Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1877-02-02

The Presidents Message On the EIcc-
tOrNi Dill.
To the Senate of the United States:
follow the example heretofore OCCASION
ally presented Of stating in this mode my
approval Of the act to provide for aud regu-
late the counting Of the vote for President
aud Vice President, and the decisions of
questions arising thereon, because of my
appreciation Of the immiLent peril 10 the
institutions Of the country, from which, in
my judgment, the act offers wise and
constitutional moins of escape. For the
first time in the history Of our country,
under the constitution us II now is, a dis
puto exists with regard to the result Of the
election of the Chief Magistrate of the ma
ton. II is understood that upon the jispo-
silon 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 Mag
istrate. While the history Of our country
in IFS later period shows that the President
or the Senate has counted the votes and de-
cided their standing, and while history
shows that in no instance of doubt or dis
pute has he exercised the power of decid-
ing, and that the two honses Of Congress
have disposed fall scch doubts and dis
putes; in no instance, hitherto, have they
been such that their decision could have
essentially affected the result. For the first
time the Government Of the United States
is now brought to meet the question as one
vital TO the result, and this under cond-
tons 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 a case
where, as now, the result is inI olved, il is
the highest duty Of the law making power
to provide, in advance, a constitutionally-
ordered and just method of executing the
constitutional laws in this most interesting
and critical of its provisions. The bill, so
far from being a compromise Of right, is an
enforcement of right, and in the execution
of the powers conferred by the Constitution
on Congress. l think that this orderly
me thod has been secured by the bill
which, by appealing TO the Constitution
and the law as the guide in ascertaining
rig hts, provides means of deciding ques.
tons of single returns through the direct
action Of Congress, and, in respect 10 double
returns, by atribunal of inquiry, whose de-
cisions shall stand unless both houses of
Congress shall concur in determining 9TH
erwise, thus securing a definite disposition
of all questions of dispute in whatever as
pee; they may arise. With or without this
law, as all of the States have voted lie
vote is impossible, it must he one OF tho
two candidates has been elected, and ii
would he deplorlble TO witness the contro-
versy as 10 which Of the two should receive,
or which should contriye to hold the office.
In all periods of history controversies have
arisen as TO the succession or choice of the
chiefs Of States, and no party or citizen
loving the county and its free institutions
can sacrifice too much of mere feeling 10
preserving through their upright course
their country from the smallest danger to its
peace; ard it cannot be impressed too firm
ly on the hearts Of all the people that true
liber ty and real progress can exist only
through a cheerful adherence to ccnstiu-
tional law. The bill purports TO provide
only for the settlement of the questions
arising from the recent elections. The fact
that such questions can arise demonstrates
the necessity, which l cannot doubt will
before long be supplied, Of permanent gem
eral legislation TO meet exisencies which
have not been contemplated in the Con-
siitu ton or laws of the country. The bill
may not be perfect and its provisions may
not he such as would be best applicable to
all future occasions, but it is calculated TO
meet ihc present condition of the questions
and of the country. The country is agitat-
ed. 1t needs and it desires peace and quiet
and harmony between all parties and Sec
tions. Its industries are arrested, labor uu-
employed, capital idle, on account Of the
doubt and anxiety attending the uncertain
ty of the claims to the chief magistracy Of
the nation. 1t wants TO be assured
that the result of the election will be
accepted without resistance from the sup
porters of the disappointed candidate,
and that its highest officer shall not hold his
place with questioned title of right. BE-
lieving that the bill will secure these ends,
give it my signature.
L. ). GRANT.
Executive Mansion, January 29.h, 1877.