The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-02-10
THE ELECTORAL BILL.
Prr,ldrnt I:rHnI'H IntorrrtnrIti Of ihr W
Ms IHiIrntFd on ltcIHrulnR 1t WITH hs
SIttunfurF.

PrrrIdrni t;rnnI'- Indorsrtnrni, Of ihs W
ns Indicated on ltrtHrhlnR 1t WIN aS
signature. IL
+, II he !SWdtc nt tie United S'dtcs !:
z follow the example heretofore coca.
Ri;nally presented Nf communicating in
this mode my approval Of the net to pro
vide for lIntl regulate the counting oi the
VOte for President and Vice President,
mud the decision Of questions. arising
thereon, because Of my appreciation Of
the imminent peril to the institutions Of
4 the country, from which, III my Iudg-
b lnent, the net affords n wisennd cOnstI-
j tMtiUlnl means Of escape. = 9 ~ % $3.50
For tile first time in the history Of our
country, under the Constitution ms it now
IL, II dispute exists with reglrtl to the re-
suit Of the election Of tile Cllief Mngis.
trate Of the milton. It is understood
3 TINT upon tho disposition OF disputes
touching tile electoral votes cast at the
lalc election by one or more of the
States depends the question whether one
or the other Of the candidates for the
Presidency is the lawful Chief Magis-
trate. Tie Importance Of having clearly
/ ascertaincd by procedure regulated by
I law which Of the two citizens Inns been
elected, md Of having the right of this
high office recognized and cheerfnlly
agreed in l,y Ill the people OF the repnl'.
lie cannot be Overcstimated, aud leads
I Inc to express to Congress and to the M
iion my great satisfaction at the adop-
ton Of Ii measure that'Riforls M orderly
means Of decision Of gravely exciting
/, question. ~ ,u'N7i5lA ssllti -
While the history Of or country i'll its
earlier period shows that tho president OF
the Senate Inns counted the votes and de-
clared their standing, our Whole history
shows that in no instance OF doubt or
dispute Inns lie exercised the power Of de-
Gliding. md That the two o0uses OF Con-.
gress have disposed OF all such doubts
md disputes, although in no instance
hitherto have they. been such tbat their
decision could essentially have affected
the result. For the first time, then, the
government Of the United States is now
brought to meet the question ms one vital
to the result, and this under conditions
not the best calculated to produce MI
agreement or to induce calm feeling III
tile several branches OF the government
or among the people Of the country. In
n c,ise, where, ms now, the result IL in.
volyctl. it is the highest duty Of the law
making power to provide III advance n
constitutional, orlerlS, and inst method
I. of executing the Constitution in this
most interesting and critical of its pro.
visions. Tie doing 81, far from being II
compromise OF right. is MI enforcement
Of right and m execution Of powers confer
rcd by the Constitution in Congress.
think this orderly method Inns been
s..curetlby the bill, which, appealing to
the Constitution md the law.as the guide
i'll nscertai,ling right, provides means
of deciding questions d, single returns
through the direct action Of Congress,
md, IN respect to double returns, by a
tribunal Of inquiry, Whose decisions shall
stnnll unless both liOuses Of Congress
shall concur in determining otherwise.
thus securing IL definite disposition Of NIL
questions OF dispute, III whatever respect
they may arise. ...,..
With or without this Inv, M MI Of the
States have voted, and M n tie vote is i'm
possible, it must lie that one Of the two
candidates has been elected, and it would
be ,leplonble 10 witness M irregular
controversy us to which OF the two should
receive, or Which should continue to
llsld tlc office. mall periods Of bin tory
controversies have arisen as to the s,ie-
tNssfn1 choice Of the chiefs Of States,
ulnl 10 party or. citizens loving their
country ,Lnil lis institutions can sacrifice
too much u mere feeling i'll preserving
through tue upright course Of law their
country from the smallest danger 10 it's
pence on sucll NJ OCCASION, aud Il cannot
lie impressed tuo firmly i'll the hearts Of
I'LL the people that true, liberty and real
progress can exist only through Il cheer
p ful adherence 10 constitutional law.
: The bill p,rports 10 provide only for
, the settlement Of questions arising from
: the recent elections. The fnct that such
Questions can arise demonstrates the nc
ccssity, wliichT cannot doubt willbefore
long be supplied, Of permanent general
! Legislation 10 meet cIIscs which have not
been contemplated i'll the Constitution
UE EANh 81 tIlt TGpIlbl AAN NaA AA+''J
not he perfect, and its provisions may
not he such US would be best applicable
to nil future occasions, bnt it is cllcu-
lnted to meet the present condition OF
tue questions and OF the country. I
The country is agitatetl. 1t needs MD,
it desires peace and quiet und harmony
! between MI parties and Nil sections. It's
industries arc arrested, labor unemploy.
ed, capital idle, mil enterprise paralyzcd
by reason Of the doubt Al,l anxiety Mt
tending the uncertainty Of a double
claim to The Chief Magistracy Of the lln-
ton. II wants to i've assured that the
result Of the election will be accepted
without resistance from The supporters
Of tho disappointed candidate, md that
its highest officer shnll not hold his place
witha questioned title Of right. Be-
lieving That tho bill will secure these
ends, give Tiny signature. ',m.-
IA U. S. CHANT.
Executive MANSION, jan. 20, 1877.
Retrcnchment, Reduction, Reform.
Il, ut.