The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1877-02-09
GRANT APPROVES
The Electoral Vote Bill. aud if is New
LaW-He also Gives His Reasons
for Executive IndOraemOnt
af LRug1Et.

/
ident's message concerning the electoral
bill:
To the Senate of the United States
/ followed the example heretofore Oc-
casiOnally presented, of communicating
in this mode my approval of the act to
provide for and regulate the counting
of the votes for president and vice pres
| ident, and the decision of questions aris-
! ing thereon, because of my appreciation
os the eminent peril to the institutions OF
| the country, from which, in my judg-
ment, the act affords wise and cOnstitu-
tional means of escape. For the first
time in the history of our country, under
the constitution as it is now, dispute eX-
lists with regard to the result of the cleo
tiOn of a chief magistrate of the nation.
1t is understood that upon the disposition
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 candi
dates for the. presidency is the lawful
chief magistrate. The importance of
having clearly ascertained by procedure
regulated by law which of the two citi-
zens has been elected, and of who, having
the right to this high Office, recognized
and cheerfully agreed in by all the peO
pie of the republic, cannot be Overesti-
mated, and leads me to express to con-
gress and to the nation my great satisfac-
ton at the adoption of a measure that
afford orderly means OfdecisiOn of gravely
exciting questions. While the history
of our country in its early period shows
that the president of the senate has
counted the votes and declared their
standing, our whole history shows that
in ne instance of doubt or dispute has he
exercised the power of deciding, and that
the two houses of congress have disposed
of all such doubts and disputes al
though in no instance hitherto have they
been such that their decision could es-
sentially have affected the result. For
the first time, then, the government of
the United States is now brought to
meet the question as one vital TO the
result, and this under conditions not
the best calculated to produce agree
ment Cr 10 induce q calm feeling
in the several branches of the govern
ment or among the people of tie couH'
try. In a case where, as now, the result
is involved, it is the highest duty of the
w-making power to provide III advance
a constitutional, orderly and Just method
of executing the constitution i'll this
most interesting and critical clause of
its provisions. The bill, so far from be-
ing compromise of the right is an en-
forcement of the right and an execution
of the powers conferred 10y the cOnstitu-
ticn on congress. ! think that this or
derly method has been secured by the !
bill, which appealing to the constitution
and law as n guide in ascertaining the
rights, provides means OF deciding ques-
tions of single returns through direct
action of congress. and in congress, and
in respect to double returns by tribunal
of inquiry, whose decisions stand unless
both houses OF congress shall concur in
determining otherwise, thus securing a
definite disposition of all questions OF
dispute in whatever aspect they may
arise With or without this law, as all
the states have voted it is impOs sible, |
it must be that one of the two candidates |
has been elected, and it would be de- !
plorabIe TO witness an irregular cOntro- |
versy as to which of the two should re- /
ceive, or which continue to hold the /
office. In all records of history contrO- |
versies have arisen as to succession or |
choice of chiefs of states, and no party or
citizen loving their country and its
free institutions can sacrifice too
much of mere feeling in preserving,
upright course Of law, their
from The smallest danger to its
peace on such an occasion; and it cannot
be impressed too firmly in the hearts of all
people that true liberty and real progress
can exist only through a cheerful abhOr-
ence to constitutional law The bill pur-
ports to provide only for the settlement
Of questions arising from recent elec-
tions. The fact that such questions can
arise demonstrates the necessity
[ cannot doubt WILL before lOng-be sup
piled, of permanent general legislation
to meet cases which have not been con-
templated in the constitution or laws of
the country. The bill may not be per-
feet, and its provisions may not be such
as would be best applicable to all future
occasions, but it is calculated to meet
the present conditions of the questions
Of the country. The country is agitated;
it needs and it desires peace and quiet
and harmony between all parties and all
sections. It's industries are arrested,
abor unemployed, capital idle and enter
prise paralyzed by reason of doubt and
anxiety attending the uncertainty of a
louble claim to the chief masistracy of
The nation. 1t wants to be assured that
5he result of the election will be accepted
without persistence from the supporters
IF the disappointed candidate, and that
is highest officer shall not hold his place
With questioned title Of right. Be-
ievizg that the bill will secure these
snds, I give it my signature.
L. 5. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, January -, 1877