Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1877-02-01


While the history OF our country in it
earlier periods shows that the Presideu
of the Senate has counted the votes anC
declared their standing, our whole his
tory shows that in no instance of fdoub
or dispute has be exercised the pewe
of deciding, and that the two houses o.
Congress have disposed of all such
doubts and disputes, although In no in
stance hitherto have they been sucf
that their decision could essentiall,
have effected the result. For the frs
time then the government of the United
States is now brought to meet ths
question as one vital to the result, anG
this under conditions not best calculat
ed to produce agreement or to induce 9
calm feeling in the several branches Of
the Government or among the people
of the country. In case where, as now
the result is involved it is the highest
duty OF the law makers to provide in
advance constitutional, orderly and
just method of executing the ccnstitu-
tion in this most interesting and criti-
cal clause of its provisions. The doing
so, SO far from being compromise Of
right, is an enforcement of right and an
execution of the powers conferred by
the Constitution on Congress. / think
this orderly method has been secured
by this bill, which, appealing to the
Constitution and law asa guide in ascer-
tanning rights, provides means of decid.
ing questions of single returns through
the direct action of Congress, and in re-
spect to double returns, by tEibNnai oi
inquiry whose decisions stand unless
both Houses of Congress shall concur in
determining otherwise, thus securing
q definite disposition of all questions ol
dispute in whatever aspect they may
arise. With or without this law, as all
of the States have voted, and as a tie
vote is impossible, it must be that one
of the two candidates has been elected,
and 1t would be der lorable TO witness
an Irregular controversy as to which
OF the two should receive or which
should continue to hold the Office. In
all periods OF history, controversies
have arisen as to the Chiefs OF the
State, and no party or citizen loving
their country and its free institutions,
can sacrifice too much, of mere feeling
in preserving through the upright
course OF law, their country from the
smallest danger to its peace. On such
AN occasion, and it cannot be impressed
too firmly in the he irt of all people
that true liberty and real progress can
exist, only through cheerful adherence
to the Constitutional law. The bill
purpOrts to provide only for the settle
ment OF the questions arising from the
recent elections. The fact that such
questions can arise demonstrates the
necessity which ] cannot doubt, before
long, be supplied of a permanent gen
eral legislation, to meet the cases v hich
have not been contemplated in the
Constitution or laws of the country
The bill may not be perfect and its pro-
visions may not be such as would be
best applicable to all future occasions,
but it is calculated to meet the present
condition of the question and of the
country. The country is agitated; il
needs and deserves peace and quiet and
harmony between all parties and all
sections. Its industries are arrested,
labor unemployed, capital idle, and en-
terprise paralpzad by reason of doubt
and anxiety attending the uncertainty
of double claim to the Chief Magis.
tracy of the nation. 1t wants to be as.
sured that the result of the cleo
ton will be accepted without resist
ance from supporters of the disappoint.
ed candidate, and that its highest Off
Ger shall not hold his place with ques.
toned title of right. Believing that
the bill will secure these ends, 1 give
it my signature.
U. s. GRANT.
E:cecutire Mansion, January %, 1877