The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1877-01-31
THE PRESIDENTIAL COUNT.
Action by tue House Special Com.
mittce.

mittee.
The following is m accurate statement
of the action thus far taken by the spe-
cial committee appointed to inquire into
the powers, privileges and duties of the
House of Representatives in the count
ing of the electoral votes for President
and Yice-President.
The committee has held three meet
ings. At the second meeting Mr.. Tuck
er, OF Virginia, presented a series OF
propositions, in form substantially as
follows:
First The power to count the cleo
toral votes is not conferred by the Con-
stitution upon the president of the
Senate.
Secondhand the power to count the
electoral votes is conferred by the Con-
stitution upon the Senate and House Of
Representatives.
Third-That, in the execution Of the
power to count the electoral votes, the
House of Representatives is, at least, CO.
ordinate and equal with the Senate.
Fourth-That in the counting OF the
electoral vote no vote can be counted
against the Judgment and assent OF the
House of Representatives.
These propositions were discussed by
the committee, and much ability has
been shown by several of the members.
Two of the Republican members, Mr..
Burchard of Illinois and Mr.. McDill of
Iowa, took ground in favor of the rights
of the president Of the Senate to count
the electoral votes.
Mr.. Seelye of Massachusetts,, the other
Republican member, held that, as the
committee was appointed to consider the
function Of the House of Representatives
in counting the electoral vote, it was no
part of its duty to pass upon the power
Of the president of the Senate. He held
that the method Of counting the electoral
votes should be determined by q law
passed by Congress. MI. Seelye sub
mitted the following as a substitute for
Mr.. fuckers propositions:
Resolrcd, That it is the privilege of
the House of Representatives to attend
with the Senate when the electoral votes
are opened, to appoint %tellers, who, in
connection with tellers appointed by the
Senate, shall register and compute this
vote, and to object for any reason which
it deems proper to the reception of any
electoral vote. That it is in the power
of the House of Representatives, with
the concurrence of the Senate, to reject
II electoral vote which may he contrary
to law.
That it is the duty OF the House of
Representatives to accept every properly
certified electoral vote which the two
houses do not agree to reject as contrary
to law.
That the privileges, the powers, and
the duties of the House Of Representa-
tives in counting the votes for President
and Vice-P President Of the United States
are no more and no less than those of
the Senate.
At n late meeting of the committee,
Mr.. Burchard moved to amend MI.
fuckers proposition by affirming that
the president of the Senate had the
power to count the vote. This was mega
lived. The four propositions Of Mr..
Seelye were next voted upon, and the
stood four to three against the
motion, the Republican members all
for it. The committee next voted
the first three Of Mr.. fuckers
propositions scriotin,. The two first
adopted by n party vote-four to
three-and the third n received the
unanimous vote of the committee. The
proposition, which is the most
important of all, will be voted upon Mt
the next meeting of the committee, and
it will probably be adopted by a party
vote. It reafirms the doctrines of the