Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1877-01-31
rat ELECTORAL BILL.

In communicating to Congress his
approval of the so. called Compromise
bill, the President accompanied the
merely formal approval by a message,
giving ut length his reasons for favor
ing the measure. 1t is a truly patriot
ic document, and in ability far above
the average State paper. The follow
ing is the text of the message, as tele-
graphed yesterday in the SENTINEL's
special dispatches:
ExEcurIv. MANSION. January %, 1877.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House OF Rep
fceeBtatives:
Hollow the example heretofore OCCASION
ally presented Of communicating in this
a %Sds ee my inpr ,Ss co o, . uts re- Of e ,he V Vote. for
President and Vice President, and tho decis-
len of the questions arising thereon; because
of my apprehension of imminent peril to the
institutions Of the country. from which. in
my Judgment, this measure affords a wise
and constitutional means OF escape. For tie
irst time in the history Of our countrs, under
the Constitution as 1t now r., a dispute exists
with regard 10 the result of tho election of
d~erstood that on tho disposition Of the dis
putes touching the electoral votes cast q. tho
lats RI elton by one or mere Of the States. de-
ponds the question whether one or the. other
OF the candidates for President. Is TO be the
lawful Chief Magistrate. Tho Importance of
having clearly ascsrtained by proc 'dure reg
ulated by law which OF tbs two citizens has
boon elected, and haviaK his right to this
high ofico recognized and chccrfully agreed
in by all the people of the Rspublic, can not
be- oyersstimsted. and leads me to express to
Congress and III: nxtion my gro 4 satlsfaction
NJ the adoption OF n measure tha' sffords an
orderly means OF decision of gravsly exciting
questions. While the history of our own
President of tho Senate has counted the
votes and declared the result. our whole his
tory shows that in no instance OF doubt
or dispute has he exercised tho power
Of deciding; and that the two Houses of Con-
gress has disposed of all such doubts and dis
putes, although in no instance hitherto havc
they been such that their decision could es-
s~entially have effected the result. For the
first time, then, the Government OF the United
States ~ now brought to meet such a qucs-
ton, and this under conditions not the best
calculated to produce agreement or induce
calm feeling in the several branches Of Gov.
eminent, or among the people of the country.
Ina case where, as now, the result. i, IN.
volvcd, it is tn higho.t duty OF tho law-mak-
ing power to provide in advance a consiitu-
tioDal, orderly and just method Of executing
the Constitution in this most Interesting and
critical clause of its provi.ions. Tho doing
SO, SO far from being = compromise OF right:
is an enforcement Of right and an execution OF
tho powsrs colfeIrcd by the Constitution on
Congress. l think this orderly method has
been secured by the bill which, appealing to
the Constitution aad law as 4 guide in ascer-
tanning the right, provides a means Of de i'd
lug the questions OF any single return through
the direct action Of Congr -, and in respect
to double rstarns by q tribunal of inqairy
whose decision shall stand unless both
houses Of Congress shall concur in determi7
- Ak,a . -Entk 800
sition of the questions OF dispute in whatever
aspect they may arise. With .r without this
law, as all of the Stntes have voted. and As a
tic vote Is impossible. it must be that me Of
the two candidates has been elected. 1t
would be deplerable to witness an irregular
controversy as to which Of the two should re-
seive, or which should continue to hold tho
Office.
In all periods Of history, controversy has
arisen as to the succession or choice o: chiefs
Of States; and no party or citizen loving his
country and its free institutions can sacri-
fce too much OF mere feeling in preserving it
through an upright forcs Of law from the
smallest danger to its peace on such occa-
sion; and it can not be impressed too firmly
in the hearts of all people that true liberty
and real progress can exist only through
q cheerful adherence to constitutional law.
The bill purports to provide only Tor this set
elections. Tn, fact that such questions. can
arise demonstrates tho necessity which l can
not doubt will, before long, be supplied Of
permanent general legislation to meet tho
cases which have not been contemplated in
the Constitution or laws of the country. The
bill may not no perfect, and its provisions
may Dot be such as would be best applica BILE
10 all future occasi, MS. but it is calculated to
meet the present condition of the question
and of the country. The county is ngitated;
II needs and 1t desires peace and quiet and
harmony between all parties and all sections.
Its industries arc arrested. labor unem-
ployed, capital idle and enterprise paralyzed,
by reason of doubt and anxiety attending tbs
uncertainty OF a double claim to ths Chief
Magi.tIacv Of tho nation. 1t want to be as
sured that the result Of he election will be
accepted without resistance from tho sup
portcrs of tho disappointed candidate, and
that tho highest officer shall not hold his
place with u questionable tito OF right.
Believing tho bill will secure these ends, l
givc il my signature.
lSignedl US. GRANT.