The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1877-02-08
THE ELECTORAL BILL.
President Grants Endorsement of the Bi
ns Indicated on Returning IL with hi

lnE ELECIOhAL bIlDs
naicseeaP eP on Il Of VIE ne
signature. - 80 - = .7ll
TO the Senate of the United States /:
| follow the example heretofore occa-
sionally presented of communicating in
this mode my approval of the act to pro-
vide for and regulate the counting of the
vote for President and Vice-President,
and the decision of questions arising
thereon, because of my appreciation OF
the imminent peril to the institutions of
the country, from which, in my iudg-
ment, the act affords wise and consti-
tutional means of escape.
For the first time in the history of our
country, under the Constitution as it now
is, dispute exists with regard to the re-
suit of the election of the Chief Magis-
trate of the nation. 1t is 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 Magis-
trate. The Importance of having clearly
ascertained by procedure regulated by
law which Of the two citizens has been
elected, and of having the right of this
high Office recognized and cheelfully
agreed in by all the people of the repub-
lie cannot be overestimated, and leads
me to express to Congress and to the ma
ton my great satisfaction at the adop-
ton of a measure that affords al orderly
means Of. decision of gravely exciting
question.
While the history of our country in its
earlier period shows that the president of
the Senate has counted the votes and de-
clmed their standing, our whole history
shows that in no instance OF doubt or
dispute has he exercised the power of de-
Gliding, and that the two oouses of Con-
gress have disposed of all such doubts
and disputes, although in no instance
hitherto have they been such that 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 as one vital
to the result, and this under conditions
not the best calculated to produce an
agreement or to induce calm feeling in
the several branches of the government
or among the people of the country. In
case, where, as now, the result is in
volved, it is the highest duty of the law
making power to provide i'll advance n
constitutional, orderly, and just method
of executing the Constitution in this
most interesting and critical of its pro-
visions. The doing SO, fur from being a
compromise of right, is an enforcement
of right and an execution of powers cenfer-
red by the Constitution i'll Congress.
think this orderly method has been
secured by the bill, which, appealing to
the Constitution and the law as the guide
III ascertaining right, provides a means
of deciding questions of single returns
through the direct action of Congress,
and, in respect to double returns, by a
tribunal of inquiry, whose decisions shall
stand unless both houses of Congress
shall concur III determining otherwise,
thus securing a definite disposition of all
questions of dispute, i'll whatever respect
they may arise.
: With or without this law, as all of the
States have voted, and as tie vote is i'm
possible, it must be that one of the two
candidates has been elected, and it would
be deplorable to witness an irregular
controversy as to which of the two should
, 4
hold the Office. In all periods of hi' tory
controversies have arisen as to the sue.
cessful choice of the chiefs of States,
and TO rarty or citizens loving theil
country and It's institutions can sacrifice
too much of mere feeling in preserving
through the upright course of law theil
country from the smallest danger to its
peace on such an occasion, and it cannot
be impressed too firmly in the hearts OF
all the people that true liberty and rea
progress can exist only through cheer
ful adherence to constitutional law.
The bill purports to provide only fol
. the settlement of questions arising from
the recent elections. The fact that sucl
+ questions can arise demonstrates the he
cessity, which / cannot doubt will befor,
long be supplied, of permanent genera
legislation to meet cases which have no
been contemplated in the Constitution
OF laws Of the country. The bill ma,
not be perfect, and its provisions may
not be such rs would be best applicabl,
to all future occasions, but it is calcu
lated to meet the present condition o
the questions and of the country.
The country is agitated. 1t needs aid
it desires peace and quiet and harmon,
between all parties and all sections. 1T
industries are arrested, labor unemploy
ed, capital idle, and enterprise paralyze,
! by reason Of the doubt and anxiety at
tending the uncertainty OF double
claim to the Chief Magistracy of the m
ton. 1t wants to be assured that tn
result Of the election will be accepted
without resistance from the supporter
of the disappointed candidate, and tha
its highest officer shall not hold his plac
with n questioned title of right. BE
lieving that tie bill will secure thes
ends, give it my signature.
U. S. GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 20, 1877.