Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-02
PHEsIDENT's MESSAGE
Accompanying His Approval of the Eiee-
toral Count Bill,

toraI Count Bill.
WASHINGTON, ID. G. Jan. 29.-The follow
ing is the text of the Presidents message,
submitted to Congress. accompanying his
approval OF the electoral count bill.
To the Senate of the United Mates
| follow the example heretofore occasion
ally presented of communicating in this
mode my approval OF the act 10 fprovide for
and regulate the counting of the votes for
President and Vice-President. and the Ge-
cision of questions arising thereon, because
of my appreciation of the imminent peril
to the institutions of the country from
which, in my judgment, the act affords
wise and constitutional means OF escape
For the first time in the history OF our
country, under the constitution as it now
il, dispute exists with regard to the result
OF the election OF the chisi magistrate of the
nation. lt il understood that upon this
position of the disputes touching the cleo
toral votes cast at the late election by one
or more OF the states, depends the question
whether one or the other OF tho candidates
for the presidency is the lawful chief magis-
trate The importance of having clearly
aseertained, by procedure regulated by law,
which of the two citizens has been elected,
and Of having the right to this Office re-
cognized and cheerfully agreed In by all the
people of the republic, cannot be over
estimated and leads nc to express to
the Congress of the nation my
great sati,f4e at the adoption OF a meas
ure that affords orderly means of decision
OF the great and exciting question. While
the history OF our country in its earlier pc
Rod shows that the President of the Senate
has counted the votes and declared thair
standing, our whole history shows that IN
| no instance Of doubt or dispute has he ex-
| ercist the power OF deciding. and that the
| two Houses Of Congress have disposed of
all such doubts and disputes. although IN
| no instance hitherto have they been such
that their decision could essentially have
effected the result. For the first time then
the government of the United States is now
brought to meet the question, as one vital
to the result, and this under conditions not
| best calculated to produce agreement or III
| duce calm feeling In the several branches OF
the government, or among the people OF
the county. la a case where, as now,
the result is involved. it is the
highest duty of the law-making
power TO provide in advance constitution
al, orderly and Just method of executing
| the Constitution, In this most interesting
and critical Of its provisions. The doing
OF this, so far from being a compromise of
right, is the enforcement of the right, and
the execution of the powers conferred By
the constitution on Congress. think that
this orderly method has been secured by
| the bill which, appealing to the cOnstltu-
| ton and law as a guide IN ascertaining the
| right, provides the means OF deciding
| questions of single returns through the
| direct action of Congress, and in respect to
double returns, by a tribunal OF inquiry
| whose decisions stand unless both Ii fuses
| nf CnpuraSa shall annPur determinlny
otherwise, thus securing definite disposl-
ton Of all questions Of dispute In whatever
aspect they may arise, with or without this
| law. As all the states have voted, at a. a
| tie vote is impossible, 1t must be that
| one of the two candidates has been
| elected, and it would be deplorable to wit
ness an irregular Controversy as to which
Of the two should receive, or which should
continue to held the office. In all periods
| of history controversies have arisen as to
| the selection and choice of chiefs of states,
and no party or citizen loving their coun-
try and its tree institutions can sacrifice too
much Of their feeling in preserving through
an upright course Of law, their country
from the smallest danger to its peace on
| such an occasion. and 1t cannot be Impressed
too firmly on the heart of all the people,
that true liberty and real prosperity eau
exist only through cheerful adherance to
the constitutional law. The bill purpOrts
| to provide only tor the settlement of ques-
lions arising from the recent election. The
fact that such questions can arise demon
strates a necessity which | cannot doubt
will before long be supplied, of
permanent general legislation to NEE.
cases which have not been contem-
plated in the constitution or laws Of the
country. The bill may no. be perfect, and
| Its provisions may not be such as would be
best applicable to all future occasions but
it is calculated to meet the present condi-
ton OF questions. and of the country The
country is agirated. Ii desires peace and
quiet, and harmony between all parties, and
all sections. Its industries are arrested, its
labor unemployed. its capital idle. and en-
terprise paralyzed by reason of the doubt
and anxiety attending the uncertainty of
the double claim TO the chief magistrsey OF
the nation. Ii wants TO DO assured that
the result of the election will be accepted
without resistance from the supporters of
the disappointed candidat,, and that its
highest officer shal not hold his place with
Questioned title of right. Believing that
the bill will secure these ends, | give il
my signature. (S.gneD
IT, S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, January 90, 1877.