Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1877-02-03

bill:
To the Senate Il follow the ex-
ample heretofore occasionally pre-
sented of communicating in this
mode my approval of the Act to pro-
vide for and regulate counting the
votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and decision of the questions
arising thereon, because of my APP
prehension of imminent peril to the
institutions of the country, from
which in my judgment it affords a
wise and Constitutional means Of
escape. For the first time in the his.
tory of our country, under the Con-
stitution as it now is, a dispute exists
with regard to the result of the cleo
ton of Chief Magistrate of the nation.
1t is understood that on the DISPOSE
ton of disputes touching the cleo
tOral votes cast at the late election
by one or more States, depends the
question whether one or other Of the
candidates for the Presidency is law
full Chief Magistrate. The import
ance of having clearly ascertalned by
procedure regulated by law, which
of the two citizens has been elected,
or having the right Of this high of
flee recognized and cheerfully agreed
in by all the people Of this republic,
cannot he over-estimated, and leads
me to express to Congress and the
nation my great satisfaction at the
adoption of measure that affords an
orderly means of decision of these
gravely exciting questions. While
the history of our country IN its
earlier period shows that the Presi-
dent 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 of Congress have
disposed of all such doubts and dis
putes, although in no instance have
they been such that their decision
could essentially have affected the
result. For the first time, then, the
Government OF the United States is
now brought to meet the question, as
one evil to result, and this under con-
dltions not best calculated to pro-
duce agreement or induce calm feel
lug in the several branches of the
Government, or among the people of
the country in the case where, as now,
a result is involved, 1t is the highest
duty of the law making power to pro-
vide in advance a Constitutional,
orderly and just method of executing
the Constitution in this most inter-
esting and critical clause OF its pro-
visions. The doing SO. 80 far as be-
ing a compromise of right, is an en-
forcement of right, and an execution
of the powers conferred by the Con-
stitution on Congress. think this
orderly method has been secured by
the bill, which. appealing to the con-
stitution and law as guides in ascer-
tanning rights, provides the means Of
deciding questions of single returns
through direct action of Congress,
and in respect to double returns by a
tribunal of inquiry whose decisions
shall stand unless both Houses of
| Congress shall concur in determining
otherwise. thus securing definite
disposition of all the questions of dis
pute, in whatever aspect they may
arise. With or without this law, as
, all of the States have voted, and as a
tie vote is impossible, it must be that
one of the two candidates has been
elected. 1t would De deplorable to
witness any irregular controversy AS
to which of the two should receive
or which should continue to hold the
office. In all periods of history con-
troversy has arisen as to succession
or choice of Chiefs of States, and no
party or citizen loving their country
and its free institutions can sacri-
flee too much Of mere feeling in pre-
serving, through upright force of law,
their country from the smallest dan
ger to its peace ON such occasion, and
it cannot be impressed too firmly on
the hearts of all the people that true
liberty and real progress can exist
only through cheerful adherence to
constitutional law. The bill pur-
ports to provide only for the settle
ment of questions arising from the
recent elections. The fact that such
questions can arise, demonstrates the
necessity, which l cannot doubt will
before long be supplied, of perma-
nent general legislation to meet cases
which have not been contemplated in
the Constitution or laws of the coun-
try. The bill may not be perfect, and
its provisions may not be such as
would he best applicable to all future
occasions; but it is calculated to meet
the present condition Of the questions
and of the country. The country is
agitated, 1t needs and desires peace
and quiet, and harmony between all
parties and all sections. Its indus
tines are arrested, labor unemployed,
capital idle, and enterprise paralyzed
by reason of the doubt and anxiety
attending the uncertainty of double
claim to the Chief Magistracy OF the
nation. 1t wants to be assured that
the result of the election will be ac-
cepted without resistance from the