The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1877-02-07
Tlle RilI signed.

y TSShActlb vi Aub StSticN Tie 41tCC-
toral Compromise Bill Monday. and
returned it to Congress accompanied
with the following message
To THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES:
7 follow. the example heretofore occa-
sionaiIy presented of communicating in
this mode my approval of the act to pro-
vide for and regulate the counting of
the votes for President and Vice-Presi-
dent, and the decision of questions aris-
ing thereon for the term commencing
March 4th, A. D., 1877, because of my
appreciation of the imminent peril to
the institutions of the country, from
which, in my Judgment, and act affords
a wise and constitutional means of es-
cape.
For the first time in the history of our
country under the constitution, as it is
now, a dispute exists with regard to the
result of the election of the chief magis.
trate of the nation. It is understood
that upon the disposition of disputes
touching the electoral votes cast in the
late election by one or more of the States
depends the question whether one or
the other of the candidates for the Presi
dency is the lawful magistrate. The
importance of having clearly ascertain
ed by procedure regulated by law,
which of the two citizens has been elect
ed and of having the right to this high
office recognized and cheerfully agreed
on by all the people of the republic, can
not be oyer-estimated, and leads me to
express 10 Congress and to the nation
my great satisfaction at the adoption of
measure that affords an orderly means
Of decision OF grave and exciting
question.
10 hi r. try in
its earlier period shows that the Presi-
dent 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 tina
their decision could essentially have
effected the result. For the first time,
then, the government of the United
States is now brought to meet the ques-
ton as one vital to the result, and this
under a condition not the best calculat-
ed 10 produce an agreement or to induce
the feeling in the several branches
of the government or among the
people of the country in a case where
as now, the result is involved. 1t is the
highest duty of the law-making power to
provide constitutional, orderly and
just method of executing the constitu-
tion in this most interesting and critical
of its provisions The bill, so far from
being compromise of right, is an en-
forcement of right, and execution of
the powers conferred by the constitu-
ton on Congress.
/ think that this orderly method has
been secured by the bill, which, appeal
ing to the constitution and the law as the
guide in asoeFtaiaing rights, provides a
means of deciding questions of single
returns through the direct action of
Congress, and in respect to double re-
turns by tribunal of inquiry whose de-
cisions stand, unless both houses of
Congress shall concur in determining
otherwise, thus securing a definite dis
position of all questions of dispute in
whatever aspect they may arise. With
or without this law all of the States have
voted, and as tie vote is impossible. it
must be that one of the two candidates
has been elected and ii would be de-
plorable to witness an irregular contro-
versy as to which of the two should
receive or which should continue to hold
the office. In periods of history contrO-
versies have arisen as to succession or
choice of chiefs of States and no party
or citiEens loving their country and its
free institutions can sacrifice too much
of mere feeling in preserving through
the upright course of law the country,
from the smallest danger to its peace.
On such an occasion it cannot be i'm
pressed to firmly in the hearts of all the
people that true liberty and real progress
can exist only through cheerful adher-
cnce, to the constitutional law. The
bill purports to provide only for the set
Element of questions arising from the re-
cent elections. The fact, that such ques-
tions can arise demonstrates the necessi-
ty, which 1 cannot doubt will, before
long, be supplied of permanent general
legislation to meet the cases which have
not been contemplated in the oonstitu.
ton or laws of the country. The bill
may not be perfect, and its provisions
may not be such as would be most appli-
cable to all future occasions, but it is
calculated to meet the present condition
of the questions of the country.
The country is agttated, it needs and
it desires peace and quiet and harmony
between all parties and all sections
Its industries are arrested; labor unem-
ployed, capital idle, and enterprise par
alyzed by reason of the doubt and ankle
ty attending the uncertainty of a double
claim to the chief magistracy of the ma.
ton. 1t wants to be assured that there
suit of the election will be accepted
without resistance from the supporters
of the disappointed candidate, and that
it's highest officer shall not hold his place
with questionable title on right.
Believing that the bill will secure
these ends, give it my signature,
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 30, 1877.