Marshall County Republican., 1877-02-01

Cragin. Davis, Dawes, Dennis, Edmunds. Ere
Goldthwaite, Gordon, Howe, johnson, |
Jones (Fla.), Jones (Nev.,, Kelly, Herman, Nc
Cretry Mcdonald, Mcmillan. Marcy. Merrimon.
Morrii. Price. Randolph. Ransom. Robertson,
Sharon, Stevenson, Teller, Thurman,
Wallace, whyte. Window, Nithers, wright-47.
Hamlin, Ingalls, Mitchell, Morton, Pat
terson, Sargent, Sherman, West-l7.
HOuse.-The House took up the Electoral Tribunal
bill, and Mr.. McCrary, of Iowa, member of the
Joint committee, opened the debate. He said the
country was in the presence Of very great
and very dangerous emergency. The present was
republic had foreseen in 1890, aud which at
various periods in the nations history great
had foreseen and had dreaded. The
country confronted, not only with great and
widespread difference Of opinion on the
merits Of the question. but il confronted
With what was thousand-fold more perious, with
the fact that the American people. American states
men, American lawyers and jurists almost |
equally divided, not only as to the merits Of the
question: but as to authorities to be cited. He
mtted that that statesman was faise to his duty; |
that that did not come up TO the exigencies of
the sson, who would stop short in the most earn
est endeavors to provide some lawful mode for the
decision of this question by tribunal whose au- /
thority nobody could question, anc in whose deci-
sion all men would acquiesce Mr.. Hunton, of vir- |
ginia also Der OF the committee advocated the
measure. He held that just the tellers provided
for in the twenty-secend joint rule were but the |
organs of the two houses, so the commission pro-
vided for in the bill but their organ to do for |
them what they themselves migkt do. He also |
held that the two houses had the right to count
the votes, they had the right of concurrent |
seem best TO them. Mr.. Hoar spoke In favor |
of the bill. Nothing, he teid. could be |
more injurious to the republic than that man |
should be putin the Presidential office whom at /
least one-hslf of the American people would regard
as usurper. He could not conceive that the |
trainers Of the constitution ever thought of yieldr
TO the President of the Senate the vast power of
counting the electoral votes. That power was in |
the two houses Of Congress just the English |
affecting the succession to the crown In conclusion
Mr. Hoar said: The act which we are about to |
40 will in my judgment be one OF the very brav.st
in human history. Our annals have been crowded \
with great achievements in war, in peace, in arts
In literature, In commerce but other countries |
have equaled us in tho-e particulars, but in this
great act we stand without a rival and without |
an example. For n thousand years our children, |
with tears Of JOY and pride, viii read that while
in fierce strife for executive power the sun of other
republics after short but brilliant day
blood, in their country, too, the same great |
strife has arisen that their sky has been darkened
by the cloud that their ship, with its costly
freight of love ana hope. encountered the same |
storm, and was driven near the same r'cks, but |
that. In the midst of.the storm and darkness and
conflict, the august and awful figure Of the law
the face of the waters uttering its divine
controlling mandate, Peace, be stnl.'"
Mr.. Hale, Of Maine, spoke in opposition to
the bill. He said the startled
him by the bold assumption of the power of Con-
gress TO regulate and control the election Of Pres
dent, which power, in his judgment, had never
been lodged in the two houses by the trainers OF
constitution. whatever the popular impulse might
be now, this bill would not be sustained by the
American people when they should have time TO
strnck q bow at the Electoral College, which
stood as high in the constitution as
the Presidency itself. and shattered it
for IL the power of Congress, which might at any
time thsart the VIII of the people and render nu-
gatory its deliberate aud expressed jp igment.
Hewitt. Of New York, Caldwell, of Tennessee
Springer, Of illinois, aud willard. of Michigan,
speaking in favor Of the BILL and Monroe Of Ohio,
Smith, of Pennsylvania. and Garfield Of OHIO, in
opposition.
