New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-24

STRUCTURES on THE REPORT OF TIE HOUSE COM
mTTEE ON PRIVILEGES AND RLECHoNs-ThE
| DOCTRINE THAT ONE BRANCH OF CONGRESS CAN
BE THE SOLE JUDGE OF a PRESIDENTIAL ELEC-
| TIoN LIBEL OK THE LETTER AND : PEEYERsloT
OF THE SPIRIT OF THE CONsnICuoN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Early in the session
today after presentation OF few PETITIONS and re-
solutions the House proceeded to this consideration OF
the resolutions reported by the Committee Privileges,
and WAS alGrossed BY Mr stelyc QIop MassJ He said
that although the resolutions were several the question
underlying them al single In Ills Judgment II was
one of the most important and were it not that the con
current report Of the Committee on Counting the
Electoral Vote superseded it, the most important Gues
ton likely to come before Congress. Simply stated the
nues1oD was whether single house of Congress could
be the sole judge Of the unlawfune55 Of rejecting what
rurported TO be an electoral vote Stripped or all its
guses and in its naked Issue, the question was
whether branch OF Congress, which III certain CON
tngency was 10 elect the President or VcePresldent
Wa to be the solo judge, without the concurrence
and against the consent of the other house !;
whether the contingency which conferred upon
# that great power and high responsibility had come
In her words the question whether the House OF
Representatives has the IS9S 10 maxi the oPor sag
1hs thesnge question underlying az tees9 fcSoiu-
lions which members OF the select committee on
privilege. affirmed three denied TGe doctrine lad
down in these resolutions he declared 10 DO t on te
lrrr and an entire peryerslOI OF the spirit or the CON
stfntiOn lie could not but regard such doctrine as
MOI n InonstrOus and revolutionary. He had words
better express his of It's meaning than IOse
which the Distinguished and accomplished Senator from
Delaware (Mr. BlyarGJ nscd on the l3th OF IaTch Is
when he denounced this very doctrine rs " all utioi
usurpaOn utterly without warrant IN the consul
in The extreme and threatening To oVtTIhrO"
popular liberty which unerles the friilt-
Of system" He knew that those VINO now Sis
tanned thai doctrine pointed to the ia JOINT iuio as
aOrding support 10 IT, But he held that that rule was
foreign the Constitution ana might he fatal Ia the
liberties OF the country, and ought 10 be denounced
by every party.
GOD REIGNS AND JUSTICE TR!UMPUS.
He not surprised dlsploased at the mischief now
threatening down In the teeth OF the party which
arst devised that Neither should no he
prised or dspesed If lac found the mischief coming
by IT, for IN this world God rciGnsmuch often a.
that fact iguored-and Justice and retrbulioD
mere nnents OF speech but supreme realities, 10 when
nations and parties well individual must yield.
He imporod the House pause md consider well before
il took step which would make the President OF the
United States and the tool OF the House OF
REPRESENTATIVES. IL became them 10 guard well state
rights that principle OF Ocal Gef.Overnincnt which
an AuglOSaNon DrthTight and the dearest OF American
pryileges allowing the States 10 be hanpcred either
by COngrc ssona Executive interference the body was
NOT strengthened and the members weakened one
thing in the late election beyond dispute, and that
was that quarters both parties had acted just
IA wrong as they could, restrained by conscience,
rccttnde by nothing but the sheer I'M
possibility OF doing worse That not true Of
of the election whole. but only Of certain loctli;ies
| CORRUPTION on BOTH SIDES.
He admitted tho chcanery the corruption, the fraud
and the cruelty pracced and put forth IN certain