The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1877-02-02

We give place herewith to the message
of President Grant, issued on Monday last,
approving the bill for the peaceful and, as
we believe, legal and honest settlement OF
the Presidential difficulty. l: is not often
that Grant has thus fairly met the demands
of public opinion, and as we have country
to be saved and government to be handed
down 70 future generations, as they were
given to us by our forefathers, we cheer
fully endorse AL that the President so well
and so truthfully says in this brief but per-
tinent document
To the Senate of the United States:
follow the example heretofore occasionally
pIe'entec of communicating IN this hloie ~, NY =,
app rOval of the 'act to provide for ana reg ui'e
the counting of the votes for President ana
Vfcp Pro, i;irnt and the decision of questions
arising thereon because oI my apr Iecla'ionV VI
the imminent peril 10 the i~ns,itutlnts ~ % bi .ne t
country from which, in my Judgment, the ACT
affords wise and constitutional means OF eS-
country, under the constitution as IT now Is, q
dispute exists with regard to the result OF the
election OF Chief Magistrate OF the nation. II is
understood that upon the disposition or dis
putcs touching the electoral votes east at the
late election 10y one or more ot me states de-
peudS the question wiIei her one or the other OF
the candidates for the Presidency Is the lawful
Chief Magistrate. The Importance of having
clearly ascertaiUei, by procedure regulated 10y
law, which Of the two citizens has been elected
and having the right to this high office recog-
nized and checrfuliy agreed in by all the people
OF the republic, cannot be Overest!mated, and
leads me 10 express To Congress and the nation
my great satisfaction at the adoption OF the
measure that affu ds an orderly means of de-
cision of the gravely exciting questions.
While the history OF our own country IN lts
earlier periods shows that the President of the
Senate has counted the votes and declared their
standing our whole history shows that in no
instance of doubt or dispute has he exercised
the power of deciding, and that the two houses
or Congress have disposed OF all such couots
Al 11s m N n IA
have they been such THAT their decision could
essentially have effected the result. For the
first time, then, the Government of the United
States is now brought TO meet the question as
one vital to the result, and this under cOndi-
tiOns not best calculated to produce agreement
or to induce calm feeling in the several branch
es of Governments, or among the people or the
country. In case where. as now. the result is
involved. it is the highest duty of :he law max
ing power to provide in advance "a constitution
al, orderly aud Just method of executing the
cal clause of its provisions. The doing so, far
from being compromise of right, is an en-
forccmcnt OF right ana an execution or the
powers conferred by the Constitution on Con-
gress ] think that This orderly method has
been secuTe1 by the bill which, appealing 10 the
C Dnsti;u ion and law rs its guide in asccrtaining
right provides the means of deciding questions
of single returns through the direct action OF
c ,ngress, and in respect to double returns by a
tribunal of inquiry. whose decisions stand, un-
termining otherwise. thus securing a definite
disposition of all questions of dispute. in what
ever aspect thty may aiise. WIN or without
a tie vote is impossible, 1T must he that one OF
the two candidates has been elected, and il
would toe dVplorahle to witness irregular
as to which of the two should re-
crive or which should continue to hold Office.
In all periods of history controversies have
arisen as to the succession or choice OF chiefs OF
states, and party citizen loving their
country and its free institutions can sacrifice
too much of mere feeling in preserving through
upright course of law, their country from the
smallest danger to It's peace on such occa-
sion. and it cannot be impressed too firmly in
the hearts ot all people that true liberty and
real progress can exist only through cheerful
adherence to constitutions law.
The bill purpOrtS tn provide only for the set
tement of questions arising from the recent
elections. The fact that such questions can
arise demonstrates the necessity which, can
not doubt will, before long. be supplied by
which have not been contemplated in the Con-
stitutiOns or laws of the country. The bill may
not be perfect and It's provisions may not tie
sncb as would be best applicable TO all future
occasions; but ii is calculated to meet the pres
ent condition of the questions.
The country is agituted. 1t needs and il de-
sires peace and quiet and harmony between all
parties and all sections. Its industries are ar
rested, labor uncm plOyed, capital idle and en-
tcrprise paralyzed by reason OF doubt and
anxiety attending the uncertainty of double
claim to the chief mayistracy of the nation, 1t
wants to be assured that the result OF the eIec-
tiOn will bc accepted without resistance from
the supporters of the disappointed candidate,
ana that its highest officer shall not hold his
Il:ce with II questioned! title OF right. Beiev-
ing That the hill Will secure these ends. | give
my signature. L. 5 GRANT.
EXECUTIVE MANsION, January % 1877.