The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-01-25

sion is to decide what is the electoral vote of
State. The election of the Congressional
part of the commission by viva voce
vote renders intrigue impossible. The commission is
large enough to prevent the possibility of corrupt
ing influences. The Judges named are chosen &C.
cordng to geographical locality. To guard against
any caviling, the oath makes craftsmanship imposs-
bic. The commission is not to decide a policy or
determine future. 1t is to pass on the irrevoca-
BILE past. The commission is to discover what is
the paper, if any, which speaks the constitutional
views of a State, and how many and what persons
were elected electors. The plan, he claimed holds
the scale of justice in absolute equality and gives
nothing to either party. The commission is to de-
termine whether the electoral vote cast accord
ting to law. Mr.. Edmunds neither affirmed nor
denied that the commission had power to go be-
hind the returns. He only said that, if Congress
had the right to do this, the commission had, Or
would have, and that was one of the questions
submitted to it. Mr.. Edmunds affirmed that
the constitutionality of the bill was without
a doubt. He maintained the President Of the SEN
ate has not the right to count the votes. He
insisted that by legal Interpretation could it be
held that the opening of the vote implied the right
to count. Nor was the Vice President Judge. If
that theory is admitted, the INDUSTRIOUS propo-
sition must be conceded that the Vice President
can try and determine the case and finally declare
himself President of the United States. He
argued that the constitution had been so framed
that there is but one provision In it which ex-
ecutes itself. That related to the capture
of slave property. Every other provision is only
executed by Congressional regulations. The Presl-
dent is Chief, but every act is regu
lated by law The funstions of the judiciary are
prescribed by the constitution, yet their procedure
Is entirely controlled by law. The constitution,
which was adapted to all time, was framed SO that
Congressional legislation could adapt it the varied
emergencies of different generations. He denied
the fact emphaticay that the presidents show that
the President of the Senate has counted the votes.
On the contrary, Mr.. Edmunds affirmed that, as
an arithmetical proposition, he had never even
counted one vote. The tellers were always ap.
pointed, and that from John Langdon to Schuyler
Oolfax the two houses dictated to the presiding Of.
feer of the Senate the course he should pursue.
House.-The House, in committee of the whole,
devoted the day to debate, the speeches taking
wide political range.
MONDAY, Jan. 22.-Sendte. Mr.. Morton ad
dressed the Senate in opposition to the Compromise
bill in regard to counting the electoral vote. He
bitterly assaled the measure, characterizing 1t as
"the product of the Mississippi plan,'' declaring
that IS the shadow of intimidation had been seen
in the Senate chamber" He believed Gov. Hayes
had been elected under the forms
of law, and that should he be
counted in there would be no revolution. He
argued in favor of the right of the President of the
senate count the electoral votes. The President
of the Senate did count the vote for seventy-tWo
years; tellers were mere facilities for making
calculations and keeping accounts. They couRS-