philosopher
with respect to the origin and history OF
kOsmos, with reference cspe.ia!lyto the reye-
lati0ns Of geology concerning the origin OF
life on the earth The book Is called simply
DgJ7ria. Published hy the ahthor New