The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-21
EXCELLENT SPEECH OFSENA TOR BOOTH
ON THE PRESIDENTIAL QUESTION.
AN APPEAL FOR MODERATION.

In the United State Senate, on the 18Th, SEN
ator Booth (Rep.). of California, called up his
resolution giving power to the Supreme Court
| to count the electoral vote, and in support of
it spoke follows:
| The problem before rs today, and which en-
groeses the anxious attentions of us all, is not
| TO make a President but to determine who has
been made President under the form of law
| whose spirit is obsolete, in method which
commando the moral support of the American
people. The emergency is grave one. l do
| not think it's dangers have been exaggeTs ted
| shall etrike it. To be clear in his great Office
the President of the United States must hold
by an uudoubted title. Possession will not
sanctlfy it; arms cannot guard it; submission
cannot sustain it. We may reason ourselves
into regarding the Presidency place, in the
language of the Senator from Vermont, to sign
appropriation bills and commissions for post
masters but it still remains the glitterinp
prize OF ambition /; imperiabin power and pa
tronsge; in opportunity for good and evil;
kinEly In every thing save crown and title.
Lawfully held and worthily filled, it is the
highest political position on earth.
THE GROUND SWELL AFTER THE STORM.
The difficulty we confront to-day is one of
the results of the war. IL 10 the groundwork
on the ocean after the tempest not less perllous
to the ship than the storm itself. 1 know that
the people az q body want peace; SO they did
sixteen years ago VINO shall say that the
forces and antagOnisms may not be evoked by
q contested election 7 Sir, we must provide in
advance the method of settling that contest or
We shall be at the mercy of chance and acci- |
dent. What chance and accident may bring, |
who shall predict Certainly scene of cunta- |
sion and turbulence, which would convert |
solemn occasion to one of unseemly violence |
aud degrade in the eyes of tho civilized |
world ; certainly loss of our selfrespect and |
of the coufdeIce of the world the practical
ability of American craftsmanship; certainly
weakening of respect for the constituted au-
thorltles, which is their moral support, and
growing distrust of that form of government
which has cost so much at best, the inaugu-
ration of a President to whom large portion
of his fellow-citizens would render not homage, |
respect, willing obedience, but contumely, re-
proach and sulen discomfort; with an admin
embarrassed, hRmPered and fettered
at every step, incapable at home and insignifi.
can't abroad; possibly a divided government,
with contending chiefs and factions anarchy
and war.
APPEAL TO PASSION DEPRECATED.
1 have no words of condemnation strong
enough for the men who in this time of preme
iifhculty appeal TO passion, foment disorder
ind threaten violence. Every consideration of
patriotism and wisdom requires calm delibera-
laylight TO the eye that no plan csn be now,
IT At any time, agreed upon which will produce
fOreknown result. You and l have convic. /
ions on the law of che case, strong as the ,
roofs of Holy Writ. Senators on the other
ide are as strongly intrenohed in their opinions
% we in ours neither can enforce his opinions {
ave Dy the employment OF foroe, or in that I
ullen acQuieseence in the presence of force
nd for the sake of peace, which is scarcely I
etter than resistance.
TEE SUPREME COURT CAN BE TRUSTED. t
With the certainty of this Disagreement the '
yes of the people have inetinctively turned to q
hat august tribunal established to decide the I
iRhest questions of law which can arise in
his Government. In the resolution I have a
resented for the consideration of the Senate n
have endeavored to SO order the proceedings =
nat a rao0r6 shall ha made which will hr{D 3
he legal questions involved before the jus. b
ces Of the Supreme Court for their arbitra- b
lent. There are three theories in respect to :
over and Jurisdiction in this matter. First,
lat the President of the Senate has the sbsO- b
lte right conferred by the Constitution TO de-
srmine the validity OF the votes of each State;
scond, that the votes of State can be h
ounted without the consent of both houses Of v
onRress third, that the votes Of no State Il
1usbo rejected without the affirmative action