The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-31

claimed that the vice president was not bound
TO open any fraudulent certificate from state
state in his possession. He was not required
to open them all, but was only
WHICH came rom open the electors hat az
officer of the United States he was bound to
take not1ce a. 70 VINO mao oeen seiecteo eies,-
tors by the states, and act upon his intelli-
gence just as other public officers. There were
two certificates from louisiana in The hands
of the vice president. He was not required 10
open them both. II he refused TO open and
present the second return, how was 1t 10 De
got out of his possession? If he refused 10
revolution7 Did he understand that the dem
ocratic party threatened violence or reyolu-
ton if the president of the senate refused the
bogus certificate? This bill conferred upon the
tribunal it created power to legislate unless
Its action should be overturned by the action
OF the houses Of congress. This commission
could not carry out the bill without
II was sprinkled all over with very white,
pretty meat, but the democratic cat was re-
posing beneath it. He argued the bill was
up. He did not believe in adopting new
plan which would throw away one-half the
chance OF the republicans: That he had been
| probable. He did not believe there were
any popes in this senate who were
insallible. He accorded to every
other senator conscientious motives and ne
claimed for himself some consideration. He
nation andythe greatest sconsiderations of
humanity and policy demanded IL be con-
tinued in power at this particular juncture. II
was not the duty of republican senators. IL
was not their interest, to depart from the prac-
| tice followed for IS years.
Mr.. Blaine said he had, he trusted, as great
appreciation any senator this floor of
the gravity of the situation. He had sup-
| ported the senator from Vermont (Edmundsl
| in his constitutional amendment to leave this
whole question of counting the electoral votes
to the supreme court; he had favored placing
in the supreme court by a Just and
competent amendment TO the constitution
placing ngd N that grest body Which by its dig
| it But that proposition did not commend it,
self to the favor of the senate, and was de-
| sonally concerned, he was not welded TO any
particular theory as to counting the votes. He
sitnion ana unlike aSeere many sO the geS S9n
| men with whom he was now
newly associated here. he was free from
| He was opposed TO giving power TO count
| votes to fourteen gentlemen, four of whom
were to complete the number by selecting the
| fifteenth and thus by lot chance filling that
| coy and bashful blank, Benton would
have termed it, on which the attention
was proposed to give these ifteen gem
tlemen, or possibly the fifteenth gentleman,
alone sbs1, more power over the electoral vote
| lieve this could be done by simple enactment;
nothing less than a constitutional amend
/ ment could confer on the IL men such
the states. He did not believe it was war
| sworn to support and though he did not pre-
tend to be what was termed constitutional
must Vote on his own " conscientious belief Of
| what the constitution is and what il
| allows He had desired earnestly to support
| arguments adduced in its favor had persuaded
him of its unconstitutionality and he felt him.
| self compelled, however reluctantly he differ
| ed from certain senators. to record his vote
| against the measure. He begged the judiciary
committee, now that the public mind was 30
afr
| amendment TO the constitution which would IL
| possible avert in the future ali danger of
| newal of these troubles, which were now caus-
ing so much anxiety in the public mind
| Mr.. Howe denied that this bill was framed
| in the interest Of the democratic party: He
| had not been conspicuous in the service of
| that party, and he did not propose to embark
| in its service now, but after all he had heard,
| he not able to that this bill of itself
| promoted the interest of the democratic
| party. Nothing could be done under the
bill to promote the election of the democratic
candidate for president unless under the exc
cution of the law the opinion OF the i've picked
men of the senate, the five picked men of the
preme court could be secured to that end.
The senator from Indiana N orton) had argued
publicans had a sure thing. and 1t was best not
if the result of the late pres
doubt, it was certainly left in dispute, and
| somebody must decide that dispute. He
| thought this iii reported by the select COM
| mites, and now before the senate, was the
| proudest Instrument in our country; the
proudest tribute to American craftsmanship
| which had been prepared since the conven-
| ton which framed the constitution adj
journed: He would have been glad if
| this bill had received the unanimous
approval of the committee. Then he would
havefelt like one greater than himself felt
would have felt that he had seen the salvation
| of his people and of his country.
Mr.. Eaton said he was almost alone on the
democratic side of the chamber in opposition
to this bill. He deeply regretted that the leg
islature Of his state Saturday last re-
they were wise enough to get together
| yesterday and reconsider that vote. II was
| not pleasant TO be in the minority, but he had
4 learned to stand on his own convictions. He
had faith in the committee which framed this
bill, and regretted he could not vote for il. He
| vote vested In the president of the senate,
| but ii was lodged in the two houses OF con-
the the senate should sink in the earth.
The power to count the electoral
being M a IN the sSo s 1 81 as
heard that under the bill both parties would
get cheated. He did not believe it would be a
Mr.. Thurman said he did not believe this
country could stand quadrennial elections
peonle I Would become aroused 10 the facts and
| regulate the matter by constitutional amend
| ment.
| stititionality of the bill. II 1t was to be a
measure permanent in its character, he would
vote against II. he ceneNeu bnaI the opening
| of certificates in the presence OF the two
houses of congress was TO enable each house
to verify the count made by the presiding Of
| ficer.
Mr.. Burnside expressed the hope that the
bill would pass.
Mr. Edmunds said the time had gone by now
for debate The measure had been denounced
as sham, mere trick, although IL appealed
| to five senators, five members OF the house
| and five justices of the supreme court He
| begged his honorable friend from Ohio tSher-
MANI to look at the history of their own
party, look at their own attitude, and tell
him some day-not now whether he
| thought the republican party could stand
qualifications and dishonor, in order that 1t