The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-01-26

/ ton by the debate in the Senate, that it
was the earnest wish of the Republican
! leaders that there should be no agree
ment on any plan for counting the cleo
/ toral votes.
, Mr.. Hoar advocated the bill. He
said the dangerous period which states
| men had foreseen in America had ar
rived. In estimating the danger he was
not affected by any lear Of civil war or
any menace of violence. Such, il made
in spirit of bluster, deserved nothing
but contempt; if serious, they deserved
American people.
Mr.. Hale said that he was sensible that
in opposing the bill, he laid himself open
to the charge Of being an intense parti-
san, but he was glad that no gentleman
who had spoken in favor of the bill. had
discredited the honest objections which
remained in tho minds OF some of the
people He was also aware that he
would lay himself open TO the charge Of
obstruc.ing peaceful settlement Of the
Presidential question. The voice of great
cities had been heard, and from day to
day petitions had been presented from
them in favor of the bill,
The cities were entitled to re-.
spect, but God made the country
and man made the town, and
he was willing to rest on the sentiment
Uf the country. He had from the first
been inclined to oppose the bill, and his
doubts and fears had ripened into posi-
tive conviction against the bill. The
proposition was based on profound
fundamental errors. This bill, he said,
startled him by the bold assumption Of
the power of Congress to regulate and
control the election OF the President,
which power, in his judgment, had never
been left in the two houses by the fran.
ers of the Constitution. Whatever
the popular impulse might be now,
this bill would not be sustained by the
people when they sheuld have time to
measure and contemplate its conse-
quences. 1t struck blow at the Elec.
toral College, which stood in the Con-
stitution as the President itself, and shat.
tered it from turret TO foundation stone,
and substituted for il the power Of Con-
gress which might at any time thwsrt
the will of the people and render nuga-
tory its deliberate and expressed jpdg.
| ment
At The end of Mr.. Hale's speech Mr..
Hoar presented a dispatch which he had
just received from Boston, saying a reso.
luton had been passed by the Massachu.
sets House of Representatives, endorsing
and approving the electoral bill.
Mr.. Hewitt thought the bill transcend
ed in Importance any measure which
was likely TO come before Congress during
the present generation. After the cleo
tion he had believed Tilden to be
elected, and nothing had occurred
since that time which could
otherwise than strengthen tnat
conviction. He had been asked why,
holding this opinion, he should agree to
depart from the ancient way in which
twenty-five Presidents had been declared
elected, which, If it had been adhered TO
would have resulted in the inauguration
of the Democratic candidates. This
question be intended 10 answer fully,
clearly al d without reserve. The main
opposition which the Democratic party
had to meet was the influence Of the nd
ministralion. After the defeat OF the Re-
publican party IN November 1t still re-
lnsined intact and claimed the election OF
| Its candi late and attempted TO strengthen
that claim by the Returning Boards
and military interference and by declar-
| ing tlat the Vice-Preside had the
| rig ht 10 count thr votes. The scheme was
thus complete for counting rilden out
and Hayes in. He was confident that
the project would be enacted 10 the hit.
ter end. The President OF the Senate
would count the votes and declare ihe
result, and the President of the tn ii
States would deliver up his high rilice
to the person so declared elected, ana by
the use OF troops he would be
duly inaugursted. Of course. the
House would not be silent and
passive spectators Of tina. programme,
| and would insist on It's constitutional
right 10 participate IN tue count and
would count the votes OF Florida and
Louisiana Tor Tilden. The result OF
such state Of things was civil war. The
rights and principles Tor which the DEM
ocratic party of the country struggled
would have to perish if the attempt TO
coun: in Republican candidate for
President were acqulesced il, or if'not,
being acqniesced IN, war should result.
There WAS no escape from that position
except by Al agreement bet Teen the
patriotic men OF both sides, who prefer
red the good OF country TO the
party. Partisan rs he was sup
posed to be, but patriotic as be
h ped henceiorth 70 be regarded,
ne hsd deemed IL his bounden duty to
labor zeslOusly towards the attain ment
of Just plan Of settlement, whereby bot
one President should be declared By that
title, which al citizens would respect and
which no considerable number Of voters
would dispute.
Mr.. Willis read telegram from
New York committee, signed BY VIM.
Z. Dodge, chairman. and Theodore
Roosevelt, secretary, urging the imme-
diate passage OF the bill as IL came from
the Senate.
Mr.. Monroe, of Ohio, expressed deep
regre. that be could not vote Tor the bill.
He hAd given j; careful attention, but
there were some objections TO il which
70 his mind would prove Insurmount
| able.
Recess tail 1880 PM
The House met at 1870, with Mr..
Hooker, OF Miss, in the chair ss speaker
protein. The Intense public interest IN
tne debate. As manifested by the crowded
condition OF the galleries throughout The
day, showed no symptoms Of abatement,
the crowis in the galleries being even
denser thar 10 the morning session As
usual, however. in . night session for
debate only. the attendance Of members
was very email, not more than dozen
being 10 their seats when the House was
called % order. The frs: speech vaS
made by Mr.. Caldwell, Of Tenn Who
advocated the bill:
Mr.. Springer sdvocsted the bill. de-
clAring tbsi the inevitable result Of the
! 81. ., ,s.. II wuuld be tina. TlldEn