National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-01-19
wen at the place and in the manner provided by

given at the place and in the manner provided by
he then proceeded to argue that under the
resentatiyes had certain important duties to per.
form. The House Ii equal with the Senate, and
Electors before II can declare them This bower
Of counting the electoral vote devolves upon both
Houses Of Congress. The public mind Is excited
ments made that the power Of opening and count
ing the votes is vested In the President of the
senate: From this statement ne House commit
ever intended that the President of the Senate
should perform that duty they would have said
though fool, might read. But that was never
Tho action of the Republican party itself
twelve years ago denied this assumption. They
then had full control of the Government, and yet
they adopted the twenty-second joint rule, which
power which is now claimed for him. That officer
is the custodian Of the votes, and must open the
certificates but when he attempts to count them
he exceeds his prerogatves. In no case could a
vote be counted without tine consent of the Rep
resentatives Of the people. And they must be
patriotic to reject legal votes, and it would be
equally so to attempt to count illegal votes The
fathers desired and supposed they we're
boxes could be manipulated at later day. they
did not understand how the army was to be used.
picitiy for stripping the frontier of soldiers and
would have provided that thirteen batteries of
artillery should be placed Wllnln cannon SnOt Oh
the Senate and House of Representatives.
Referring to the claim Of the minority, that in
the absence ofether legislation the President ofthe
Senate should open and count the vote. he denied
that Congress could by legislative requirement
oyerturn o constitutional requirement. II they
could do y the Of they eoqd DO 1 IN
solemn duty to perform in the count of this vote,
and in his deliberate judgment the attempt of any
count Of any particular vote. or to interfere with
its functions In any way, would be subversiou of
the Government and If accompanied by an armed
force, IL would be treason to the United States.
tApplause.l
80 Mr.. BURCHARD'S REMARKS.
Mr.. BURCHARD, Of Ill, representing the
minority of the committee, submitted two reso-
buttons. The first declares 1t to be the power and
the Senate, to provide BY law the mode Of ascer.
tanning the votes for President and Vice Presi-
dent, and the second that in the absence Of
dent of the Senate to open and declare the votes
cast for President and Vice President.
REPORT OF THE JOINT COMMITTEE.
Mr.. BuRcHARp yielded to Mr.: PAYNE, the
chairman Of the House part Of the joint commit
providing method for counting the electoral
vote. together with the bill on the subject.
After the report and bill had been read
Mr.. PAYNE said it would be observed that
the time for the count had been fixed for two
weeks from to-day and he would therefore call
up the bill for action at an early day;
The bill was then ordered printed and recon-
mitted.
The SPEAKER appointed Messrs. CLARK. of
No.: AIEswoRTH, OF Iowa. and MILLER, of n.
T.. the House conferees on the dlsagreeing votes
on the post route bill.
Mr.. BURCHARD then resumed the floor, and
argued that under the Constitution and all pre-
cedents the President of the Senate opened and
counted the votes. II the theory Of the report Of
the majority was adopted, it would involve the
right Of the House to pass upon the action of all
State officers.
Pending further consideration Of the subject,
the House, at 3:45, adjourned.