The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-26
Forty Fourth Congress.
SENATE.
w AsuINGToN, Jan

RhNhAh
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.
Mr.. Blaine spoke at two o'clock Thurs.
day mornirg and was followed by Mr..
Howe of Wlsconsiu, and by Mr.. Eaton of
Conn c'icut.
Mr. Elton said he was almost alore on
the democratic Of the chamber In opposing
the bill. He deeply regretted that the leg
%isliture of his state requested him 10 vote
for the bill, but ley we're wise enough to
get together yesitrtay ard IT consider that
vote. Ii was no pl,a-ant tn be in the mi
nOri'y, but he had learned stand on bis
own convictions. He had faith in the com
mittee which fran ed this bill, and regret
tel That he could n t vote for it. He de-
ME t at the power to count the v te was
vested IN the pr sid mt of the senate, and
argued that il was lodgedin the two h uses
OF congress. This bill, this contrivanoe,
now before the senate should sink in the
earth. In bis opinion the power to count
the electoral vote being vested in the two
tonscs of congress, 1t could te placed no.
where else. He had heard that under the
bill both parties would get cheated. He
did not believe it would be q benefit to
either.
Mir. Thurman of Ohio said he did not
believe Til country could stand the Quad.
renniil elections under the present .ystem.
He believed the people would become
aroused to the fact aud regulate the matter
by a constitutional amendment.
Mr.. Whyte of Maryland presented a ne
tition of citizens of Washington against
the passage of tie bill, which was laid on
The table. He said he hal doubts as to the
conttitution ility of the bill. 1t it was to be
a measure permanent in lis Character he
would vo'c against il. The ministerial dnty
of coun ing or canvassing retuin', and the
power to judge of contested elections, was
another thing. He believed that the OPEN
lag of the certificates in tho presence of
the two houses was to enable each house to
verify the count made by the presiding of
ficer. Why did the fiamers of the consti-
tu'ion select the officer next to the presi-
d mt of the United States to lave the custo-
dy of the electoral voter They did SO be-
cause 1t was their intention that he should
exercise a purely ministerial power of
counting the vote, and they left it to the
house of representa- ives to elect the pres
ident in case the v!cs president made a
false count on the return. He argued that
1t never was contemplated by the trainers
OF the constitution that there could be two
electoral returns from a state. They had
no idea that there could be a dual state gov
eminent within the border Of a state. He
denied tina, this bill was a republican sur
render. 1t was more Slike q democratic
surrender. 1t rtquired all of his patriotism
to surrender tonight all that he
believed belonged to the demo-
cratic party. He then read from a
veto message of President johnson in
1866, TO the eff.ct that congress had no
pc wer under the consiituiidn to receive or
reject an electoral vote. That duty was
with the president of the senate, and was
Pu'''y hiibAo-Stlal. lueIG CDulu nCL De
t 20 returns authenticated by the governor
OF a sttie, and therefor congress could not
go ehind the certificate of the governor of
o egon. The governor of that state had
lawful authority for what he did and he
was emit led to as much consideration az
g veri or Of any other state. He (Wbyte)
lai down on the altar OF his country every
con'tjiutlonal doubt he might have about
ths bill, aid submitted it 10 five judges, |
for whose opinion he had the greatest re-
spect. The bill presented the bet mode
for a settlement of our present difficulty
Ii was the duty of every p tnot TO surren-
DIR all d 'ubE and unite upon the best
me t. bring peace and prosperity to the
county, AMI avert what was worse than
all cilamiti II, turbulence and blOodshtd
The chair wa, now occupied by the honor
able 9 major from Michigso, whose fairness
and si'c attention to duty no member on
the dem cratic side could gainsay. They
well kne Y that he would not walk one inch
out OF his path Of duty in counting the
sl'ctoral vote, and that duty was purely
ministerial. |
Nc. Merrimon of North Carlina said he
hal very serious doubts as to the constltu-
tionality Of the bill, but thought it was the
work of al able commit ee. In view of
The existing exlgency he felt constrained TO
solve his doubis in favor of the bill 10 the
interest of pace. Its passage might cave
the country from civil wal and strife.
Mr.. Burnside of RHODE Islaud referred
to the remark of Mr.. Morton In his recent
speech, that there were n I half a dozen
senators on the republic n side who want
ed the bill, and they would not vote for II |
II they were not apprthensive Of danger.
He deni d that the republican senators
were favorable to the bill on account Of ap-
prehenslon. They were not intimidated, |
but were only separated from the senator
from Indiana (Morton) now, under whom
they had fought many political battles, be-
cause they were acting for the good of
III, ir constituents. lie favored the bill and
hoped II would pass.
Mr.. Eimunds of Vermont said the time
had gone by for debate. II he had time be !