The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-02-14
SPEECH
goN OHIO R. SINGLETON,
no House % IaGiVes.
January 25Gh, 1877.

IL. House having under consideration
ifr- No. 1883 To provide for aud rrg-
a... counting Of votes tor president
W.. President. ANA the decision Of
r..T-igg thereon, for The term com
g March !, \ u. l-a1-
Nh Singleton said;
ug SPEAKER: In the brief period
5 me for the discussion of this
f.8 shall be able 70 DO little more
n.nte NV objections to the bill and
-.a.,p, Why / shall vote against il,
i ...rrt attempting to show the process
k--h.ag arrive 1T my conclusions.
1"ara are occasions arising in the his
LII every mans life when he finds
Il ~. and inclination antagonizing each
l.. .uDjeciiug him TO distressing en-
-,..msnt ana requiring a determined
Il \, control n faItering heart, Such
Az condition TO day. | sympathIze
L. NV friends who favor this bill,
4 -ailg float down the stream with
7. .s5.irfi5u which | took upon myself
I'll stood in the area in front Of the
Il ..tars desk, and with uplltted hand
"a o. support the Constitution Of the
-:,aI States as long as / should remain
4 a..abar Of this body. | cannot regard
Il f.og act as mere idle ceremony.
H. # brings the correIative duty Of
E,.mining the Constitution at all times
4 .sg questions touching its commands
\. .a+eraictiOns Shall arise, and Of deter
i a.1o for myself whether, with this
i N resting upon me, l can vote for a
A a.ura or whether | am constrained to
s against IT,
N, Speaker, our Federal Government
sna based upon a Constitution OF
H itch end defined powers, the provi-
ms of which. once fairly interpreted by
.anpstent tribunal, become the supreme
H. Of the land. Ia The absence Of any
4 settled interpreted Son, binding in its
IF upiu party caI8d to discharge Il
s-g or exercise It Prerogative under the
ha1s.itutjou, such party must interpret
4 5r himself. Among the duties imp0s-
sad the powers conferred IN that In
-ment is that Of counting the electoral
4 p or President and Vice President OF
United States No judicial determi-
ad1a has been hadngs to the powers and
Ra.ss Of counting this vote. 1t follows,
#srsf5re, that every member of Congress
gslriug TO support the Constitution, in
h. absence Of such binding decision,
bas. interpret it for himself. Acting
boz this line Of thought, my mind has
b., drawn TO the irresistible conclusion
8Lu de responsibility Of counting
III determining this electoral vote
Evolves upon Congress alone !;
b. in such count each House
B Is a Negative power upon the other,
Ani, unless they concur in opinion, 10
pc objected to can be counted.
1 This leads me to reject the theory that
Il judges Of the Supreme Court of the
laied States, or any number Of them,
any other person outside of Congress
RAn be called to arbitrate or settle diff
RlIaes growing out Of this count, no mat
p how great the emergency.
Il my attempt therefore to devolye the
Riaes appertaining alone to Congress
5l ANY other tribunal is plainly in
sarayent!on of both the letter and
rt Of the Constitution, of which we
made peculiarly the guardians.
n II those who plead in bahalf of this
assure the emergency which is upon as.
popular clam0r in certain sections in
ig0r, have but oha answer to make,
t5 is. the Constitution possesses no
INjcity by which it can be adapted 20
passions and prgudices of men, but
Eaals like a rock at sea to repel and
rak up the waves of popular faction.
From the principles above enumerated
dgaw this corollary: that representa-
~ Is most faithful who is most steady
be requirements of the Constitution.
following my convictions then as to
Constitutional view of this bill | have
II oehoce LETT me; l must record my vote
saiasl it.
But aside from all constitutional diff
,les, | cannot but regard this bill
both unjust and impolltlc, IT
all practicable. Unjust because it
2nlts to chance, the results Of an cleo
ID already fairly determined by the
epe at the bllIot-box, an4 which may
~ reversing their decision aud de
aang their expressed viii. i have not
one single Democrat, North or South,
ate citizen or public functionary, who
expressed 4 doubt as 10 the election
IN Ildea upon fair count. while
aa ether hand, Il number of leading
aolcans concur III this view.
10 enter upon this game Of chance,
4 Hlt2 Republicans, the stake Being
residential office, is about as unrea
- ~ and Improbable as the result of
4astEatlon which l viii give. y man
= a5 npon the highway, and, seeing
al have watch upon my person,
'sa's pistol 10 my breast and de-
,ss ny watch, claiming it as his own
's4oastrate with him, declaring that
: mistaken, tlat | bought and paii
.as property, and have worn it for
Years, He pays no attention TO
+'Afn4I0n or remonstrances, but
''e.E tells me, You see, sir, Il terrible
-s5ney has arisen, : fearful crisis Is
=. anu now, you are to surrender
: watch or submit TO an only alterRa
winch is 70 play with me at
game for this stake. If
oeat nae, YOU can retain the watch;
= lAe other hand, I win the game,
- saleh Is mine" What would be the
M Judgment Of man who would
1@'l himself by becoming a party to
nj transaction? Such a course
l. excite no feelings in the hearts of
IA, MI friends but those of mirth and
.1,s' Better far allow the open roG
y be committed, with the chance
sang the robber amenable to the
sller-times than involve ones self
s?faeetul q transaction.
san 'su hardly stop to make an appli-
r,;. VI tbs illustration. Before the
mi, I'M came off the game of bullying
1, 5sace ed by sending troops to the
h I'm - states TO overawe and intimi-
j j. oo Democratic party. Failing in
qlataji returning boards were man.
<s.,s3 me votes of counties were sup
he A.; t thrown out; judicial decisions
.r..ae as'egarded or overridden; rules
.eo.oI observed for counting the
La "a votes were declared abrooated .