Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-01-25

bill 10 promote the election Of the Demo
cratic candidate for President, unless
under the execution Of the Law the opin-
ion OF five picked men Of the senate, five
picked men Of the house and five
picked judges OF the supreme court
could be secured to that end. The
senator from Indiana (Mr. Mortor)
had argued that no legislation was
needed. that the Republicans had q sure
thing and it was best not to give away
part Of it. He (Howe) thought If the
result of the late Presidential contest
was not left 10 doubt il was certainly left
in dispute, and somebody must decide
that dispute. He thought that the bill
reported by the select commission and
now before the senate was the proudest
instrument in our country, the proudest
tribute to American craftsmanship which
had been prepared since the conven-
ton which framed the constitution aud
journed. he would have been glad if
this bill had received the unanimous ap-
prevail Of the commission; then be would
have felt like one greater than himself
felt when looking upon the Infant Sa-
Vieur-he would have felt that be had
stem the salvation Of his people and of
his country.
Mr.. Eaton said he was almost alone
on the Democratic side Of the chamber
in opposition to this bill. He deeply re.
GREETED that the legislature Of his State
on Saturday last requested him to vote
for the bill, but they we're wise eroughto
get together yesterday and reconsider
that vote. It was not pleasant to be in
the minority, but be had learned to stand
en- his own convictions, He had faith in
the commission which framed this bill,
and regretted he could not vote for it.
BE denied that the power to count the
electoral vote was vested in the presi-
dent of the senate. 1t was lodged in the
two houses of congress. This c%ontriv-
how before the senate should sink
in the earth, the power to count the
electoral vote being vested in the two
houses of congress. 1t could be placed
nowhere else. He had heard that under
the bill both parties would get cheated.
He did not believe it woald bss benefit
to either party.
Mr.. Thurman said he did not believe
tits country could stand quadrieNDial
elections under the present system. BE
believed the people would become
aroused to the facts and regulate the
matter by constitutional amendment.
Mr.. Whyts said he had doubts IS to
The constitutionslity Of the bill. If it
was to be measure permanent in its
characie. be would vote against 1t. he
bel, we'd that the opening Of the certi6.
Gates in the presence Of the two houses
Of congress was to enable each house to
verify the count made by the presiding
officer.
Mr.. Burnside expressed the hope that
the bill would pass.
Mr.. Edmunds said the time had gone
by now for debate. The measure had
been denounced as q sham, a mere trick,
although it appealed to Eve senators,
five members of the house and FIVE jus.
tees Of the Supreme Court. He begged
his honorable friend from Ohio (Sher-
man to look at the history Of their own
party, look at their own attitude, and tell
him some day (nst now whether be
thought the Republican party could
stand the qualification and dis
honor in order that it might gain
them a temporary advantage. He
knew the senator would answer him
mo" Must the Republican party
stultify itself now for such a beggarly
price2 In 1865 a Republican majority
in the two houses Of congress passed the
twenty-second joint rule, which declared
that no vote from a State should have
any effect upon the election Of Presi-
dent and Vice President OF the United
States unless both houses Of con
gress, in their constitutional eAs
pacity, said go, and yet in the
faca of this action the great party
leaders from the valley Of the Missis-
sippi, as the senator from Ohio Usher.
mani termed it, sounded the cry Of
treachery against those of the Republi.
osn party whe supported this bill, Re.
ppblicans we're accused Of treason to
their party because they. would
not stulufy themselves, 40 then
referred to Mr., Morton's bill, which
passed the senate at the last session,
and said it was much worse than the
pending bill. There Vets three poor, mis-
guided Republicans who voted against
the bill -Conkling, Edmunds and Howe.
Now they we're addressed in terms of re.
pr9ach. He would say nothing Of the
personal illusions made by the souators
they belonged with those senators and
there be would leave them.
Tho following ia the vote in detail on
he electoral bill:
Yeas-Aloorn, Allison, Barnum, Bay
ard, Bogy, Booth, Boutwell,, Burnside.
Chaffee, Chr~istianey, Cockrell, Coukling,
Cooper, Cragiu, Davis, Dawes, Dennis,
E~dmunds, Frelinghuysea, G~oldthwaite,