Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-01-12

CoNCREssIoNAL.-An important speech
was made in the Senate, on Thursday, by
Senator Wright. OF Iowa, who has been
classed a. Conservative" lie argued that
in case of disagreement between the two
Houses, the President of tho Senate may
count the vote, and declare the result This
was surprise to many Democratic Senators.
lie was very bitter in his condemnation OF
Grover. OF Oregon, who was present and
listened to the speech. Mr.. Wright said
II do not much doubt that it il compe-
tent for Congress to declare by law how this
vote may and shall be counted. Bv this, of
course, am not to be understood as holding
that returns Cali be directed or entrusted to
any other than the President of the Senate,
nor that any other than such president can
open the certificates, nor that they can DO
opened in the presence of any other tribunal
a. witnesses than the Senate and House Of
Representatives but what ] mean is that.
while all these matters are clearly pointed
out and concluded by the most express Ian
guage of the constitution, it would neverthe-
less be competent for Congress in the execu-
ton of the language, land the votes shall
then he counted" to provide by law that
the count should be made, for instance, by a
committee Of the two Houses, by the joint
action Of the presiding officer Of each. by
their action in connection with the Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, or other per-
son or persons, by the Judge Of the Supreme
Court as a board mot as u court), or in any
other manner in its discretion. The Presi-
dent of the Senate, under the Constitution,
must preside over the Joint session of the
two Houses, and must be, at least in the
first instance, an umpire, ali arbiter or de-
termining power, but al appeal may DO
taken, and the two Houses, acting separate
| ly, may, by their concurrent action, over
rule him
| Senator Sherman said he had no doubt
that, when the TWO Houses concurred that
the vote of state was fraudulent. it should
not he counted, but if the two Houses dis
agreed as to the count of vote, it would be
revolutionary if the objection OF either house
could exclude that vote.
Senator Bogy of Missouri, said that was
the 22d joint rule
Senator Sherman said the result OF such a
rule was worse than that Of any rule in
Mexico. lie had hopes, not yet clouded in
the slightest degree, that the Two Houses oil
Congress, through their committees. would
agree upon u plan by which the vote for
President would be peacefully and lawfully
counted. lle regretted that the Democratic
party in his own State had appealed to popu-
lar prejudiccs and called meetings On u day
sacred to the Democratic party for the pur
pose Of having resolutions passed in regard
to this Presidential question, at a time when
both Houses of Congress were considering
the disputed subjects. The great party To
which he belonged was quiet, calm and
serene. No public meetings had been called
by the Republican party to instruct Repub-
llcan Senators and Representative, and he
hoped there would be none. lie expressed
his profound hope that Senators. Represents
tiyes and people would show by their moder-
ate good sense and temper, between now
and the time for counting the vote, that they
could be calm, and not add to the excite
ment by threats.