New-York tribune., 1876-12-30
THE POLITICAL CRISIS.
AN EIEcrIoN BY THE HOUSE.

AN ELECTION BIZ THE HOUSE.
THE RIGHT VESTED ONLY IN THE PRESENT HousE-
PLAIN WORDS OF THE CoNsTfrUTIoN-So END
TO DEBATE IT THE NEXT HOUSE MAY cHooss--
THE yICE-PREsIDENf NOT JUDGE OF .ELEc-
ToRAL CERTIFICATES
To fhe Editor of The Trt6uns
SIR: Notwithstanding the ingenious theory
Of Col arosyenor adhere TO my opinion that the Con
sttuton in case Of failure to elect by tho voteS oi INC
Electoral College, deyolyes the right to choose fres
dent only upon the present House Of Representatives,
IL coners the right whenever" the right deyoyes upon
them but only until the 4th Of March next Thereafter
II IA obvious therefore, that to determine the time
which the adyerb whenever" expresses Is to determine
on what House of Representatives the Constitution IN
certain contingencies has devolyed the choice OF Pres
dent IL Ia observable that the articles OF the Consu
ton which provide for the election OF PRESIDENT ana
ycePresdent use no dates except in the one instance
that IL before the 4th Of March next after the time whom
the right Of choosing President shall have deyolved
upon tho House the House shall not mako choice, then
the vce-President shall nc. as President Thus the
month only but the very day OF the MONTH Is dis
ornated and fixed at which the constitutional right OF
choosing President falls from the House. Evidently
the organic law maker, while deemngit wise to continue
the power Of choosing President whom tho people had
failed to choose long possible in body asnear TO
the people as the House Of Representatives determined
that that advantage might be too dearly purchased
Il at the price Of the contentious and civil strife which
usually proceed from the protraced discussion OF exas
perating political uncertainties Plainly therefore, they
undertook provide against these dangers, by limiting
their possibility to the 4h OF Marchbut to the 4th OF
March In what yearf Col Grosvonors theory supposes
any subsequent year to be contemplated II tho theory
Is sound then dangers Of such magnitude as to be
deemed hazardous, for couple OF weeks only were
recessy invited embro the peace Of the country Tor
continuous years think that such an act would haVe
been prepostcrous for upon Col Grosvenors theory the
acrimonious debate could be prOtraoted not only one
wear TO 18th March, 1s7s but two years to 4th March,
1879: and so other Houses in still other years might
stretch the contention on to the crack OF DOOM
While It Ia clear that the Constitution contemplates
that President may be chosen by House OF Repre-
sentatiyes think IL no extravaganec to say that y 1oes
two Houses OF Representatives. Evidently that House
meant which exists at the time when tue contnfehe
o6er House nor could that House, upon any plea Of
"unhnishcd business" transmit the rght 10 its sue
cessOr thereafter to exist Very simple ana very pam
are the language and the intent OF the constitution AZ
this point limits the Presidential term to four years
and liking the 4th of March o. the Initiate OF the Term
beyond all tho contingencies 10 onumerates thersp1
determines also the end OF the term. - ,.,,,.,. =,
an interval between the terms OF two consecutive Pres
dents Now it Is observable that me CONSTITUTION iher
diets such an nterregnum where II declares the 4.h & S
OF March shall be the day. when there has besh ial
ure TO choose both by the votes OF the Electoral COeEe
and nv tie House Of on which the VICE
President shall absolutely enter upon ms 10uIyeTs
Presidential term, cOterminousy with the expiration OF
mis- predecessors term. do not agree with Col OfosVe
nor that tho Senate through It's President alone ha6
power to determine which are the eoLtllcates slahg
tho action OF electors duly chosen" Inc Sehate WVua
thus become the constitutional enumeratofs OF he eee
tora yotesan Office which is think restricted Dy tne
Cosutitution the President OF the senate lie ony,
not alone, but in the presence OF the Senate ana Ie
House OF Ropresentatyes-hey tyPitylls the angus;
prcsence Of the peoples to "open MI tho certeates
and then TO count the votes. no person nave ma
orty OF such votes the House Of Representatives shall
q choose Immediately the President by ballot" Ihese
are inc mandates Of the Constitution. &c
Ar,n- IrrE. Dec 27, 1870.