Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-01-26

on electoral votes was immediately reported hack
by Pay ne, chairman.
Alter reading OF the bill, PAYNE stated that the
bill as passed by the Serae was precisely H. mn
reported from tie commute in the first place
ne entered mouon to recommit the bill in
oiuef 10 prevent anne ndmens being off red to the
bill. " wv
McCreery, member Of the joint comm ttee. then
opened the debate
Previous to McCreery, the speaker ruled that
no amendments are in order IN the compromise
oiii' since unanimous consent given to the ar
rsnRtment for the vote, unless the previous IN =.
non shall be voted down tomorrow.
AS majority Is not likely to be obtained TO de.
leat the motion Tor the previous question, the pas
sage OF the bill Tomorrow at O'Clock, without
amendments, seems absolutely assured,
Mr.. McCreery submitted that that statesman
was false to his duty, that that man did not come
up TO the exgencies of the occasion, who would
stop short IN the occasion, who would sion short
IN the most earnest endeavor to provide some law
iui nooe Tor tue decision oil tee question by tri-
ounal whose authority nobody could question and
IN whose decision all men would acquiesce
ihere could be no greater danger than that
which grew out of fact like this, on one side of
the question. There were some twenty millions
oil people who honestly believed that Gov Haves
had been elected, aud who honestly be-
believed that in the absence of any legislation ON
the subject, 1t was the duty OF the Vice President
TO count the votes.
>. On the other side, there were some twenty mil
lHden had been elected d, and that the President of
the Senate bad no authority to count the votes
and that no vote could be counted except with the
consent of both Houses.
III Congress failed TO pass the bill and proyide
tribunal to settle this difference of opinion. the
country would drift upon q rock where the shin eff
STATE might be broken to pieces
In answer to the objection that the bill was not
sons.tuti9n al, he quoted from the bills reported
to the House Of 1900, by John Marshall, and in
1924 by Mr. Webster of Mass, which contained
almost the same provisions as the present bill. lie
Thought the bill was constitutional, and would
with bis voice and vote aid its passage
Mr.. Hunter of Va. advocated the mea,ure He
spoke OF the Presidential elections as dangerous
periods In the history of The country and as more
Ilkey IMAM other cause to wreck the ship Of State
From the least four states of the Union two .ets
OF electoral votes would be presented for count
the. Ina. was me grave question which had to
De met, not IN partnership but of statesmanship
lie himself subscribed earnestly and heartily to
the doctrine that the power to count the electoral
votes belonged to the two houses of Congress,
and not to the President Of the Senate. But the
opposite doctrine was held by one of the great
parties OF the county, as neither party was will
ling to yield its convictions on that point. The
time had arrived when Congress should arise
above partisan feeling and adopt m ode of settle
meht 'nat would tide over the difficulties. He be-
heVed that unless some such plan as this bill was
ADOPTED, no earthly power could prevent war,
confusion and disruption Of the Govt and an end
OF republican institutions in America IL was
therefore, solemn duty on the part of Congress
10 brng about peaceful solution of the difficulty
anu tlae over this doubtful period of history
Mr.. Goode of Va, said that the members Of the
Concurrent Commute which had reported this bill
were eminently entitled TO the thanks of Con-.
gtess ana OF the country, for their patient self
sacrificing and patriotic lsbors and he had no
nesitsncy in declaring that he was prepared to ac-
cept MS share of the responsibility, and to accord
10 'ne pab, proposed his earnest and cordial sup
port.
lie was conv inced and be was strengthened in
thst convection by the debate in the Senate that
1t was the earnest wish of a portion of the repnb
Acah leaders that there should be no agreement
OF plan Tor counting the electoral vote. If
'h's plan was rejected none would be agreed upon
anu "hen the two Houses came together to
count the electoral vote there would be 3 disa-
greement. In that event the House of Represen-
tauve would have to elect the President and then
there would either have to be an iguominious sur
render or fight. He asked whether the govern
ment on the other side were prepared for the lat
Ter alternative An indistinct murmur of yes).
Were they OF the people whom they represented
ready for the conflict of arms
were they prepared TO cry lIeave and let slip
ire dogs OF war" III they were not then he APP
and all the hopes of the future to pause before
they entered on the struggle the end of which no
man could foresee?
Mr.. Hoar advocated the bill. He said the dan.
eSious perlou, WHICH statesmen had fOresean
American history had arrived In estimating the
danger he was uot affected by any fear of civil
war or any mensce Of violence. Such threats if
made In the ,irlt of empty buster deserved
nothi3g but contempt. If serious they deserved
he Indignant scorn and Condemnation of the
whole American people. But the evil of civil war
not greater than the evil Of yielding one jot
of lawful authority.
Nothing could be more Injurious to the whole
republic than that man should be put in the
u .lo.,t, La 49,, l.. l. II
American people would regard as a usurper
He could not conceive that the trainers of the
Constitution ever thought Of yielding TO the Pres
ident Of the Senate the vast power of counting
the electoral votes.
That power in the two Honses of Congress
inst as the English Parliament had for centuries
regulated all questions affecting the succession
of the crown
The bill had been spoken of as a compromise.
He thought that justice and right were compro-
missed when they were submitted for their decis-
ion TO force. They were compromised when thew
could only be maintained by the exercire Of
doubtful power. They never could be comprom-
ised by being permitted to stand before a tribunal
clothed with judicial power surrounded with ju-
dical safeguards, and invested with legal author
iiy by the law-making power of the country.
MFR. Hale or Maine said he was sensible that in
opposing the bill he laid himself open to the
charge Of being an intense partisan, but he was
glad no gentlemen who had spoken in favor of
the nill hau dlscreulteu the honest objections
which remained in the minds of some people.
He was also aware that he would lay himself
open to the charge of obstructing peaceful set
Element of the presidential question.
The voice of great cities has been heard and
from day to day petitions have been presented
from them, in favor OF the bill The cities were
entitled to respect but "God made the country
and man made the town. aud he was willing TO
rest on the sentiment of the country. He had
from the first been inclined to oppose the bill and
his doubts and fears had ripened into positive
conviction against the bill.
The proposition was based on profound funda-
mental errors. This bill, he said, startled him by
the bold assumptions OF the power of congress to
regulate and control the election of pre- ident
which pswer in bis judgment had never been
lodged in the two houses by the trainers of the
Constitution.
Whatever the popular impulse might be now
this bill would not he sustained by the American
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