The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-02-08
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

al BILL
TO the Senate Of the United States: I
follow the example heretofore occasion
ally presented, of communicating in
this mode my approval of the act to
provide for and regulate the counting
of votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and the decision of questions
arising thereon, because of my appre-
citation of imminent peril to institutions
of the country from which, in my
judgment, the act affords wise and
constitutional means Of escape. For
the first time in the history Of our cOun-
try, under the constitution as it now
exists, a dispute exists with regard to
the result of the election of chief
magistrate of the nation. 1t is under
stood that upon the disposition of dis
putes counting the electoral votes cast
at the late election by one or more
States depends the question whether
one Or the other candidates for the
presidency is the lawful chief magis-
trate. The Importance Of having
clearly ascertained by procedure regu-
lated by law which of the two citizens
has been elected, and Of having the
right to this high Office recognized, and
this fully agreed in by all people of the
republic, cannot be overestimated, and
leads me to express to Congress and to
the nation my
GREAT SATISFACTION
atthe adoption of a measure that affords
orderly means Of decision of grayely
exciting questions.
While the history Of our country in
it's earlier periods show 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 ex-
ercised thepoWer Of deciding,
that the two Houses of Congress have
disposed of all such doubts and disputes
although in no instance hitherto have
they been such that their decision could
have essentially affected the result.
For the first time, then, the Govern
ment of the United States is now
brought to meet the question, which is
one vital to the result, and this under
conditions not best calculated to
produce agreement or to induce calm
feeling in the several branches Of gov
eminent or among the people Of the
country. In case, where as now, the
result is involved, it is the highest
duty of the law-making power to pro-
vide in advance constitutional, order
ly and just method Of executing the
constitution in this most interesting
and critical clause of it's provisions.
The doing so,
FAR FROM BEING A COMPROMISE
of right, is an enforcement of right and
an execution of the powers conferred
by the constitution on Congress. I
think that this orderly method has
been secured by the bill which, appeal
ing to the constitution and laws as a
guide in ascertaining the right ,provides
means of deciding questions of single
returns through direct action of Con-
gress, and in respect to double returns,
by a tribunal Of inquiry whose deci-
|sions stand unless both Houses of
Congress shall concur in determining
otherwise, thus securing definite
disposition Of all questions of dispute,
III 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; and it
would be deplorable to witness an
irregular controversy as to which of
the two should receive or which should
continue to hold the office.
In all periods of history controversies
nave arisen as to the succession or
choise Of chiefs Of State, and no party
or citizen loving their country and it's
Tree 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 an occasion, and it cannot be
impressed to firmly in the heart of all
people that true liberty and real prog
ress can exist only through cheerful
adherence to constitutional law.
The bill purports to provide only for
the settlement of questions arising
from the recent elections. The fact
tnat such questions can arise demon
strates the necessity, which I cannot
doubt will before long be supplied, of
permanent general legislation to meet
cases which have not been contemplate
ed IN the constitution or law of the
country. The bill may not be perfect,
ana It's provisionsmay not be such as
would best be applicable to all future
occasions; but it is calculated to meet
tne present condition of questions and
OF the country. The country is agitat-
ca. 1t needs and if desires peace and
quiet and harmony between all parties
ana all sections. It's indutries are ar
rested: labor unemployed; capital idle,
ana enterprise paralyzed by reason Of
ghe doubt and anxiety attending uncer-
talnty of double claim to the chief