Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-25
COMPROMISE BILL.
Il Passes the Senate this
Morning After an all
Sight Session.
The Vote on the Passage Of the
Bill Stood FOrty-seven Yeas
and Seventeen Nays.
sYSOPsEs OF SENATOR'S VIEWS.

cial committee ia regard to counting the
electoral vote, without amendment. Va
rious amendments we're submitted, but
oil were voted down. The vote on the
passage of the bill was: Yeas, Al; Lays,
II, Eaton being the only Democrat who
voted against it.
The debate 10 the senate on the bill
reported by the select COMMITTEE / q re
gard to counting the electoral vote was
continued ell night, Morton, in continu'
ing his argument, claimed that the Vice
President was not bound to open any
fraudulent certificate from a State. il
there should be half a dozen packages
from a State in his possession, he was
not required to open them all, but was
only required to open that package
which came from the electors. AS an
officer Of the United States, be was
bound to take notice as to who had been
elected electors by the States, and act
upon his intelligence, just as other pub
lie officers. There were two certificates
from Louisiana in the hands of the Vice
President. He was not required to open
them both. If he refused to open and
present the second return, how was it to
be got out OF his possession If he re-
fused to open such return, was that a
cause of ~revolution2 Did be understand
that the Democratic party threatened
violence or revolution if the president Of
the senate withheld bogus certificates?
This bill conferred upon the tribunal it
had created powert to legislate, unless its
action should be overturned by the action
of the two houses Of congress-. This
commission could not carry out the bill
without going behind the returns from
the State. IL was sptinkled all over with
very white, pretty meat, but the Demo
cratic cat was reposing beneath it. he
argned the bill was unconstitutional.
After the case had been made up he did
not believe in adopting a new plan which
would throw away one hall Of the chances
Of the Republicans. That be had been
inconsistent il some matters was en-.
tirely probable. He did not believe there
we're any persons in this senate in'alible.
Ee accorded to every other senator con-
sciestious motives, and he claimed for
himself some consideration. He believed
the Republican party had saved this ma
ton, and the greatest considerations Of
humanity and politics demanded that ii
be continued in power at this particular
juncture. 1t was not the duty Of Repub-
lican senators, it was net their interest,
to depart from a practice followed fol-
s%eventy-fve years.
Mr.. Blaine said he had, be trusted, as
great appreciation as any senator on
this fioor of the gravity Of the situation.
He had supported the senator from Yer
mont (Edmunds) in his constitutions
amendment to leave this whole question
Of counting the electoral votes to the Su
preme Court. BE had favored placing i
this power Ct counting the votes in the
Supreme Court by a just and competent
amendment to the constitution placing
10 that great body which by its dignity
and impartiality could properly exercise
il, but that proposition did not commend
itself to the favor OF the senate, and wal
defeated by a large vote. SO far as he
was personally concerned, he was moi
welded to any particular theory as t.
counting votes; be desired simply to
adhere to custom, and unlike many gen.
ilemen with whom he was nov nearly
associated here, be was free from az
embarFalsing record on this question
He was opposed to giving power TO pogn'
the votes to fourteen gentlemen, four o
whopI we're 10 complete the number By
selecting the fifteenth, and this by lot o.
Iesence, filing that coy and bssAfu
plank, Rs RsBtcn would have termed
il, OH which tho slssti9p Of th,
county is 50 generally fixed. /
was proposed to give se-sa hiteeE
gentlemen, or possibly the fifteenth gen
tlemau, alone more power over the elee
toral vote than congress possessed, ant
he did not believe this could BE- done b.
simple enactment. Vomiting less thar
a constitutional amendment could con
fer on fifteen men such trsmendouI
power over the electoral votes Of States
: lie did not believe it warranted by thu
constitution which be had sworh to sup
port, and though he did not pretend to b.
what was termed q constitutional lawyer
every senator on his osth must vote OF
his wi conscientious belief Of what tn,
constitution is and what it allows. H
. desired earnestly to support this bill, j
be could do it consistently. The argu
> meDls adduoed 10 its favor had psrsuade,
him Of its nnconstitutionality, and b
fslt himself compelled, however reluc
! taatly be differed from certain senators
TO record his vote against the measure
G BE begged the judiciary committee, nos
5 that the public mind w0s so strongl,
directed 10 this question, to frame al
amendment to the constitution whicI
! would, if possible, avert in the future al
8 danger Of a renewal Of these troubles
which were now o~ausing anxietv In III