Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-01-26
PEACE.

THE PLAN O COUNTING THE VOTE
OPINIONS OF POLITICIANS, PRESS N
PEOPLE--THE CONSIDERATIONS, RING
HOLDING OUT AGAINST IT.
&C., SC, SC.
The INDICATOR stated last week that
the committee of the two Houses of Con
gress had agreed upon a plan for the count
ing of the vote. We have since received
the full text Of the agreement and give a
synopsis for the benefit of our readers who
don't care to wade through it:
1t provides that the electoral vote shall
be opened in Congress two weeks earlier
FEB. 1st, instead of Feb. 14th.) The
counting of the votes is to be done
by tellers of the two Houses, both be-
ing convened in the chamber of the House
of Representatives,, the opening of the GER
t~ifcates by the President OF the Senate,
commencing with the letter A in the list
of States. Where there is only one return
from a State the President OF the Senat.
shall call for objections and if any are
made in writing sighed by at least ont
tCC1dlOI anu Que lDGulCSI vi L10 l1CuE6 u
Representatives, hey shall be received but
The return shall not lie rejected unless by
the affirmative vote of both houses. Where
taere are Two returns from a State they
shall be submitted to a commission, TO
consist Of five mem bers of the Senate and
live from the House to he elected by each
body on Tuesday, January 3Oth, by viva
voce vote, and five associate Justices of
the U. S. Supreme Court, four of whom,
Judge Miller, (Rep.) Judge Strong, (Rep.)
Judge Clifford, (Dem.) and Judge Field,
Dem are to choose IL fifth in any way
they may select. Each member of the
| commission is to take the following oath !:
Il, -- do solemnly swear Tor af-
firm, as the case may bel that [ will im>
| partially examine and consider all queStiouS
submitted to the commission of which |
am a member, and a true judgment give
thereon agreeably to the Constitution and
the laws. So help me God"
Any vacancy i'll the commission is to be
filled by the House. if it's member die: or
by the Senate, if its Senator die; or by
the remaining justices of the commission,
If a justice die, and i'll filling any vacancy
regard shall be had ito the impartiality
and freedom from bias sought by the origi-
nal apo intments."
H WORK OF HI COMMISSION.
When all objections made to any certi6s
cate, vote, or paper from Il stateshall have
been received and read, all such certiti,
Gates. votes, and papers so objected to,
and all papers accompanying the same, to-
gettler with such objections, SHALL be forth,
with submitted to said commission, which
shall proceed to consider the same with
Che same powers, if amy, now possessed for
that purpose by the two houses acting SCI
parate y or together, and by d majority of
votes decide whether any and what votes
ron such state are the votes provided for
10y the constitution of the United States,
and how many and what persons were duly
appointed cleo. orS i'll such state, and MAY
therein take into view SUCH petitions, de-
POSITIONS, n other papers, it any, that
shall by the constitution and nov existing
law be competent and pertinent in sucn
consideration, which shall be made in
writing, stating briefly the ground there
Of, and signed by the members OF said
commission agreeing therein, Whereupon
the two houses Shall again meet and Such
decision shall be read and entered In the
JOulId1 vi CotCH IlUuoCs duu CUuLGlllS Ol Uilo
votes shall proceed in conformity there
with unless, upon objection made thereto
Ill writing by at least five senators and five
members Of tie House of Representatives,
The two houses Shall separately concur in
ordering Otherwise, IN which casesuch con-
current order shall govern. No votes or
papers from any other state shall be acted
upon until the objections previously made
to the votes or papers from ANY state shall
nave been finally disposed Of.
Section 3. That while the two houses
shall be in meeting, as provided in the act,
no debate shall be allowed and no question
shall be put 10y the presiding officer except
to either house on molten to withdraw,
and he shall have no power to preserve
order.
Section 4. That when the two houses
separate to decide upon an obj ction that
may have been made to the counting OF
any electoral vote or votes from any State
OF upOn objection to Il report OF said com
mission OF other questions arising under
JnIs act, each Senator and Representative
.Day speak on such objection OF question
ten minutes, and not oftener than once.
But after such debate shall have lasted
two hours it snail be the duty Of each
house to put the main question without
luther debate.
Section 5. That at such joint meetings
OF the two HOUSES seats shall be- provided
as follows; For the President Of the Sen
ate, the Speakers chair; for the Speaker,
Immediately upon the left the Senators,
in the body of The hall, upon the right of
the presiding officers for the Representa-
tlveS, in the body OF the hall not provided
for the Senators for the ~tellers, secretary
of the Senate, and clerk of House of Rep
resentatives, at tue clerks desk for the
Ot h0r ntfioprS Of fha 1Nn ItOnCaS in frnnt
Of the clerks desk and upon each side OF
the Speakers platform. Such joint meets
Ing slial not be dissolved until the count
OF The electoral vote Shall be completed
and the result declared, and no recess shall
be taken unless a question Shall have arts
Ell i'll regard TO counting any such votes or
otherwise under this act, il which case il
shall be competent Tor either house acting
separately Ill the manner herein before
provided to direct a recess of such house
not beyond the next day, Sunday excepted,
at the hour OF 10 O'Clock i'll the forenoon
and while any question is being considered
by said commission either house may pros
coed with its legislative or other business.
Section 6. That nothing in this act shall
be held to impair OF affect any right now
existing under the Constitution and laws
to question, by proceeding in the judicial
courts Of the United States, the right or
title of the person whO shall be declared
elected or who shall claim to be President
and Vice President Of the United States
ii any such right exists.
Section 7. That said commission shall
make its own rules, keep a record of its
proceedings, and shall have powerto en-.
plOy such persons DIS may be necessary for
the transaction of its business and the eX>
ecution OF its powers.
The report was signed by Geo. F. Ed
munds, Fred'k T. Frelinghuysen, Roscoe
Conkling, A. G. Thurman, T. B. Bayard,
NJ. W. Ransom, of Senate committee IL.
B. Payne, Eppa Hunton, VIM. NJ. SPRING
er. Geo. W. McCrarY. Geo. E, Hoar. Geo.