The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-01-25

Executive, the Courts or the Legisla-
lure acting constitutionally and law
fully within their sphere, would be to
set up anarchy in place of government.
We think, then, that to provide clear
and lawful means of performing this
great and necessary function of the
government in time of much public
dispute, is of Tar greater Importance
than the particular advantage that any
man or party may, in the course Of
events, possibly obtain but we have
still endeavored to provide such law
full agencies of decision in the present
case as shall be the
MOST FAIR AND IMPARTIAL
possible under the circumstances.
Each of the branches of the Legisla-
ture and the judiciary are represented
in the tribunal in equal proportions.
The composition of the judicial part of
the commission looks to selection
from different parts of the Republic,
while it is thought to be free from
any preponderance of supposable bias,
and the addition of the necessary con-
stituent part Of the whole Commission,
in order to obtain an uneven number,
is left to an agency the farthest re.
moved from prejudice from any exist.
ing allowable one.
It would be difficult, if not impossi-
BILE, we think, to establish a tribunal
that could be less the subject of party
criticism than such a one. The prin.
ciple Of it's construction is so absolute
ly fair that we are unable to perceive
how the most extreme partisan can as
sail it, unless he prefers to embark his
wishes upon the stormy sea of unregu-
lated procedure, hot disputes and dan.
gerous results, that can neither be
measured nor defined, rather than upon
a fixed and regular course of law, that
ensures the peace and order of society,
whatever party may be disappointed
in its hopes. The unfortunate circum-
stance that no provision had been made
on the subject before the election, has
greatly added to the difficulties of the
committees in dealing with it-such as
that many of the people of the coun-
try, members of the respective politi.
cal parties, will perhaps look with jeal.
oGsy Oh any measure that seems to in.
volve even the probability of the de-
feat Of their wishes but it has also
led the committees to feel that their
members arc bound by the highest duty
in such case to let no bias or party
feeling stand in the way of a just, equal
and peaceful measure for extricating
the question from the embarrassment
that at present surrounds it. In con.
clusion we respectfully beg leave to
impress upon Congress the necessity
of a speedy determination upon this
subject. It is impossible to estimate
the material loss the country daily
sustains from the existing state Of ull.
certainty.
1t daily and hourly tends to unsettle
and paralyze business; to weaken pub.
lie and private credit, and to create
apprehensions in the minds of people,
that disturb the peaceful tenor of
their ways, and their happiness. 1t
does far mOre-it tends to bring re-
publican institutions into discredit,
and to create doubts Of the success of
our form Of government, and of the
perpetuity of the republic. All con.
sideratiOns of interest, of patriotism
and of justice unite in demanding of
the laW-making power measure that
will bring peace and prosperity to the
country, and show that our Republi.
can institutions are equal to any EN-.
ergency; and in this connection we
cannot refrain from the expression of
our satisfaction that your committees,
composed OF equal numbers of the op.
posing parties, have fortunately been
able to do what has been attempted in
vain observation-disclosures universally
agree upon plan considered by them
all to be just, wise and efficient. We
act to the patriotic and just judgment
Of Congress. tSigned]
GEO. I. EDMrNDs,
FRED 7. FREL1NGHUYsEN
Roscoe CoNKLING,
\. G. THURMAN,
T. F. BA1ARD,
NJ. W. RANSOM,
Senate Committee.
S. W. Payne,
EPpAs S. HINTON,
ABRAM S. HEWITT,
WIN. SPRINGER,
GEO. w. MCCRARY,
GEO. F. HOAR,
GEO. WILLARD,
House Committee.
Senator Morton was the only mem.
ber of the committee who did not sign
the report.
The Bill.
A bill to provide for and regulate the count
ing of votes tor President and Vice Presi-
dent, and the decision of questions arising
thereon, for the term commencing 4,
A. D. 1877.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives OF the United States of Amer
lea, in Congress assembled, That the Senate
and House Of Representatives meet in the
hall Of the House of Representatives at the
hour OF 10 o'clock meridian, on the first
Thursday Of February, A: D. 1877, and the