Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1877-02-03
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Great Importance of the Electoral
Bill, and the Necessity Of Per-
manent Legislation to
Meet Such Cases.

The following is the text of the
Presidents message concerning the
electoral bill
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
STATEs-I follow the example hereto
fore occasionally presented of COM
municating, in this mode, my approval
of the act to provide for and regulate
the counting of votes for President and
Vice. President, and the decision of
questions arising thereon, because of
my appreciation of the imminent peril
to the 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 country, under the Constitution as
it is now, dispute exists with regard
to the result OF the election of chief
magistrate of the nation. It is under
stood that upon the disposition of the
disputes touching the electoral vote
cast at the late election by one or more
of the Suites depends the question
whether one or the other of the candi-
dates for the Presidency is the lawful
chief magistrate The Importance of
having clearly aseertained by a prece-
dure regulated by law which of two
citizens has been elected, and of having
the right to this high Office recognized
and cheerlully agreed in by all the
people of the Republic, can not be
overestimated, and leads me to express
to Congress and to the nation my great
satisfaction at the adoption of meas
ure that affords an orderly means of
the decision of gravely exciting ques-
tons. While the history of our
country in the early periods show that
the President Of the Senate has count
ed the votes and declared them, our
whole history shows that in no in
stance 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 hitherto
have they been such that their de-
cision could essentially have affected
the result.
For the first time, then, the Govern
ment of the United States is now
brought to meet the question as one
vital to the result, and this under con-
ditions not the best calculated to pro-
duce agreement or to induce calm
feeling in the several branches Of the
Government or among the people of
the country. In a case where, as now,
the result is involved. it 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 interest
ing and critical clause Of its provisions.
The bill, so far from being cOmprom-
Use of right, is an enforcement of right,
and an execution of the powers con-
ferred by the Constitution on Con-
gress. [ think that this orderly
method has been secured by the bill,
which, appealing to the Constitution
and law as a guide in ascertaining
rights, provides the means of deciding
questions, of single returns through
the direct action of Congress, aud in
respect to double returns by tribunal
Of inquiry whose decisions stand. I'M
less both houses Off Congress shall
concur 10 determining otherwise, thus
securing the definite disposition of all
questions of dispute in whatever aspect
they may arise.
With or without this law, as all of
the States have voted. lit 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 the records of history,
controversies have arisen as to the
succession or choice bfchiefs of States:
and no party or citizen, loving their
country and its frse Institutions, can
sacrifice too much of mere feeling in
preserving througi >the upright course
of law their county from the smallest
danger to its peace on such an occa-
sion. And 1t caEnot be impressed too
firmly IN the heart of ell the people
that true liberty and real progress can
exist Only through cheerful adherence
to Constitutional Law.
The bill p lrports to provide only for
the settlement Of questions arising from
the. recent elections. The fact that
such questions can arise demonstrates
the necessity, which | cannot doubt
will betole long be supplied, of perma-
nent general legislation to meet cases
which have not been contemplated in
the Constitution or laws ofthe country.
The bill nay not be perfect, and its
provisions may not be such as would
be best applicable to all future oeca-
sions, but il is calculated to meet the
present conditions of the questions
and of the country. The country is
agltated. 1t needs and it desires peace
and quiet anil harmony between all
parties and allsections. Its industries
are, arrested, LABOR unemployed, capital |
idle and enterprise paralyzed by reason
of the doubt ami anxiety attending the |
Uncertainty of double claim to the
chief magistracy of the nation. 1t |
wants to be assured that the result of
SAe election will be accepted without
resistance from tie supporters of the
disappointed candidates, and that its
HIGHEST offiaar shall MT hold his DIaoo /