Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-02-08
WASHINGTON.
From our own Correspondent.

From our own Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31st, 1877.
MeSsrs. Editors
Since my last communication, the
bill for determining who was elected
President of the United States for
four years from the 4th of March next,
has become law, and it will soon be
determined whether we are to have a
Republican or Democratic administra-
ton after March 4th next.
While many public men claimed
that the President of the Senate, I'M
der the constitution Of the United
States, had the authority to open,
count, and decide which should be
counted in case Of two sets Of returns
from a state, large majority of the
Republican Senators were recorded
in the debates upon the 22d Joint
Rule and upon the amendments to the
constitution in regard to the election Of
President as denying this authority
10 the President Of the Senate, there
fore without contradicting their pre-
vious speeches and actions they could
not claim this power for the President
Of the Senate. In this act the differ
ence between the Republican and
Democratic parties are plainly to be
seen, and those Senators who have
maintained the good faith and consis-
tency of the Republican party should
be commended and undoubtedly will be
upon the facts of the case being thor
oughly understood.
Is there the least doubt but what
had the Democratic party been in the
position Of the Republican party that
they would have sustained the Presi-
dent Of the Senate in opening, count
ing and declaring the result even if it
was directly in oposition to their pre-
Yious record
What regard has the Democratic
party to its long continued doctrine of
State rights when they think they have
anything to gain by entirely disregard
ing 1t? The usurpations of the pres
ent House Of Representatives in their
efforts to defeat the election of Gov.
Hayes to the presidency are alarming
to all true patriots. The individual or
state organizations have no rights
which they feel under any obligations
to respect. If the Republican Sena-
tors had had no more regard to their
previous record than the Democrats of
the House of Representative had, Gov.
Hayes would have been declared Pres
ident elect from the 4th Of March next
by the President of the Senate. The
tribunal selected for the decision of
the presidential question is one that
will command the respect and acquies-
cence of all good citizens.
Judge Cate has shown his partizan
feelings in voting against Hon James
A Garfield as one of the arbitrators,
upon the presidential dispute. after
Mr.. Garfeld's selection was made in
accordance with the understanding of
both political parties at the time of
the agreement of both houses of con-
gress upon the bill.
Judge Cate voted against the bill
for the settlement of the Presidency
on the ground that the House of Rep
resentatives had the right to throw
out the vote of any State that it might
object to. According to his views the
trainers of the constitution intended
to give the House of Representatives
the power to defeat the expressed will
of the people if it was not in accord
ance with their views. Let the peo-
pie of the Eighth Congressional Dis
trict of Wisconsin remember that
Judge Cate is opposed to an amend
ment to the constitution of the United
States prohibiting the payment of
claims to those who used their utmost
exertion to destroy the Government,
but what can you expect of person
who will occupy seat in Congress in
opposition to the expressed will of a
majority Of his constituents.
Yours,
X X X.
---szre- sssss Co..
Nye and Stanton.