Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1877-02-01
THE BILL SIGNED.
The President Gives HIS Reasons for Signin:
the Electoral Bill.

The President Gives HIS Reasons Tor Signing
the Electoral Bill.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-The Presi.
dent to-day signed the electoral bill,
and in so doing transmitted the follow
ing message to the Senate:
To the Senate of the United States:
follow the example heretofore oc.
casi0nally presented of communicating
in this mode my approval of the act to
provide for and regulate the counting
of votes for President and Vice Presi.
dent and the decision of questions
arising thereon, because of my appre-
citation of the imminent peril to the
institutions of the country from
which, in my judgment, the act affords
a wise and constitutional means of es-
cape. For the FIRST time in the history
of our country, under the constitution
as it now exists, a dispute exists with
regard to the result of an election of
Chief Magistrate of the nation. 1t is
understood that upon the disposition
of the disputes touching the electoral
votes cast at the late election by one
or more States depends the question
whether one or the other of the candi-
dates for the Presidency is the lawful
Chief Magistrate. The Importance of
having clearly ascertained, by proce.
dure regulated by law, which Of the
two citizens has been elected, and Of
having the right to this high Office re.
cognized and fully agreed on by all the
people of the Republic, cannot be
over.estimated, and leads me to ex.
press to Congress and to the nation
my great satisfaction at the adoption
of measure that affords an orderly
means of decision of these gravely ex-
citing questions. While the history
of our country in it's earlier periods
shows that the President of the Senate
has counted the votes and declared
their standing, and our whole country
shows that in
NO INSTANCE OF DOUBT OR DISPUTE
has he exercised the power of decid-
ing, and that the two houses of Con.
gress have disposed Of all such doubts
and disputes, although in no instance
hitherto have they been such that their
decision could essentially have affected
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 pro.
duce an agreement or induce calm feel
ing in the several branches OF the
government or among the people Of
the country. In a case where, as now,
the result is involved, it is the highest
duty of the law-making power to pro-
vide in advance constitutional, just
and orderly method of executing the
constitution in this most interesting
and critical clause OF it's provisions.
The doing so, so far from being a com.
promise of right, is an enforcement
Of right, and in the execution OF the
powers conferred by the constitution
in Congress, think that this orderly
method has been secured by the bill,
which, appealing to the constitution
and law as Il guide in ascertaining the
right, provides the means Of deciding
questions of single returns through tile
direct action OF Congress, and in re-
spect to double returns by the tribunal
Of inquiry, whose decisions stand, I'M
less both houses Of Congress shall con-
cur in ordering otherwise, thus secur-
ing the definite disposition of
ALL QUESTIONS OF DISPUTE
in whatever aspect they may arise.
With or without this law, us all the
States have voted, and as tie vote is
impossible, it must be that one of the
two candidates has been elected, and
it would be deplorable to witness an
irregular controversy as to which of
the two should receive or which should
70 ho11 off Tn oil nc.
of history controversies have arisen
as to the succession or choice of chiefs
of States, and no party Of citizen low
ing their country and its free institu-
tiOns can sacrifice too much of mere
feeling in preserving through the up.
right course of law their country from
the smallest danger to it's peace on
such an occasion, and it cannot be I'M
pressed too firmly on the hearts of all
people that true liberty and real pro-
gress ever exist only through cheerful
adherence to the constitution. Ehe
bill purports to provide only for the
settlement of questions arising from
the recent elections. The fact that
such questions can arise demonstrates
the necessity which, l cannot doubt,
will before long be supplied by
PERMANENT GENERAL LEGISLATION
to meet cases which have not been
contemplated in the constitution or
laws of the country. The bill may not
be perfect, and it's provisions may not
be such as would best be applicable to
all future occasions, but it is calculat.
ed to meet the present condition of
questions and of the country. The
country is agitated it needs and it de-
sires peace and quiet and harmony be.
tween all parties and all sections. Its
industries are arrested. labor unem-
ployed, capital idle, and enterprise
paralyZed by reason of the doubt and
anxiety attending the uncertainty of a
double claim to the Chief NIagistracy
of the nation. 1t wants to be assured
that the result of the election will be
accepted without resistance from the
supporters of the disappointed candi-
date, and that It's highest officer shall
not hold his place with question to The
title of the right. Believing that the
bill will secure these ends, l give it
my signature.
[Signed1 U. S. GRBST.
IAECl ~ L N4AN>1OSs OdAAs ~OSus 1Cb .
The caucuses of the two houses hav.
ing selected their candidates, to be
voted for the electoral Commission will
consist Of the following members:
Senator's Edmonds, Morton, FreliDg.
huysen, Republicans and Thurman
and Bayard, Democrats.
Representatives-Payne, Hunton and
abbott, Democrats; and Garfield and
Hoar, Republicans. -.
Supreme Court Associate Justices
Clifford, Strong, Miller and Field, tho
fifth member to be selected from
among Associate Justices Swryne,
Cavis, Bradley and Hunt.
->o>
Some of Worth's --latest.
A PHILADELPHIA Press correspond.
ent writes: "a lady lately arrived
from Paris showed several costumes of
Worth's designing composed of colors
that to us would seem glazing contrasts
but that he has blended in a way to