FRIDAY Jan. 26 6-iSndte The session of
the Senate brief and no business of Importance
was transacted. Mr.. Jones, of Florida, called up
the petition Of the Democratic Presidential electors
Of Florida, recently presented by him. asking that
their votes be counted the true return, and adj
dressed the senste at length in regard to the recent
election in that State. He argued that the rilden
electors legally elected and had been deprived
of their rights by the State Canvassng Board
House.-The discussion Of the Electoral bin was
resumed, and Messrs. Hooker Democrat, of Missis-
sippi. HArtridge Democrat, Of Georgia), and FAl-
ton Democrat, OF Georgia) spoke in favor Of the
measure, and against the claim that the President
Of the Senate had the right to count the electoral
vote. Mr. Mills Democrat, Of lexas) opposed the
Mr. Baker (Republican, of fndiana) spoke against
the bill, declared II unconstitutional and criticised
Il for excluding from the commission the Chief
Justice, characterfzing the discrimination as an
odious and unjust reelection upon a wise mARis-
trate. Mr.. watterson democrat, Of Kentucky.
spoke In favor Of the bill. He said IL the two
would see the Senate declare Hayes elected aud il
would see the President Of the United States sup
ported by the army and navy, prepared to seat him
IN once. mr.. Lamar democrat, Of Mis-
sissippil advocated the measure. He said IL elm
mated the sword frcm the controversy and sent IL
to tribunal whose character guaranteed Justice
ocrat, OF Georgia) the bill his hearty and warm
approval. Mr. Singleton Democrat, OF Mississippi ~
and MT. Lapham (Repu lican OF New York; op-
Bland Democrat, Of Miseouri) Sustained the b;ll
because II provided q remedy for existing dificul-
but he expressed his belief that no constitution
or law could be devised which would secure honest
elections, or which thieves and robbers could NOT
hnd some M aus Of evadng. Mr.. southard Dem
ocrat OF oho) the bii but sugg sted that
II should be so amended to provide for su Emitting
4 70 the commission the question to the right OF
Colorado TO vote 40 State. Mr. Vance Democrat
Of North Caroina) opposed the bill as unconstltu-
tionai. and because Congress had no right to dele
gate its authority. Mr.. Harrison democrat Of
Iliinois) gave the measure his hearty support
Mr. roster khepubllcan. OF Ohio) believed that
Gov. Hayes was fairly elected, but he
was IN favor of the bill. Mr.. Landers
democrat Of Indizna) spoke in favor OF the I'm
Mr.. Townsend Republican, Of New York; was con-
tinced that Hayes was elected President and he
did not propose TO put in jeopardy that lection !;
hence be woud oppose the measure Mr. LYNCH
| (hepublican, of MississippO opposed the bill on
CONSTITUTIONAL grounds. Mr.. Knott democrat of
kentucky did not think that Congress had the
right, under the constitution, to delegate the
power OF counting the electoral vote 10 a com
mtsson; he therefore opposed the bill Mr.
carr ipemocrat, OF Indiana) opposed the bill on
CONSTITUTIONAL grounds. Mr.. Dunnell Republican
OF Mlnnesofa) oppossd the measure he Thought
~ IL ~ were passed It would bee me precedent aud
The same grs at farce would be played over again
Tour years hence. Mr.. Hardenbergh (Dcmocrat
si New Jersey) spoke in favor of the bill Mr.
frst thepubncan, Of Iows) opposed IL as at yari-
ancc With the whole of constitutiona nj prcre
dents. Mr.. O'Brien democrat of Marylanal ann.
ported the bill. Messrs. Lawrence (lepubIcan az
Ohiol ana Blackburn democrat, OF Kentuckyl
opposed IL ON constitutional grounds MIR
Jones democrat, Of Kentucky opposed il not 40
nucn ON account OF the unconsti tutionalty as the
iinponcy OF the measure. Messrs. Field Undepend-
ent, OF New fork) Brown Democrat of Kentnckyl
and Randall Democrat, of Louisiapal smoke IN
favor of the bilI. Mr.. Payne (Democrat of Ob,ol
Chairman Of the committee which reported the hin
closed the debate In brief but earnest speech in
favor OF the measure, and the Speaker Announced
mat the vote would be taken the hna pas age OF
the bill. The clerk proceeded to cali the roll amid
the most intense interest and exotement with the
following result:
Mr. Speaker, HArdenbergh, Power.
Abbott Uarrfs Mas n.