The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1877-02-01

llOub, WIN Jn6 lhCJ tIldJ lH6 AMERICAN
people, the American statesmen, Ameri-
can lawyers and jurists were almost
equally divided, not only as to the inertia
of the questions but as to the authorities
to be cited.
He then proceeded to quote authorities
pro and con upon the question whether
the President of the Senate had the pow
to count votes. 1t had been said by a
great many people who agreed with him
in political opinions, that authorities were
conclusive that the Vice President had
the right to count the voles, but in his
opinion authorities on the other side
were equally potential and equally num-
erous. He thought therefore that it
would be unwise and unpatriotic for the
House to refnse to adopt proposition
which all men might agree to as fair and
Just by which the question might be set
tied. Would il be wise to decline snch
proposition and drift on the l4th of Feb
ruary and 4th of March with those con
aicing opinions unsettled and take
chances of dual Presidency with all its
horrors?
In answer to The objection that the bill
was not Constitutional, he quoted from
bills reported to the House in 1900 by
John Marshall, and in 1924 by by Mr..
Webster, which contained almost the
same provisions of the present bill. He
thought the bill was Constitutional and
would with his voice and vote aid its pas
sage.
Mr.. Hunton advoted the bill. Hespoke
of Presidential elections as dangerous
periods in the history of the country, and
as more likely than any other cause to
wreck the ship of State. -,
Mr.. Hoar advocated the bill. He said
that the dangerous period which states
men had foreseen in American history
had arrived. In estimating the danger
he was not affected by any fear Of civil
war or any menace Of violence; such, if
made in the spirit of empty bluster, de-
served nothing but contempt.
The bill had been spoken of as COM
promise. He asserted that there was not
one drop of compromise in it, How
could that man be said to compromise,
who, having Just and righteous claim
asserted it, maintained it, enforced it by
argument and by proof yielded not .jot
or little of itsubmitted it to tribunal so
constituted to insure IFS decision accord
ing to Justice and righteousness.
Mr.. Hear presented dispatch which
he had just received from Boston, stating
that resolution had been passed by the
Massachusetts House of Representatives,
endorsing and approving the Electoral
bill
Hewitt's Views.
Mr. Hewitt thought that the bill trans
cended in importance any measure which
was likely to come before Congress dur
ing the present generation. After the
election. he had believed Tiden and
Hendricks elected and nothing had oc.
Cured since that time which could do
otherwise than strengthen that convic-
ton. He had been asked why, holding
that opinion, he should agree to depart
from the ancient way in which TWENTY.
two presidents had been declared elected
which, if it had been adhered to would
have resulted in the Inauguration of the
Democratic candidate. Thisquestion he
intended to answer fully, clearly and
without reserve. The main opposition
which the Democratic party had to meet
was the influence of the Administration.
After the defeat of the Republican party
in November, it still remained intact,and
claimed the election ofits candidate, and
attempted to strengthen that cl i'm by
Returning Boards and military interfer.
ence, and by declaring that the Vice
President had right to count the votes.
The scheme was thus completed for
counting Tilden out and Hayes in. He
was confident that the project would be
executed to the bitter end. The Presi
dent of the Senate would count the votes
and announce the result, and the Presi-
dent of the United States would deliver
up his high Office to the person so elect
ed, and by the use of troops he would be
duly inaugurated. Of course the House
would not be silent and passive specta-
tors of that programme, and would insist
on its constitutional right to participate
in the count. and would count the votes
of Florida and Louisiana for Tilden. The
result of such state of things was civil
war. The rights and principles for
which the Democratic party of the coun-
try struggled, would have perished if the
attempt to count in the Republican can.
didate for President we're acquiesced in,
or if not being acquiesced in, war should
result. There was no escape from that
position except by an agreement between
patriotic men of both parties who prefer
red the good ofthe country to party sue.
cess, Partisan as he was supposed to be
but patriotic as he hoped henCeforth to
be regarded, he had deemed it his boun-
den duty to labor zealously toward the
of a Just and constitutional
plan of settlement whereby but one
should be declared by title
which all citizens would respect and
which no considerable number of voters
would dispute. The bill, even if not
within the strict letter of the Constitu-
ton, was certainly within its spirit. 1t
substituted law and order for strife and
anarchy. 1t meant supremacy of civil
over military power. 1t meant the pres
ervation of the autonomy of States. 1t
meant oblivion of all bitterness of the |
past security for the present and hope |
for the future.
Mr.. Willis read telegram from a New |
York committee, signed by William E.
Dodge, Chairman, and Theo. Roosevelt,
Secretary, urging the immediate passage |
Of the bill as it comes from the Senate.
Mr.. Monroe (Ohio) expressed deep re-
gret that he could not vote for the bill
He stated constitutional objections to it,
)ne of which was that it irrevocably de.
orived the Vice President of all power to
and decide lawful electoral
,otes. He denied that Congress had a
light to give away that power of the Vice
President to any other body.
A recess was taken until half past seven
,'Clock,
In the evening session, speeches ap-
proving the bill were made by Messrs.
caldwell (Tenn), Stevenson Ills),
springer and Willis, and Garfield made
he closing speeches in opposition, at the
onclusion of which, it being eleven
'clock, the House adjourned until ten