New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-01-13
THE SENATE AND THE HOUSE.
TIE sENATB's PRESIDING OFFICER NOT EMPOWERED
TO COUNT TIE ELECrOEAL vOrE-TIL nOJsl

TIE SENATR'S PRESIDING OFFICER NOT EMPOWERED
TO COUNT TIE ELECTORAL yOrE-TIL HOUSE
NOT MERE SPECTATOR.
To the Edttor OF The Tribune
SIR: In an editorial entitled "What VIII
Happen" in TIE TRIBUNE, you discuss The probable
mode of procedure to be pursued by eGses OF Con
gross in counting the electoral vote. and after reviewing
the OF preliminary investigation as to the ieSai
of returns, etc. you proceed To andow The oento ana lis
President with the hghlympOrant function OF deciding
the A. the Senate and its President are RepuDh
cans aud MIR. Sherman especially somewhat uncuTn-
promising Radical your arrangement Is very comfort
able indeed for the party Of advanced culture ana
great moral ideas Now the House happens to he Demo
cratic certainly is not FOR that reason that yon say
the House discusses the came questions, and arrives
difercn; results, il either attend 81 he counting
oete votes or stay away. attend at the beginning
and seccde What the House does will make no legal
difference whatever in the validity OF ile formal opening
and counting required by the Constitution" The House
is apparently Of "nO account and yet it Is the body
alone which any proper sense represents the people
Indecdj the section OF Che Constitution from
which you derive tho extraordinary counting
I'm poser for the President OF the Senate
provides that certain oxGoncya failure 10 elect by
the peoplethe House shall President and tie
senatea Vice-President Now why was Ii no; provided
that the Senate elect both President and NcePrcSdent
Can il b. the fathers had more respect for the
representative body Of the national legislature than has
Republican party or 10 tN IN Enghnt ilouh
Commons is almost OminpUtrn'. - On@e bchcaied
king. compelled another to 80 into rN" ana ;to az
WAYS hclt the rcns OF power over lords ana monarch
OuI legislature was modelled that OF England, Gnd
House the prototype Or tic Comaous i.nd Olr
Senate corresponds 10 the Nol5e OF Lords me SYST N
bY which every state. matter hOW largo or hoW small"
is entitled to Just two S~iatnr has always been con
sdered defective and miscieynus IN l;s Results That
body cannot and ought not - originate any inporti
Il intended 80 he in the mature IT al nd
ysOry council for The President. It's presiding officer has
except in the of tie He Is as neatly II
4 gJl. e-hcad il possible for any officer 20 hc.
a "a AZ fnut tlDVH IL u
thing in the letter spirit Of our institutions OF
% lie laws IrJde in maintenance thereof WhirE
by any possible stretch Of construction can br male to
!Irrst the Senate with such pcwcIs a. tne
eTrcnso cf the House. After tho President Oi Sc
seila.-pTOiaDiy Mr.. sherman, whcse partisan
report OF tAc election frauds Louisiana stamps
LIN TIE of all others likely 10 rGhicr iair ana
impartial decision CJsba have cpuntcd these Iilct
III by the usu"pH" Governors oi Lou; lana,
is cnde' aad all TIE power OF the United ~ttcN GOV
Az viii I've employed, II nec' sS.rs, ~ inat;aie
that person ana nd0t2ln hin III the exercise III tAtcI-
tive fnuCiuns II lie House, III tG tYeic~1 ~ what
has always bct conceded 10 bo us iISh Sha!! tfr ud
ballot President the senate VIII pronounce i rtF0I
tunaFy, aud convenient regiment Of soldiers woud
teach lis Gutt. Tins 10 and To many Other
who tilik good deaf ana say Httc, 10 ne most
unhappy ana unsatisfactory OutcImc. How ne Senate
ucusc the tiino degenerate. mo th' chds-
accr of lUalcIish and suspicious ntcrlDrer 10 DC
licKcd first manifestation OF an interest IL the
proceedings, mystery should IN Obliged 40 yoH 10
clear ~. W IL =
hqshiagiOA u. c., Jan. 8, 1877