Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-01-26
The ComDrOmise Bill liz the House.

day when tile compromise Dill WIS uuueI us
cussion, Gen. Hutton spoke Of Presidential
elections az dangerous periods in the history OF
the country, and as more likely than any other
cause to wreck the ship of State. He declared
that all preceding troubles Of that character
sank into absolute lnsigniGcaDc, as compared
With those that nos stared Congress and the
country in The face. From at least four States
Of the Union sets OF electoral votes would tc
presented for counting. That was the grave
question whci; has! to be met, not III spirit
Of partisauship. but Of craftsmanship lie
himself subscribed earnestly ard heartily TO
tue doctrine that the power TO count the cleo
toral votes belonged to the two Houses OF Con-
prcss and not to the President Of the Senate,
| but the opposite doctrine was held by one Of
| the great parties OF the country.
| As neither party was willing TO yield its con-
yctons on that point, the time had arrived
when Congress should rise above partisan ice-
| ing and adopt mode Of settlement that would
I! tide over the difficulties and avert the danger
| of war. lie held that Just as the tcerS pro
yided for in the Twenty second Joint ltulc were
| Init the organ of the Two Houses, so Inc COM
mission provided for in the bill was but their
organ to do for them what they themselves
might do. He also held thar az the two
Houses had the right TO count the votes, 50
they had q right by concurrent action to agree
TO any mode of counting that might seem best
to them. He believed that unless some such
plap as this bill were adopted, no earthly power
could prevent war, confusion, a disruption oil
the Government and the end OF republican IN
stitutious in America. 1t was, therefore,
high and solemn duty on tho part oil Congress
| bo,, mi nj l.
cuItv, and tide over this cVcuttu! period cl
history.
Mr.. Goode said that the members OF the
Concurrent Committee which had reported this
bill were cmiucutiy entitled to the thanks OF
Congress snd Of the country for their patient,
sell. sacrificing aud patriotic abors, and lie had
) no hesitation in declaring that lie was prepared
now 10 accept his share Of The responsibility
and to accord to the plan proposed his warmcst
and cordial support. lie enumerated crcum
stances (incuding President Grants assertion
on the Slh of November that Mr.. Hayes was
elected, the stationiug OF troops III tho South,
the manipulation OF votes by Secretary Chand-
!, Ter, etc., etc. } which he said demonstrated the
existence Of 4 widespread and dangerous con-
spiracy to attempt the inauguration OF Hayes.
lie was convinced land he was strengthened III
that conviction hy the debate in the Senate)
|
!. REPUBLICAN leaders that there shOnld be no
agreement on any plar Tor counting the eIecto
raj votes. If this plan were net cuacted none
would be agreed upon, and when the two
Houses came together 10 count the electoral
vote there would be q disagreement. In that
event the House of Representatives would have
to elect the President, and there would either
4 have to be al gnOmnlous surrender or hight.
l lie asked whether the gentlemen on the Other
y side were prepared Tor the latter alternative :
5 IAn indisluci murluur OF Yes" Were they
. or the people whom they represent ready tol
J.. The couhct OF arms? Were they prepared tc
"Cry havoc and lex shp the dogs Of warp II
they were net, then he appealed to them BY al
u he memories Of the past and all the hopes Of
: the future to pause before they entered on Q
struggle the end Of which 10 man could ioresce
Mr.. Hale, OF Maine, said that hr was sen
. siblc that in opposing the bill he laid himself
, open to Tie charge OF being 40 intense partisan
but he was glad that ~ gentleman who bad
spokeu iu tavGr Of tic bill had dScredItcd the
=, honest objections which remained in the mind:
of some people. lie was also aware that h
would lay himself open to the charge Of OBJ
s.1ucting peaceful settlement OF the Presdcn
; tia! question. The voice OF the great cities Lad
n been heard and from day to day petitions had
r bill. The cities were entitled TO respect, buI
$ "God made the country and man made the
town." AID he vas willing to rest en- the senti
. ment of the couotry. lie had from the first
been inclined to oppose the bill, and his doubts
and fears had ripcued into positive conviction
6 against the bill. The proposition was based Oh
profound fundamental errors. This bill, he
said, startled him by the bold assumption OF the
t power Of Congress 10 regulate and control the
: election OF President, which power, in his
Judgment had never been lodged in the two
Houses by the trainers OF the Constitution.
) Whatever tic popular impulse might be now,
/ this bill! would nat be sustained by the Amcri-
can people whcn they should have time TO
measure aud contemplate its Consequences. 1t
. struck blow at the Electoral College, which
; sood as high iii the Constitution as the Pres.
5 idcncy Itself, and shattered it from turret TO
foundation sioDG, aud it substituted for it the
power al Congress, which might, at any time,
thHart Tic vii! OF the people and rcuder nuga-
toryits deliberate and expressed judgment. lie
had listened to strOphcS and Illustrations, IN
gcDousiY framed, 10 the other end OF the
: Capitol as to what might be the evils OF q
single man deciding the Presidential question,
but it was fact that this commission virtually
gave the power Of deciding on the election to
| luC uSllCG VI Liic CuutL mOu'u
be selected by the other four
At the end Of Mr.. uae's Speech Mr.. Iloar,
of Massachusetts, presented dispatch which
nc had just received from Boston, stating that
q resolution had been passed by the Massachu.
sets House of Representatives endorsing and
approving the Electoral bill.
Mr.. Garfield, Of Ohio, desired, on the out
set. to say some good things Of the bill.
ltshad some great merits, which he most
sincerely recognized. 1t was intended to abate
strife in great and trying crisis Of the nation.
1t was intended to aid 10 tiding over great
present difficulty; possibly great public dan
ger. It would doubtless bring result, and
leave the person declared to be the elect of the
nation with moro undisputcd title than per-
haps under any other method as yet suggested.
If he had to speak Of the bill only as par.
tisau he would say that he was not afraid of
its operation. The eminent gentlemen who
| Wou'd composc the COmmissiop-cnlnent for