Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
Letter from Senator Edmunds.
The following letter was received by
distinguished citizen of ST. Johnsbnry, who
has furnished it for publication

| iHe iOILOWinS ltttr was ieoohed "y I"
distinguished citizen of St. Johnsbnry, who
has furnished it for publication
UNITED STATES SENATE CHAMBER,
! WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. =. 1877.
Dear Sir-Yours of the Both nit. IL
received. You are aware Of the bill that
has passed and become a law. No COM
promise has been made. The practical and
legal question Vas whether it was TO be
left to the House of Representatives to re-
iect the votes or whether the disputes were
to be tried by tribunal. The notion that
the President of the Senate had anv decid-
ing power was totally untenable. Never in
the history Of the country had any such
power been exercised or claimed by him.
The Republican situation was that in every
instance in which a dispute had arisen, the
| two Houses had determined it, and no vote
has ever been received that either House
| objected to, and only last March every
| Republican in the Senate, with three excep-
tions. of whom | was one, voted for bill
| placing the power of rejection OF votes,
in case of double returns, in each House.
| We could not. therefore, without the
most shameless dishonesty, 20 directly the
other way, because We had something to
gain by it. The substantial effect of the
law we have passed, therefore, is to get the
Republican cause out of a situation which
was absolute death to it and INTO tribunal
where it can have fair play. W neither 1t
can succeed now or not | cannot say. but IL
it cannot, it will be because the law and
the truth are against it. | have not time
to discuss the question Of the constitution
ality of the bill. All can now say is that
| have no doubt of it. A to the conse-
quenccs to myself. they are the smallest of
considerations The Vermonter who has not
enough honesty and courage to follow what
seems to him to be his clear duty when all
the facts are before him, because his con-
stituents may not be satisfied, is unfit in my
opinion to be Senator.
Thanking you for your kind interest, am
in haste, Very truly yours,
GEORGE F. EDMUNDs.
Mr.. EImunds is of course entitled to his
opinion thut the notion that the President
o. the Senate had any deciding power was
"totally untenable." But Chancellor Kent,
Chief Justice Story, and other Jurlsts of
much emincnce have held that it was quite
tenable. VIM. NJ EvaIts considered it tena-
bic Ex-Judge Asahel Peck, of this State.
who is considered pretty sound and careful
lawyer, and many other good lawyers who |
might be named have considered it tenable.
As we read the history Of the Electoral
counts President of the Senate Mason virtu- |
ally exercised distinct deciding power in 1857.
But it is useless 10 argue these questions, |
now.
a YOUNG lady bet young man kiss |
that Tilden would he elected-he to pay II |
Tilden won, and she to pay il Hayes was |
elected. On the morning OF the 7th he |
called and paid the debt on the 10th he |
called and took 1t back. That evening she
paid the debt Next morning she took 1t
back and he paid then she paid, and he |
paid. and 50 they have been kept busy, by |
the contradictory dispatches, over since,
and both declare their willingness, and
ability. tu hold out until Congress decides
the question They don't like the new
Compromise bill.
WHEN Farmer Bulge, read that bull
PARTED by Rosa Bonhcur, sold Tor $4,000,
he remarked to his wifc that be didn't see
how n cant ui paint could 50 greatly en-
hance the valCe of the anima!, but 1t Rosa
DIDN'T CHARGE more than $40 he would get
her To paint his bull in the spring. And
his economical wiio replied that she thought
he might paint It himself, and save his $40.
Our East, recently. man took a hog to
tnt ON shares, and the very next day the
beast was killed and II tair half promptly
delivered to the owner. |