The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1877-02-01
IN CONGRESS-.
SENATE.

! SENATE.
WASHINGTON, d. c, January "a
Alter some unimportant business the Sem
ate RESUMED the Consideration OF unfinished
business, including the bill in regard to
counting the electoral vote.
Mr.. IONELING, who was entitled to
the floor, having lot arrived, Mr.. Sargent
took the floor and spoke in opposition TO
the bill
Mr.. SARGENT said he had endeavered
to bring his mind to an assent of the pro-
visions Of this bill, first, because he desired
that a result might be worked out Of the
complications satisfactory TO the whole
country; and, second, because he desired
that equal and exact justice should be done
10 every candidate at the late Presidential
election, and 10 the parties which put their
oaud.d dates forward, but he did rot believe
this bill would accomplish anr such result
| There were suspicious Of unfairness about
the bill. 1t gave improper powers to the
tribunal which it createj. ii fairness was
desired The bill was very unfortunate, be-
cause the result to begained Dy it depeaded
upon ore man 10 be selected, and as vet
unknown. The supporters Of the bill had
addressed their adjustments to two ques-
1 tions: Fist, was the bill Constitutional {?
and second, was it expedient? He then ar
gued that it was never intended that Con-
gress should count the electoral vote, or
discriminate between the returns. II the
trainers of the Constitution had intended
10 lodge any such power in Congress, few
words would have made it certain 1t was
not intended to lodge such dangerous
power in Congress, because the two Houses
could, themselves, create an exigency in
which the Canstitu ion provided the House
should elect President, and the Senate a
Vice. President. He argued that the power
to count the electoral vote was lodged in the
President of the Senate.
Mr.. HAMLIN, interrupting the Senator
from California, read the return from the
State Of Georgia, In 1901, and said that
| there was no certificate accompanying il,
that the electors met and balloted The
| paper did not conform to the Constitution.
There was nothing upon it's face to show
that the votes we're cast for anybody, yet
| the record showed that it was counted, and
| no objection was made. How could it
| have been counted, save by the decision of
the person in whose possession it was. Mr.
Jefferson was then the President of the
Senate, and presided over the joint conven-
| ton.
Mr.. EDMUNDS said ii the Senator from
Maine, would read the cootenporaneous
history OF that event, he would see it stated
| that Mr.. Jefferson opened that paper and
handed it down to The tellers, who exam
lined ii, entered the number of votes of
Georgis, and passed it back to Mr.. Jeffer-
son, who declared that the State of Geor-
gia had given so many votes so and 3d.
There was no objections and 40 debates.
Mr.. SAs GENT then resumed his re-
marks He further opposed the bill be-
cause it degraded the Supreme Court BY
bring Judges down 10 the muddy pool Of
politics and compsl ling them 10 wade
through il.
He objected to the bill because it invited
a political party, defeated By the ordinary
forms, to claim another. fearing that the
people would not respec. the decision Of
this tribunal, which was without preceden,
and without sanction He regarded the
bill, rot as a compromise, but as a surren-
der of Republican rights.
Mr.. SARGENT, having concluded, Mr..
Conkiiug resumed the floor.
Mr. C0NKLING denied that the bill
was a compromise. 1t surrendered the
rights of more, but asserted and maintained
the rights OF all. Ii submitted to the law
full authority a solution of the pending
question. The bill might be denounced BY
partisans on one eide, or the other; it might |
be decided by adventures and the thought |
/. "a II might be treated with Courageous |
gaety as the honorable the Senator from |
Pennsy lvania { Cameron treated it; il |
might not for the present receive the appro- |
baton of even the thoughtful or pa,ri- |
otto. but he would vote for il because he be-
lieyed IL adyantayeous and within the Con-
sti,u,ion. IL would be beneficial to m.
neonle of all States Incl ding that great
State whose interest and shoe honor was
40 dear to him. The bill, miob, he der;Jed
now. At time. at whose great altar ali pss.
sion, and all nreindic,s mn., how wonld a, |
last vipaic,te III hill and those Who n,o-
nosad i,
Mr.. DAWES said the people OF Massa-
debate Of to tiay, that the commission Gre
ated BY this bill had no limit. to its iuris-
diction. The people of Massachusetts be-
iieved it should be governed by we'll deEn-
ed and marked law. After the debate of
to-day, Massachusetts would.hoid him re-
sponsible, if he did no. make some effort 10
have the Jurisdiction CT this tribunal deiin-
ed He moved 10 amend the section in re-
gard to the petitions and Geposi,ious TO be
examined by the commission by inserting
the following:
Provided. That no petition, execution or
o.her paper shall be considered by The said
which has for its object to
di.puts or draw into uuestion the number
Of votes given fer an eiecto- in anv of the
st ,tss, or in fact whether any elector was
chosen b, msiority of the votes of his
State.
Pending discussion, Mr.. Eimunds moved
that the Senate take a recess until 80 D.
IN.
Mr. PADDOCK moved to adjourn. Re-
jected by vote OF eight to fif;y-four.
The motion of Mr.. Edmunds was then
agreed 10 and the Senate took recess till
pm.
,o ss
'"' s'''