, 1877-01-21

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 20.-During the
morning hour the message Of the President In
regurd to the occupation Of Petersburg by the
military On election day Was discussed. Messrs-
Nithers and Morton participated.
At the expiration Of the morning hour, on
motion OF Mr.. Edmunds, the bill reported By
the special Committee in regard to the count Of
tho Electoral vote was taken up.
Mr. Edmunds said that as fitting commence
ment to the consideration Of this bill he would
have read the Twelfth Article Of the Constitu-
tion Of the United States, which the bill pro-
posed to execute: "a ..~.-~-. ~.
That article having been read, Mr.. Edmunds
said under this article of the Constitution some
eight or ten millions OF citizens Of the United
States authorized BY the laws to select Chief
Magistrate in the Way prescribed IN this article,
had cudcarored to discharge that duty. They
WIS SO close it became matter Of serious dis,
pute between 5.00U, 600 people Oh one side and
100000 people on the other as to
which OF their candidates had been elected.
Congress was not brought 1ace to ia;e 1:e
for deciding this dispute. A large part Of
tile people On either side believed their candi-
date to have been honestly elected, and, II kept
out Of office great constitutional wrong would
be perpctrated. Ii there was any duty greater
tn. thaa ~ aausnr .'raI1, sn'5- mans NJ Which, no
matter whit thc ,csuit might be, ali men might
sec the due course Of law had been taken. It
had appeared to the Committee charged with
th;e tH XII tt,+ II tlc fsnustt,1t;on authorzci
thcm tbly to lay down law Of procedure which
.t.>,,15 ~ ,ns;, -. .nr re.nlt through the calm.
orderly administration OF law, it would
~, ~ +h, cnntrarv r. Cnnoress shonld fail to do
~. ene 1.,r %nsfcr,fv nnder this or some other
t, ts, ~ ~ n,,"rnm.,;t m one .11nld say. would
foci - ths IT. Tonrrcss had failed in performing
t'..t t.S. tn,n -
s1sae s,,,,ds w. than rcfer,ed tn thc 1abors of
~, Git.ua and soS1 fhst onnosinr nolitical
suG nnnnsi,r no1if;ral e,1nration. and mar
up'4n, {,ip hui s!,hsied on hoth sides. and the
mrnsnre 1a. mon WHICH they solcmnly united in
rnnnrt;np thcr recommend to the consideration
rGpGhas!Sg nfpthn ss,afc e4c' ''e'' ~ '''~ ''>'0''
o4 Luz seua.e. 4,o r-,r,c;on ~ .h. hill,
r, renard ~ H. trst section. he said that bis
o1n ~ ;nd;ridua1 on;nion vas that where one re-
own lnd,'uuai @ hp op.ron rota;,a iron, statc and
turn oaix naa ptc 81 - snanid h.. r.frre5 to the
trfhnno1 hn or"unfzed br the bill Instead
e!i'aa.a, naa,,;r;nt5 ~ affirmative yote of two
n Mo,,ts - 7eicrt # The tribunal orgaufzed
-, ti,e mi ,eonid he called unon to determine
frn,n q statc was in conforInity with thc Con-
.tt,,,;.n vhch thc voice ri the ueople cx-
s.a.eaJ J., ti,n m,nncr nresrrihed by the Con-
Pt;tMt;o, - TIE To,nm;ttre thought it best this
1,ihunoi shnud cnnsist Of fifteen members
Snuotnrs .u I've REPRESENTATIVES, and i've Judges
ostaaots, s1rn,. n.T ,Tt W tn have It large
u tne a11o nvorr ,,osrb1r oninion and yisw
rarrasonfcd and At fhc sa,ue time leave it SO
1;,pitcd IN nnnhcrs it could be capable Of
prompt action. It was delicate question to
~ t.;h,'noi :, fhr Committee thought to take
tn',. ~ F.n," ror;ons narts of the Republic
,.7, ~. ~. oAi met Th.n thrrr WA the odd NUN