Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-31

o'uSH W "fvH ieH itsDDnslDllltleS. tTuSt tnHt
it may never be truthfully charged that, in this
crisis mot fraught with the dangers which some
attribute to it), tmidity appeared where manl-
ness should prevail, and that cowardce usurped
the hour in which courage should rule"
At half-past four the vote was taken and an
nounced as-yeas, one hundred and nnety-one:
nays, eghty-six. As in the Senate 80 in the
House, the electoral bill was much more generally
supported by the democrats than by the Republi-
caDs-only eighteen Of the former voting in the
negative, while one hundred and fifty-nine re-
corded themselves for the bill Five Of the dem
ocrats who voted in the negative, or more than
one-fourth Of the whole number were Represen-
tatives from Kentucky. Three were from Ohio
three from Alabama, and the remainder were dis
tributed among the other states. Among the Re
publicans the vote was more than two to one
against the bill, there being thirty-two in the
affirmative TO sixty-nine in the negative All OF
the Ohio Republicans except Mr. Foster voted
with General Garfield against the,bill The Indi-
ana Republicans stood two in favor to four
against, and those from Iowa. five in favor to
three against. The Michigan Republican deega-
ton equally divided and only one Republi.
can from Illinois voted for the measure From
NtW EHFldiu lutIt WtTt 1Nt tNbDuOlCdH VOTES IN
favor OF the bill to twelve against it, the entire
delegation from Maine, except Mr. Bureigh, and
all the Republican Representatives from Yer
mont, Rhode Island and Connecticut voting no.
In the Republican delegation from New York
there we're four votes in the negative, those Of
Messrs Baker, Lapham, Townsend and Williams
SATURDAY January 9th.
In the Senate. during the morning hour the
military academy and fertilization appropriation
bills were called up. The amendments reported
by the committee appropriations were agreed
to, and the bills were passed without discussion
At one o'clock the Pacific railroad sinking fund
bill again taken up and read at length, after
which Mr.. Thurman. who is in charge of the bill,
yielded for an executive session.
In the House the members OF the returning
board Of Louisiana who had been arrested for
contempt were produced and made answer that
they had acted in accordance with what they be-
eved to be their simple duty. The House or
dered them to stand committed, and appear be-
| fore the Louisiana House committee
MONDAY, January 29th
In the Senate no business of public importance
| was transacted.
In the House a message from the Senate in
| forming the House that the President had signed
| the electoral bill was read, and Mr.. Payne gave
notice that he would move at one o. clock to-mor-
row that the House proceed to the election OF
five members of the commission.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
The following is the text of the Presidents mes
sage submitted to Congress, accompanying his
| approval OF the electoral count bill:
" To The Senate Of the United States:
| | follow the example heretofore occasionally
presented of communicating in this mode my ap-
prova of the act to provide for and regulate the
| counting of the votes for President and Vice
| President and the decision Of questions arising
| thereon because of my appreciation of the inn
minent peril to the institutions Of the country from
| which, in my Judgment the act affords a wise
and constitutional means of escape For the first
time in the history of our country, under the con
stitution it now is dispute exists with regard
to the result of the election of the Chief Magisrat,
of the nation 1t is understood that upon thi,
position of the disputes touching the electora
| votes cast at the late election by one or more o.
the states, depends the question whether one OIL
the other of the candidates for the Presidency is
the lawful Chief Magistrate. The Importance O
having clearly ascertained by procedure regulated
by law, which of the two citizens has been elected
and Of having the right to this office recognized
and cheerfully agreed in by all the people of thu
| republic, cannot be overestmated and leads III,
to express to the Congress of the nation my grea
satisfaction at the adoption of a measure tina
affords orderly means of decision OF the great an,
exciting question While the history of on
country in its earlier period shows that the Presi
dent Of the Senate has counted the votes and de
clared their standing, our whole history show
that in no instance of doubt or dispute has he ex
ercised the power of deciding, and that the tw
houses of Congress have disposed Of all sue
doubts and disputes although in 10 instance hit
erto have they been such that their decision cou
essentially have effected the result. For the frs
time, then, the government of the United State
is now brought to meet the question, as one vita
to the result, and this under conditions not bes
calculated to produce agreement or induce cain
feeling in the several branches of the government
or among the people of the country. In a cas-
where, as now, the result is involved, it is tn
highest duty of the law-making power to provide il
advance a constitutional, orderly and just metho
of executing the constitution in this most interest
ing and critical OF its provisions The doing of this
81 ldI bcluS Il compromise VI IlSHl, Is III
enforcement of the right, and the execution of tn
powers conferred by the constitution on Congress
| think that this orderly method has been secure
by the bill which, appealing to the constitu
ton and law as a guide in ascertaining tn
right, provides the means OF deciding questions @
single returns through the direct action of Cor
gress, and in respect to double returns, by a tr
bunal of inquiry whose decisions stand unles
both houses of Congress shall concurin determil
ing otherwise, thus securing a definite dispositio
OF all questions of dispute in whatever aspect the
may arise, with or without this law. As all tn
states have voted, and as tie vote is impossible
it must be that one of the two candidates ha
been elected and it would be deplorable to wit
ness an irregular controversy as to which of tn
two should receive, or which should continue t
hold the office. In all periods OF history contrC
versies have arisen to the selection and choic
of chiefs Of states, and no party citizen lovin
their country and its free institutions can sacrfc
too much of their feeling in preserving throug
an upright course of law, their country from tn
smallest danger to its peace such an occasion
and it cannot be impressed too firmly on tn
heart of all the people, that true liberty and
prosperity can exist only through cheerful adht
renee to the constitutional law, The bill purpori
to provide only for the settlement of question
arising from the recent election, The fact tina
such questions can arise demonstrates u necesst
which cannot doubt will before long be supplied
of permanent general legislation to meet ease
which have not been contemplated in the const
tuition or laws of the country The bill may nc
be perfect, and its provisions may not be such a
would be best applicable to all future occasion,
but it is calculated to meet the present conditio
of questions, and Of the country. The country
agitated. 1t desires peace and quiet, and harmon
tries are arrested, its labor unemployed, its cap
tai idle, and enterprise paralyzed by reason OF tn
doubt and anxiety attending the uncertainty {
the double claim to the chief magistracy of tn
nation. 1t wants to be assured that the result {
the election will be accepted without resistanc
from the supporters of the disappointed candidate
and that its highest officer shall not hold his plac
with questioned title of right Believing tina
the bill will secure these ends, give it my signs
ture. (Signed) U. S. GRANT
Executive Mansion, January %, 1877"
/, |
A PROSPEROUS COMPANY. The Twenty-seyent
Annual Report of the National Life InsuranC
Company is Just published, and the showing mad
by tfully justities the many encomiums whic
the company has received at the hands Of all col
versant with its merits. The receipts and dit