Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-31

The following is the text of the Presi
Ients message, submitted to Congress
accompanying his approval of the elector
Il count bill.
To The Senate Of The United States Il fol
.ow the example heretofore occasionally
presented Of communicating in this mode
my approval of the act to provide Cor and
regulate the counting Of the votes for Pres
ident and Vice President, and the decision
of questions arising thereon, because OF
my appreciation of the imminent peril to
the institutions of the country from which,
in nv Judgment, the act affords wise
md constitutional means Of escape. For
he first time in the history of our country,
under the constitution rs it now is, dis
pute exists with regard 10 the result OF the
election Of the chief magistrate of the ma
ton. 1t is understood that upon this posi-
ton of the disputes touching the electoral
votes cast at the late election by one or
more of the states, depends the question
whether one or the other of the candidates
for the presidency is the lawful chief mag
istrate. The importance of having clear
" ascertained, by procedure regulated by
law which of the two citizens has been
elected, and of having the right to this
office recognized and chcerfully agreed in
by all the people Of the republic, cannot
be oyer-cstimated and leads me to express
to the Congress of the nation my great
satisfaction ut The adoption of measure
that affords orderly means of decision OF
the great and exciting question. While
the history of our country in lis earlier
period shows that the President OF the
Senate has counted the votes and declared
their standing, our whole history shows
that in no instance OF doubt or dispute has
he exercised the power of deciding, and
that the two Houses of Congress have dis
posed of all such doubts and disputes, al
though in no instance hitherto have they
been such that their decision could essen,
TALLY have effected the result. For the
first time the government OF the United
States is now brought to meet the ques-
ton as one vital to the resultant this I'M
der conditions not best calculated to pro
luce agreement or induce calm feeling in
the several branches Of the government,
or among the people of the county. In
case where, as now the result is involved.
it is the highest duty of the law-making
power to provide in advance constitution
III, orderly and Just method of executing
the constitution, in the most interesting
and critical Of its provisions. The doing
of this, so far from being u compromise OF
right, is the enforcement of the right, and
the execution Of the powers conferred by
the constitution on Congress. | think that
this orderly method has been secured by
the bill which, appealing TO the constitu-
ton and law us II guide in aScertalning the
tight, provides the means of deciding
questions of single returns through the
direct action of Congress, and in respect
to double returns, by IL tribunal OF inquiry
whose decisions stand unless both Houses
of Congress shall concur in determining
otherwise, thus securing Il definite DISPOSE
ton of all questions of dispute in whatever
aspect they may arise, with or without
this law. As all The states have voted, and
us Il tic vote is impossible, it must be that
one of the two candidates has been elect
ed, and it would be deplorabe 10 wilnCss
an irregular controversy us to which of
the TWO should receive, or which should
continue to hold tie Office. In all periods
Of history controversies have arisen as to
Me selection and choice Of chiefs of states,
and no party or citizen loving their coun-
Try and It's free institutions can sacrifice
100 much of their feeling in preserving in
IN upright course Of law, their country
from the smallest danger 10 its peace on
such i'm occasion, and it cannot be impress
ed too firmly on the heart Of all the peo-
pie, that true liberty and real prosperity
cln exist only through cheerful adherance
to the constitutional law. The bill pur-
ports to provide only for the settlement of
questions arising from the recent election.
The fact that such questions can arise
demonstrates necessity which | cannot
doubt will before long be supplied, of per-
manent general legislation to meet cases
which have not been contemplated in the
constitution or laws of the country. The
bill may not be perfect, and its provisions
may not be such us would be best applica-
bic to all future occasions; but it is calcu-
lated to meet the present condition of
questions, and of the country. The coun-
try is agiated 1t desires peace and quiet,
and harmony between all parties, and all
sections. Its industries are arrested its
labor unemployed, its capital idle, and
enterprise paralyzcd by reason Of the
doubt and anxiety attending the uncer-
tainty of the double claim to the chief
magistrucy Of the nation. 1t wants to be
assured that the result of the election will
be accepted without resistance from the
supporters of the disappointed candidate,
and that its highest officer shall not hold
his place with IL questioned title Of right.
Believing that the bill will secure these
ends, give my signature.
(Signe(D u. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, january 20, 1877