The New York herald., 1877-01-24
on his a.ss. s.sid. ir.an. cup OF tea. vsse hardly

had intended by tho the constitution
have any power whatever regard the electoral
voe except 20 open tho certificates and his argument
was that OF great lawyer as we'll as OF a statesman
II vas full Of Information. His statements were
exact bis language sparkling with epigram.
his abundant illustrations pertinent and
luminous. and no demolished FIRST the front and then
the tanks Of the fortress which tho opponents of
the bill had intrenched themselves until nothing
that the question. least fully and finally settled
beyond tho necessity possibility Of further argu
ment
Many passages In the speech were very striking and
struck home indeed Abiding to the language OF the
constitution which says tina. ',ho President OF the
Senate shall open the electoral certificates and they
shall then DO counted" he turned asde and with one
hand outsretched the Senator's the other stretched
toward the Presidents chair. exclaimed "By
himi" in q tone which set the galleries nutteriug.
"If IL had been intended ,ha. the should be
counted BY him, those little wors" said he. ''as
two Senators have said before me, would have ex-
pressed that intention"
Mr. Morton had unluckily for n!mself asserted that
the Vice President must not only count, but he must
count all the votes good, bad or indifferent
els President, then, TO DO chosen" asked Mr.
Conking. "by counting forged votes; votes for
condemned 10 lasting disgrace and inability by the
Senate on impeachment: votes for dead mans Was
IL intended by those who framed the constitution that
votes for dead man should Oil with aching void
the Presidential oico To count my fingers" he
count q pie Of paper fs the same; to
count bank notes. among which may be counterfsits,
and the from tho false that requires tho
exercise Of judgment II New York should send hcre
fory.hve electoral votes they would be countcd
thcy would have to be sorted.
He showed the pueriity Of the argument that II the
houses to scrutinize tho vote tho action Of
house might bring the country to ruin, saying that
ono house might ruin the country by refusing
appropriations and In multitude Of other ways which
he recited. ssGovo,nment," said ne, srcsts on the
consent OF the governed. Is majority OF Congress
less 10 DO trusted than man? bare majority OF
this House might select presiding officer for tho
express purpose Of counting in candidate Is such
creature OF hour Of forcc
Trustworthy than tho wisdom OF the two houses3
ON xLEcriox.
The audience caught eagerly At any words which
seemed by implication reveal Mr. Conkng's opinions
on the OF the Presidential question: and there
some sensation among the republicans when, al
ludine to former Senator Howard. ho spoke Of him
as one who, ike himself, believed in tho glorious
achievements and the glorious destiny Of the repub.
can party.
He had not finished when he sat down. indeed he
had touched but one Of several points which he
cover and the remainder OF his speech will bo heard
tomorrow, the Senate meeting at eleven But what
no said this afternoon had great effect upon his
listercra
PRosPxc1s an TIE BILL
nis believed that the bill will pass the senate by
threcScarths vote. Mr. Edmunds savo notice that hc
would insist upon q vote tomorrow. Tho opponents
are preparing concentrate their Efforts upon the
House
II is not true that Senator Gordon intends to vote
against tho bill Hedoes not like entirely. but no
will vote for the best sttainable and
necessary to the welfare Of the country.
DEBATE ON THE ELECTORAL BILL.
SENATE.
WASHINGTON Jan. %. 1877.
Tho Senate to-day resumed consideration Of shs bill
reported by the select committee regard counting
the electoral vote.
SPEECH SHERMAN
Mr.. SIBERIAN said when the committee was up.
pointed by houses Of Congress take into
sderaton tho count Of the electoral he expected
as q matter Of course. that in case the committee
agreed he would be abo vote for sheir BILL He had
the highest respect for the Of the committee
aud It was painful thing for him dissent the
views OF gentlemen whom he esteemed highly, bus
afler the brief examination ne had gwen
tho bill he felt IL to be his duty 10
vote against IT. In dissenting from tho vicws and
criycising the work Of the committee he desired at
the express for tho motives aud work Of tho
committee his sincere respect The bib before the
Senate designed to settle now made up. 1t
a bill to make q court to decide a.case already
madc up. No iavors this bill permanent lcgis
lation He argued that there wero provisions the
bill totally Incompatible with the constitution OF tho
United States. Such q law a. this would be an evil
example and Senators should carefully examine TO
II could be supported by tho constitution. Tho only
persons who authorized by the constitution TO
witness the count Of tho electoral the Pros
iden OF the Senate the Senate and tho House OF Rep
resentativcs.
QUESTIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
Up I" this time tho four questions discussed in
nection with the counting Of the electoral vote
wcre:--
Frst-Shail tho President Of the Senate count tho
voter
Second-can either house admit or exclude votef
TAird-Can both houses, concurring, do so?
Foarth--Can the vice-President decide II the TWO
houses dissgrecf
PROPOSITIONS rux BILL.
This bill presented o,hor questions which OF