New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-19
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.


A good deal of tins was occupied this
morning in deciding the preliminary Gu' stion as to
Whc the House should proceed To tie cohsiera
ton OF the resolutions reported Last Friday from the
committee tie privileges and duties o. tie House IN
counting the electoral votes, or 20 that Of he compro
mise plan The Republicans favored The latter and the
Democrats tie former which consists oil five points
Fr That the Constitution does not confer on the PTcs
Of tho senate power examine and ascertain the votes
SS3S Tat the only rSwcT which the Constitution does
COME on the Peadeh Of the senate in the matter Is TO re-
~ ollc@ca L. n s same safely am Opcn al certificates,
or S@ Gri ing 10 10 SUCH ;he presence OF the two
Tbi, Tha, Constitution does confer on The Senate ara
the iouse OF Ic reseiac TIE oSt 10 N 'nh' ana a'oei
tar TO b" .ouAied az electoral votes. ,r,
H,U,crrativrsi Is Il lea. equal the senate: and
aqt 10 yo 81 can be S9nis5 r aa 'ae judgment
T,e House decided by vote Il Ill TO 81 to proceed
with the resolutions reported By the Committee ON PRIV
lcccs.
Mi. KNOTT tDeIn., KyJ chairman Of the committee,
tletcupon proceeded to address the House He said
every one know ma the people Of this country were
trcadng on tne thn aud tTcacheros crust OF solder
ing volcano whose 1rst cGuyuisrc thiOcs had alreaB
shaken the continent from center 20 circumference. lie
depicted present prostratioE OF business the Stagna
ton m all departments OF industry and the consequent
want and poverty OF tie ahUrns class, AMI c asked
Why was that the people OF the country were looking
:, fine action OF Congress, with agony Of solirtde
such n, had never been felt DE-" re- II vas because Inc
,uur had come test the institutions oi the country, II
MAS because there was viii, 'pr;dN dplt rem nh very
where tnat under sOnC Mysterious Sir'it; OF P,Uca
l.cruajn the provisions 81 u" Constitution N cKlrd
10 the ercon Of Prcsld Mt and Ncc-pic>eni had been
formed igtU uisC able sl.p, u INDUSTRIOUS ilaHlcI-
mn of Icc"nton and fraud; that Tie choice oT the
tDericau people. iadc by majority Of over Gowns
about be dcfeated hy the vaccinations OF b4hHfu
81 al buccaneers assisted Ivy the Federal a;4or-
TO- 90 f caut1l As one of the =, representatives. ~ Tho
craudo,t rcOpc that dWcit under tnc sun, ne ha
IN common with tie Gentlemen around HIM 5, Tenn
du;y 10 uerf1rm IN determining the trdc result OF lie
Presidential election II tie Trainers OF me CGnst
had Intended That the President Of the Senate
should count wci - open tie certificates, t'cy
vGuId have SAID 80 In pam, sl,upc iAb%Hagc,
! he admitted that neither house could reject any fair
vote Of IA state il would be revolutionary 10 do So, bur
il would be equal crime 20 count lFaduleEt N0ie
After referring The action of Pre- hdelt Grant ~ oruor
Ing loops to Washington, Nh Knott said; Any attempt
on the pat OF any Body OF men. executive, eG>-
atiye, ministerial 10 cOesce tS ioSc 10 c2hn vote
which ~ lis Judgment il invalid o. void, or 10
cocrcc ibis House to throw out vote which III its
Judgment legal and VALID or TO interfere III any mar
whatever with the peacefu! discharge OF It's e0nsi
utonm functions in This nigh regard would he an utter
su5vct5l1n 81 our cons iltutiohal uoNtIcu'' au Ic
cUmpauied by armed and organized force, would be
treason 10 ne .hiIed 2tI'G IN "a , ~, .I o.
Mr.. EtRCHARD thci. nh n jnehni OF the comlGit,,
tee offered on behalf Of the four kei uDncan elgtEs OF
Oluiious Oy tie committee:
Resofrsi First the power and duty Of the House.
cociy with the senate 10 provide by law or other const
tHtona h'hOI i mot 10. IND ' al, lli
properly counting ie electoral vote % eae STATE 80 aS u ye
choice state IN te election u President
soirs second, that absence Of legislative provision
the subject OF authoritative direction from the senate ard
cniu " The rrrS.t.s declares ana counts the "acai
PRESIDENT and frlicnt Of the United states
MI PAYNE kDcl., ODol, Cbtltilah OF me committee
Oh Counting tE Electoral NO!es made the report agreed
upon concusrcnty by tie House and Senate committees,
and said that it signed by tho mcmbcIs OF the
House cOmpitee anu by six of the members OF the
senate committee.
The report and accompanying bill having been read,
lr. PAYNE called attention to the fact that the bill pro
Vid,d for CARRIER day FOR the Getting OF the joint
ycuou Liam that fixed by law; instead Of the sec
| ond Wednesday IN February it to 10 two weoks
earlier dwo weeks from nOw IT would be necessary,
therefore 10 have early action upon IL III order taat il
might 20 to lie President aud become a law in good
lie would therefore ask ut early day to have 1t
made special order lie moved shat the report be
| printed ana rVcSmDlitt'd. II Yas 80 ordered.
he House resumed consideration OF the resolutions
ported by tine Committee PriYi ana addressed
b. Mr. BURCiIAED Ia aYOf Of The minority repnrt lie
denied that right ON the part OF either house. aud held
that the acts If the duly constituted authorities Of
Stale, when verified required by law, must 10
taken as legal and correct. lie claimed that
there was power To go behind such acts He
had underworld To 10 hs conclusions in part
s,rit, and e glad 10 mat better fcciDg
pre-, ning with respect 20 the daty OF Congress that
he question WAS be decided In oOnCntory spirit,
giving each eide credit for honesty and that above all
things violence should be TosOrtod only
noy-that st resort which Justified the action OF the
lat hers OF Revolution Such time could
In history of the American Government, and IL was
wicked To talk about what might be done IN VI
| emergency.
| The resolutions went over without action.