Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1877-02-07
President Grants Message of Ap-
proval and the Bill to settle the
Electoral Wrangle.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 1877

AsHINGT0N, j all. ~, 1877.
To the Senate Of the United States !:
follow the example heretofore coca
siOnaily presented OF communicating III
this mode my approval of the " act to
proVlue for and regulate the counting
Of the votes for President aud Vice
Presiden: and the decision of questions
arising therefrom" because o. my ap-
probation of the imminent peril 10 the
institutions of the country from which,
in my Judgment, the act affords wise
and constitutional means of escape. -
For the first time in the history Of the
country, under the constitution, as ii
now Is, dispute exists with regard to
the result of the election OF Chief Mag
lstrate of the nation. 1t is understood
that upon the disposition OF disputes
touching the electoral votes east at the
late eleciiOn By one or more OF the
States depends the question whether
one or the other of the candidates for
the Presidency is the Lawful hief Mag
istrate. The Importance of having
clearly iscertaiued, by procedure regu-
lated by law, which of the two citizens
has been elected aud having the right
to this high Office recognized and cheer
fully agreed in by all the people Of the
repu 5lic, cannot be oyerestimated, and
leads me to express to Ongress and the
nation my great satisfaction at the adop-
tiou of the measure that affords an or.
derly means Of deci3iOn Of the gravely
exciting question.
While the history of our own country
ID its earlier periods shows that the
President of the Senate has counted
the votes and declared their standing,
our whole history shows that in 10 in-
stance of doabt or dispute has be exer-
cised the power OF deciding, aud that
the two houses of Congress have dispo
sed of all such doubts and disputes,
although in no instance hitherto have
they been such that their decision could
essentially have effected 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, aud this under cordirions not
best calculated TO produce agreement
or 20 induce calm feelings in the several
branches Of government, or among the
people Of the country. In case, where
as Low, the result is involved, it is the
highest duty Of the law making power
TO provide in advance constitutional,
ord srly and just method of executing
the Constitution in this most interesting
aud critical clause OF its provisions.
The doing SO, far from being a compro-
mise Of right, is an enforcement Of
right and ali execution of the powers
conferred by the Constitution On Con.
gress. l think that this orderly method
has been secured by the bill which, ap
pealiDg 10 the Constitution aud law as
Its guide in ascerralnlng right provides
the means of deciding questions of sin-
gle returns through the direct action of
Congress, and IN respect to double re
turns by a tribunal of inquiry, whose
decision stands, unless both houses of
Congress shall concur in determining
otherwise, thus securing definite dis
position of all questions Of dispute, IN
whatever aspect they may arise. With
or without this law, as all Of the States
have voted, aud as tie vote is impos-
sible, it must be that one of the two
candidates has been elected, aud il would
be deplorable to witness an irregular
controversy as to which of the two
should receive or which should continue
TO hold office
ln all periods Of history controversies
have arisen as TO the succession or choice
Of chiefs Of States, and 20 party or Cit
izen loving their country and its free
institutions, can sacrifice too much of
mere feeling in preserving, through up
right course of law, their country from
the smallest danger to lis peace on such
au occasion, aud it cannot be impressed
too firmly in the hearts of all people
that true liberty and real progress can
exist only through cheerful adherence
20 const:tu,ioual law.
The bill purporis to provide only for
the settlement Of questions arising from
the recent elections. The fact that such
questions can arise demonstrate the ne-
cessiIy which, | can not doubt, will, be-
fore long, be supplied by perusnent
general legislation to meet cases which
have not been contemplated IN the on
sururion OF laws Of tie Country. The
bill mag not be perfect and Its provis.
ions may not be such as would be bes;
applicable to all future occasions; but
it is calculated to meet the present con-
dition of the question.
The country Is agitated. 1t needs
and it desires peace and quiet and bar
mony between all parties and all sec
tious. Its industries are arrested, labor
capital idle and enterprise
paraly zed. By reason of doub; and
anxiety attending the uncertainty of
double claim to the chief magistracy Of
the nation, 1t wants to be assured that
the result Of the election will be az
repted without resistance from the sup
porters of the disappointed candidate,
,nd that its highest oficer shall not hold
lis place with a questioned title of
light. Believing that the bill will Sc
cure these ends. l give my signature.
U. s. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 20, 1877.