The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1877-02-03

sent minority report
Presides.'s Message GA she Compro
mise Bitf.
To the senate of the United States:
| follow the example heretosore
occasionally presented, OF communi.
eating IN this mode my approval of the
act 10 provide for aud regulate the
couating of the votes for president and
vice president and the decision OF
questions arising thereon, for the term
commencing March 4. A. ID. 1877, be-
cause Of my appreciation of the iuiIui-
nent peril to the institutions of the
country, from which, in my Judgment,
the act will afford wise ana eoustitu-
tionai means OF escape.
For the first time In the history
of our country under the constitution
as II is now, dispute exists with
regard 10 the result of the election
of the chief magistrate of the nation.
1t IL Understood that upon the
disposition of disputes touching the
electoral votes cast at the late 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 magistrate. The imp,r-
tance of having clearly ascertained, by
procedure regulated by law, which,
OF the two citIzens has been selected
aud of having the right To this high
Office recognized aud cheerfulIy agre ed
In by all the people of the republic,
cannot be over estimated, and bids ine
to express To Congress and to the la
ton my great satisfaction at the adt,p
ton OF measure that affords an Or
derIy means OF decision of gravtly
exciting question. While the history
of our country in Its earlier periods
show that the president of the senate
has counted the votes aud declar ed
them standing, our whole history
shows that In no instance of doubt or
dispute has he exercised the
power of deciding, and that the
two houses OF Congress have disposed
OF all su ID doubts and disputes, Ell.
though In no instance hitherto have
they been such that their decision
could essentially have affected the re-
suit. For the first time, then, the gov
ernment of the United States is now
brought 10 meet the question as one
vital TO the result, aud this under cou-
ditions not The test calculated to pro-
dace an agreement, or to induce calm
feeling in the several branches of the
government or among the people of
the country. In q case where, as now.
the result is involved, it is the duty of
the law-makiBg power to provide In
advance a constitutional, orderly au,.
just method of executing the constitu-
tion IN the most interesting aud criti-
cal OF its provisions; by doing SO, far
from being compromise OF right.
II is an enforcement of right aud au
execution of power conferred by the
constitution Oh Congress. | think that
this orderly method has been secured
by the bill, which, appealing to the
constitution aud the law as the guide
in ascertaining rights, provides a
means OF deciding questions of single
returns through the direct action of
Congress, aud in respect to Couhle re-
turns ov a tribunal of inquiry, whose
decisions stand, unless both liIe houses
of Congress shall concur in determin.
ing otherwise. thus securing a definite
disposition of all questions of dispute
IN whatever respect they may arise.
AS all of the States have voted. ard as
n tie vote Is impossible, it mus, be
that one of the two candidates
has been elected, and it would
be deplorabie to witness any jrreg-
ular CONTROVERSY as to which
of the two should receive or which
should continue to hold tue Office. No
party or citizens loving their country
and its free institutions can sacrifice
too much of mtre feeling ia saving.
through the upright course of law.
their country from the smallest dan
ger to its peace on such an occasion.
and 1t cannot be Impressed too firmly
IN the hearts Of all the people that true
liberty and real progress can exist only
through cheerful adherence to consti-
tutional law.
The bill purports to provide only for
the settlement of questions arising
from the recent tleetioas, and the fact
that such questions can arise, demon
strates the necessity, which, cannot
doubt, will, before long, be supplied
oy permanent general legislation 10
meet cases which have not been con-
templated in the constitution or laws
of the country. The bill may not be
perfect, and It's provisions may not be
such as would be applicable 10 all
future occasions, but IL is calculated To
meet the present condition of the aues.
tion and Of the country. The country
is agitsted; It needs and It desires peace
and quiet and harmony between all
parties and all factions; its industries
are arrested; labor unemployed, capi.
tai idle, and enterprise paralized by
reason of the doabta and enmity attend.
ing the uncertainty of double elaim
to the chief magistrate of the nation.
1t wants TO be assu ed that the result
OF the election will be accepted with.