The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-01-25
THE Jo.nt Committees BIN.

report submitted with the bill the
committee say they. have applied the
utmost practicable study and delibera-
tion TO the subject and believe the
bill reported is the best attaiuable dis
position u the difficult problems and
the disputed errors arising out Of the
bate election. They speak Of the diff
Guilty OF reaching conclusion, and
that they dealt with abstract ques-
tiOns. Have, so far as they are neces-
sariiy involved in the legislation, pro-
posed the report which implies that
legislation may be had on the subject
in accordance with the constitution
but the committee think the law pro-
posed il consistent with the few prin-
cipal theories. The bill is only direct
ed 20 ascertainipg for the pur-
pose, aud IN aid Of the counting, what
are the constitutional votes OF the
States and whatever jurisdiction exists
forsprSiT purpose. The bill only regu-
80 the method 81 exercising it, and
for this the constitution gave warrant,
and therefore the law proposed is not
inconsistent with that instrument. The
committee regard that II is Of far more
importance that the will Of the people
should be lawfully carried out than
the question Of who should be Presi-
dent for a prescribed term. They
therefore endeavorcd TO frame q fair
and impartial measure. Tire legIsla-
ture and Judiciary are represented in
the tribunal in equal proportions. The
composition Of tho judicial part Of the
commission looks 10 selection from
she different parts of the republic.
The committee think it impossible to
establish a tribunal that o;S<,s- be less
the subject OF party m than
such one. The committcNclJ bound
By the highest duty to let no bias OF
party feeling stand IN the way Of
Just, equal and peaceful measure for OK
tricating the question from the embsr-
easements that at present surround it.
The committee conclude as follows:
In conclusion, we respectfully beg
leave to impress you, the Congress,
with the necessity OF a speedy dctermi-
nation upon this subject. 1t is impos-
eiDie TO estimate the material loss the
country daily sustans from the exist
ing uncertainty, and powerfully tends
TO upset.le and psralyZe business, to
weaken public and private credit and to
create apprehension in the minds of the
= people, and thus disturb the peaceful
tenor OF their ways and mar their hap
piness. II does far more; it tends to
bring republican institutions into dis
credit and to create doubts rs to the
success OF our form Of government and
TO imperil the life of the republic. All
deliberations of patriotism and Justice
yunite In demanding of the awmaklng
power measure that will bring peace
aud prosperity to the country and
show that our republican institutions
arc equal to any emergency; and In
this connection We cannot refrain from
the expression OF our satisfaction that
your committee, composed of equal
numbers of both parties, have, fortu-
nately, been able to do what has
been attempted in vain heretofore,
and they have almost unanimously
- agreed upon q plan considered by
them to be just, wise aud efficient.
We accordingly commend the act to
the patriotic and just judgment OF
Congress.
Signed by Geo. F. Edmonds, f. T.
Frelinghuysen, Roscoe Conkling, A.
G.. Thurman, Il. +. Bayard, NJ. w.
Ransom, Of Senate committee.
II. b. Payne, .Eppa Hunton. VIM. NJ.
Springer, Geo. w. McCrary. Geo. f.
Seorge Willard, OF House com
huop -
bill TO provide for and regulate the
counting OF votes for President and
Vice President, and the decision of
the questions arising thereon for the
terms commencing March 4, 4. ID.
1871.
SECTION I. BE IL eadctod by the Sen
ate and House Of Representatives Of the
United States m Congress assembled,
That the Senate and House of Renre-
sentatives shall meet in the hall of the
fDnse Of Representatives at the hour
BIZ 1 o'clock L. NJ. of the first Thurs
bay OF February, a. d. 1877, and the
President of the Senate shall be the
presiding officer. Two tellers shall be
previously appointed on the part of
tho Senate and two on the part of the
House of Representatives, to whom
shall be handed, as they are opened
by the President OF the Senate, all the
certificates of the electoral votes, which
certificates and papers shall be opened,
presented and acted upon in the alpha
betical order of the States, beginning
with the letter "A;n and said tellers,
having then read the same in the pres
ence aud hearing of the two houses,
shall make list of the votes as they
shall appear from the said certificates
and the votes having been ascertained
ind counted, as in this act provided,
the result of the same shall be deliv-
cred To the President OF the Senate,
who shall thereupon announce the
name of the State and its vote and the
names of the persons, il any, elected,
which announcement shall be deemed
sufficient declaration Of the persons
elected President and Vice President
OF tho United States. aud, together
with q list of the votes, be entered in
the journals of the two houses. Upon
such reading of any such Certificate or
paper, when there shall TOO only one
return from State, the President Of
the Senate shall call for objections.
IL any objection shall be made it shall
be in writing and shall STAGE clearly
and conclsely, and without argument,
the ground thereof, and shall be signed
by at least one Senator and one mem
Der OF the House of Representatives,
before the same shall he received.
Whom all objections 50 msdo, II any,
70 theTvpte or papers from State shall
have been received and read, the Sen
ate shall thereupna withdraw, and
such objections shall be submitted to
tue Senate for its decision, and the
Speaker of the House of Represents
tivea shall, in hike manner, submit
such objections TO the House Of Repre-
sentativcs for its decision, and no cleo.
tnrai vote or votes from any State from
which one return las been reoeived
shall be elected except by the stiirm-
ative vote of The two houses. When
the two houses shall have voted they
shall immediately again meet, and the
presiding officer shall then announce
the decision OF the question.
Sec. =. That if more than one re-
turn or paper purporting To be re-
turn from n STATE shall have been re-
ceIved by tho President Of the Senate,
purperting to be The certificates OF
electoral votes given vt the last pre-.
ceding election Ter President and Nic~
President IN such state, unless they
shall be duplicates Of the same return,
ala such rrturns aud papers shall be
cpcred by him in the presence Of the
fro houses when met as aforesaid. and