St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-02
Presidents Message.

Presidents Message.
ACCOMPANYING HIS APPROVAL OF THE
ELECTORAL COUNT BILL.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Jan. 29.-The
following is the text of the Presidents
message, submitted to Congress, ac-
companying his approval of the elect
oral count bill.
TO the Senate Of the United States:
follow the example heretofore occa
sionally 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
President, and the decision of questions
arising thereon, because of my appre-
citation of the imminent peril to the in
situations of the country from which.
in my Judgment, the act affords wise
and constitutional means of escape.
For the first time in the history of our
country, Under the constitution as it
now is, dispute exists with regard to
the result of the election of the chief
magistrate of the nation. 1t is under
stood that upon this position 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 proceed
ure regulated by law, which of the
two citizens has been elected, and of
having the right to this Office recog-
nized and cheerfully agreed in by all
the people of the republic, cannot Je
Over-estimated and leads me to express
to the Congress of the nation my great
satisfaction at the adoption OF il meas
ure that affords orderly means of decis-
ion of the great and exciting question.
While the history of our country in its
earlier period shows that the President
of the Senate has counted the votes
and declared their standing, our whole
history shows that in no 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, although
in no instance hitherto have they been
such that their decision could essential
ly have effected 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 best cal
culated to produce agreement or i'll
duce calm feeling in the several branch
es of the government, or among the
people of the country. In case
where, us now, the result is involved,
it is the. highest duty of the law-mak-
ing power to provide in advance CON
orderly and just method of
executing the constitution, in this most
interesting and critical of its provisions.
The doing of this, so far from being
Of right, is the enforce
ment of the right, and the execution of
the powers conferred by the constitu-
ton on Congress. | think that this
orderly method has been secured by
the bill which, appealing to the con
and law us guide in ascer-
tanning the right, provides the means
Df deciding questions of single returns
through the direct action of Congress,
and i'll respect to double returns, by
tribunal of inquiry whose decisions
stand unless both Houses of Congress
shall concur i'll determining otherwise,
nus securing definite disposition of
I'll questions of dispute in whatever
aspect they may arise, with or without
his law. AS all the states have voted.
md as Il tie vote is impossible, it must
De that one of the two candidates has
been elected, and it would he deploTa-
Die to witness an irregular controversy
is to which of the two should receive.
II which should continue to hold the
'ffice. In all periods of history con
rOversies have arisen as to the Sc
ectiOn and choice of chiefs of states.
md no party or citizen loving their
ountry and its free institutions can
acritice too much of their feeling in
preserving through an upright course
II law, their country from the smallest
LANCER to its peace on such an occasion,
nd it cannot be impressed too firmly
N the heart of all the people, that true
liberty and real prosperity can exist
My through cheerful adherance to the
institutional law. The bill purportS
o provide only for the settlement of
uestIOns arising from the recent cleo
ION. The fact that such questions can
rise demonstrates necessity which /
annot doubt will before long he sup
lied, OF permanent general legislation
meet cases which have not been con
emplated III the constitution or laws
f the country. The bill may not be
erfect, and its provisions may not be
UGH us would be best applicable to all
lture occasions ; but it is calculated to
leet the present condition OF ques-
ons, and OF the country. The coun-
y is agitated. 1t desires peace and
ulet, and harmony between all parties
nd all sections. Its industries are
rrested, its labor unemployed, its cap
al idle. and enterprise paralyzed by
eason of the doubt and anxiety at
ending the uncertainty of the double
aim to the chief magistracy of the
alton. 1t wants to be assured that
he result of the election will be ac-
opted without resistance from the
Importers of the disappointed candi-
ate, and that its highest officer shall
Ot hold his place with questioned I'll
e of right. Believing that the bill
ill secure these ends, | give it my
gnature. (Signed)
u. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 90, 1877.