The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-26
motion OF Mr. Edmunds, adjourned until tomorrow
friday, at twelve O'Clock


(Fndayl ~ sweive O'CLOCK.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
wAsHixGroS, Jan. 25, 1871
Mr.. WHITING, trep) Of H., presented resolution Of
the Peoria Board OF Trade In favor OF the bill of the
JOINT committee.
THE ELECTORAL
Mr.. PAYNE, tdem) of Ohio. moved to 60 TO business
the Speakers table, order to refer The bill OF the
joint committee, which had come from the Senate,
to the Committee Counting the Electoral Vote
Mr.. PAYNE. in answer to a question stated that the
committee had decided to report back the bill I'M
mediasly let the debate all DAY to-day. with
n night session; that the House would then adjourn
TIL eleven o'clock tomorrow, and that he would call
the previous question at Two o'clock to morrow
Mr. Frye. (rep) OF Me-, suggested that during the
last tour hours OF the debate speeches should be
limited minutes in order that members should
have opportunity to explain their votes
Mr.. PAYNE SAID that he would modify his request 30
as to have to-morrow's session commence At ten
o'clock the last hours OF debate to be consumed
in ten-minute speeches, and members TO have the
right to enlarge their speeches Tor the Record This
agreed TO by unanimous consent.
The bill was then referred to the Committee ON Ecc-
torai Votes, and was Immediately reported back by
Mr.. Payne, chairman OF the committee
The CLERK proceeded to read The bill IN erfenso
Alter The reading Of the bill Mr.. PAYNE stated that
the bill as passed by the Senate was precisely The
bill from the committee IN the nrSt place
He entered motion TO recommt tho bill IN order 10
prevent cmepdm ents being offered to the bill.
SPEECH MR. N'cRAkY.
Mr. McCRAEY, (rep.) Of Iowa, member OF the joint
committee opened the debate. He said that after
thorough an earnest and anxious consideration Of
the great question he, IN common with the other
members OF the committee had reached the concu-
sion that tho bill ought to pass The country was in
the presence OF very great and very dangerous
naiiona. affairs which the fathers OF The
Republic had forescen in 1900 and which. at various
nar n
foreseen and had dreaded. Tho country, on several
occasions, had reached point where the votes for
President were TO DC counted, when disputes
listed legality OF some OF those votes In all
instances when disputes had arisen statesmen had
commented the danger which would threaten
The very existence Of the government II IN
should arise in which the disputed votes
would be decisive OF the result. This had been re-
garded ono OF the greatest dangers to which the
country could be subjected The country was now
confronted, not only with great aud widespread an.
ference OF opinion the merits oil the question, but
it was confronted with what was thousand fold more
porilous-he fact that the American people, the Amer
lean statesmen the American lawyers and jurists were
almost equally DIVIDED not only as to the merits OF
the questions, but as 10 the authorities to be cited
He submitted that that statesman was false TO bis
duty; that that man did not come up to tho exigen.
earnest eudeavors to provide some lawful mode for
the decision OF the question by tribunal whose au-
thority nobody could question and IN whose decision
all men would acquiesce
OF THE HOUR
There could be no greater danger than that which
grew oil fact like this On one side Of the ques-
ton there 20 GOO 900 OF people who honestly
believed that Governor Hayes had been elected and
who believe that IN the absence OF any egs-
ation on the SUBJECT the duty Of the Vice Presi
dent to the votes. On the other side there were
some 20 600 600 people who honestly believed that
Governor Tilden had been elected, and that the Pres
dent OF the had authority count the votes
and that no vote could be except with the
sent OF both houses Congress failed TO the bill
aud provide tribunal 10 settle this difference OF opin
ION the country WOULD DRIFT upon rock, where the
ship OF state might be broken to pieces
might be that If the bill were defeated and Con-
gess failed TO pass any measure on the subject one or
rf chr n
a decision which they believed TO be without law or
authority. He would hope and earnestly pray II such
emergency should arise one or the olher OF the
parties would submit; but he confessed very great
doubts and very great fears that such would not be
side or on the other who thought that their position
was impregnabie consider whether II was pr obabe
that the counting could avoid dual Presidency and
the possibility OF civil commotion and civil war.
Ho then proceed to quote authorities pro and CON-
upon question whether the President OF the Senate
had power to count the votes. IL had been SAID
by many people who agreed with him IN polt-
ca opinion that the authorities were conc usive that
the Vice President had the right to the votes
but his opinion the authorities on the other side
were equally potential and equally numerous. He
thought therefore, that II would be unwise and UNI
patriotic the House TO refuse TO adopt proposition
which all might agree to as fair
ana just, by which the question might DO
settled Would IL. be wise to decline sucn
a proposition and DRIFT on to the 18th OF Feb.
ruary and the 4th OF March with those conflicting
opinions unsettled and take the chances OF dual Pres
dency with ali horrors There were some people
who assumed that single house Of Congress had The
men who held that opinion that they could not stand
that doctrine and expect the country TO acquesce
in it, or the declaration of any result coming there
from He solmenly believed, however, that those who
claimed the right OF the Vice President count tho
votes could stand that doctrine without great
danger that the people would not acquiesce in it,
rHH CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
In answer the objection that the bill not
sttutonal he quoted IRON bills reported to the House
in 1900 by John Marshall and In 1924 by Mr. Webster
as % biz Ms
constitutional and would with his voice and vote aid
| its passage.
| Mr. HuNToy, (dem.) OF Va, advocated tho measure.
He spoke OF Presidential elections dangerous per-
iods history OF the country, and as more likely
than any other TO wreck the ship OF State. He
declared that all preceding troubles OF that character
sank in,o absolute insignIncance as compared with
those that now Congress and the the
face From at least four states OF the Union two sets
| of electoral votes would be presented Tor count.
be met, not In spirit OF craftsmanship, but oil states.
manshp. He himself subscribed earnestly and
heartily to the doctrine that the power to count the
electoral belonged to the two houses OF Congress-
and the President Of the Senate, but the oppO
site doct rine held by OF the great parties OF
| the country. AS neither party was willing to yield
It's convictions on that point the time had arrived
and adopt mode Of settlement that would tide over
the diiiculties and avert danger Of war Ho
ned sn"I ,uss second Joint rule we're but
the organ OF tho two houses, so the commission pro-
vded for the bill was but their organ 70 do for them
| what they themselves might do. He also held that
the two houses had the right to count The votes
they right by concurrent action to agree TO any
mode OF counting that might seem best to them He
believed that unless such plan as this bill
adopted earthly power could prevent war, coniu.
SION the disruption OF tho government and an end Of
| republican institutions in America II was there
tore high and solemn duly on the part OF Congress
TO bring about peaceful solution OF the difficulty and
tide over this eventlul period of history
or MR. GoODE.
Mr. GoopE (dcm) OF Va, said that the members of
the committee which had reported this bill
were emncnty entitled to the thanks OF Congress and
Of the country Tor their patient, seli-sacrncng and
patriotic aDors, and he had no hesancy IN declaring
that he was prepared accept his share OF the respon
siby and accord to the plan proposed his earnest
and cordial support. He enumerated circumstance
Including President Grants assertion on the Sth
of November that Mr.. Hayes was elected; the
station ing OF troops In the South the manipulation
of votes by Secretary Chandler, &C.. &c. which. he
said, demonstrated the existence oil widespread ana
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