The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-01-30
BY TELEGRAPH
Presidents M essage.
THE ELECTORAL BILL.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.

WAsnINaroN, Jan. 20.
To the Senate of the United States
follow the example heretofore occa-
sionally presented, of communicating In
this mode my approval Of an act to provide
for and regulate the counting Of votes for
president and vice-presdent and the de-
csion of questions arising thereon, because
of my appreciation of the imminent peril
to the institutions 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 1t now
is, dispute exists with regard to the re-
suit of the election of chief magistrate of
the nation. 1t is understood that upon
the disposition of the disputes touching the
electoral votes cast at the late election by
one or more of the states, depends ques-
tions whether one or The other of the can
ddates for the presidency is the lawful
chief magistrate. The Importance of
having 1t clearly asccrtained by the
procedure, regulated by law, which of two
citizens have been elected and of having
the right to this high office recognized and
cheerfuly agreed in by all the people of
the republic cannot be overestimsted and
leads me to express to congress AM to the
nation my great satisfaction at the adoption
of measure, that affords orderly means of
decision of gravely exciting question.
While the history of our country in its
earlier periods shows that the president of
the senate has counted votes and declared
their standing, our whole history shows
that in no instance Of doubt OF dispute has
he exercised the power of deciding, and
that the two houses of congress have dis
posed Of all such doubts and disputes, al
though in no instance hitherto have they
been such that their decision could es-
sentially 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 the best calcu-
lated to produce and agreement or calm the
feeling in the several branches of the gov
ernment or among the people of the coun-
try. In case where as now the result is
involved, it is the highest duty of the law
making power to provide in advance a con-
ttltutionsl, orderly and just method OF ex-
ecu'lns the constitution in this most inter-
esting and critical of its provisions. The
doing 80 far from being compromise of
right, is the enforcement of right, and ex-
eculion of powers conferred by the cons,i-
tuIion on congress.
l think that this orderly method has
been secured by the bill which, appealing
to the constitution and law as a guide in
ascertaining the rights, provides the means
of deciding questions of single returns,
through the direct action of congress, and
in respect to double returns by a tribunal
of inquiry, whose decisions stand unless
both houses of congress shall concur in de-
termining otherwise, thus securing q
definite disposition of all questions of dis
pute in whatever aspect they may arise.
With or without this law, as all of the
states have voted, and as tie vote is i'm
possible, it must be that one of the two
Candidates ha, been elected, and it would
be deplorable to witness an irregular con-
troversey as to which of the two should re-
ceive, or which should continue to hold,
Office. 10 all periods of our history contro-
versies have arisen as to the succession
of choice of chiefs of states. and no narty
"r oitiHon loving their country and its free
institutions can sacrifice too much of mere
feeling in preserving through the upright
course OF law of their country from the
smallest danger to its place on such occa-
sion, and it cannot be impressed too firmly
on the heart of all the people that true lib
erty and real progress can exist only
through cheerful adherence to constitu
tional law. The bill purports to provide
only for the settlement of questions arising
from the recent elections the fact that
such questions can arise demonstrates
the necessity which / cannot doubt
will, before long, bs supplied by permanent
general legislation, to meet cases which
have not been contemplated in the consti-
tuition or laws of the country. The bill
may not be perfect and its provisions may
not be such ss would be applicable to all
future occasions, but it is calculated to
meet the present condition OF questions
and of the country. The country is
agitated, it needs aid, it desires peace and
quiet and harmony between all parties and
all sections. Its industries are arrested, la
Dor unemployed, capital idle and enterprise
paralysed by reason of the doubt and anxi-
ETY. attending the uncertainty of the double
claim to the chief magstracy of the nation.
1t wants to be assured that the result of
election will be accepted without resistance
from the supporters of the disappointed
candidate, and that its highest officer snail
not hold his place with questioned title Of
right. Believing that the bill will secure
these ends, give 1t my signature.
U s. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 20. 1877.