The Morning herald., 1877-01-27

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OIL because II was unconstitutional and be-
cause 1t provided for an unholy alliance be-
tween the Legislative and Judicial Depart.
ments OF the country, and that alliance,
"heneverit took place. was the absolute
pros1ration of all civil liberty. Those de-
partments must retain their Independence
OF each other or civil liberty would perish.
Mr.. LAAAR's sPsBcH.
Mr.. Lamar, Of Miss, said he understood
tne opponents of the bill opposed 1t on the
srousd that It involved the delegation Of
the power which the Constitution left in the
two houses. The fallacy was in the ass
sumption that the power claimed either on
the one hand for b.th houses, or on the
other for the vice-P President, to count the
vote, was legislative act by 4 legislative
body. 1t was no such thing. A legislative
body could not do an act without having
the President approve that action. 1t was
not legislative body In the contemplation
of the Constitution. It was an organized
body clothed with single function.
It could not do single legislative act. It
had but one function, and that was to count
he votes, as the Democrats contended; or
to witness the count, a. the Republicans
held. Therefore the bill was not delega-
tion of legislative authority. It was claimed
that the Vice President mad the power to
count the votes. He admitted that for the
sake of argument. They had to be counted
in the presence of the House and Senate.
They were there to witness the vote. Did
they not have right to refuse to attest
what either thought was not count and If
they did refuse, did that render the trsnsac
tion nullityi In his opinion, the bill was
in harmony with the genius of the CoDstitu-
tion. tit did not pass, 'he next President
would have to be inaugurated by method
which was exclusively advocated by one
party alone, and with view to single OBJ
ject-a method advocated by oneshalf Of
the country against the other half, and the
result would be looked upon a. the result
of fraud and force. ..t I'D.
TIE ELECTORAL voTE-THE HOUR FOE
THE VOTE PosTPoNED TO 5 O'CLOCK.
WARRINGTON, Jan. 26.-The time for the
d bate on the Electoral bill has been exten-
ded aud the vote will not be reached until
5 o'clock. Is passage is certain and the
President says he will sign It.
TIE DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
WARRINGTON, Jan. % The galleries Of
the House were thronged at an early hour
this morning. When the House met at 10
O'Clock, and the debate was resumed Ly Mr..
Hooken, not more than half dozen mem
bers were In their seats. He is one of the
most extreme Southern men in the House,
but he spoke in favor of the bill. He was
followed by Hartridge, FELTON, and Mills, OF
Texas. By unanimous consent, Mills was
allowed one hour in which to make his
speech, and the time of debate was extended
to O'Clock, when vote will be taken.
THE SPEECHES OF MEssRs. MILLS AND
LAMAR.
At half-past II O'Clock, Mr.. Mills closed
bis speech, which was violent attack on
The bill. He argued that it was unconsti-
being half legislative and half ju- |
iicial, and abrogating tho powers Of the
House. Mr.. Lamar then took the floor and |
replied to Mr.. Mills In speech contro- |
verting his position, and which was lis
ened to with close attention. It was an |
eloquent and able appeal in behalf of the
rw ~
low THE REPRESENTATIVES, WILL voTE-l
RANDALL IN ITS FAVOR.
The discussion on the electoral bill has
,ot attracted much of crowd this molning
o listen to the machine speeches. Among
be Pennsylvania members Freeman, o. Neil,
Wood, Smith and Packer now declare an
atenlion to vote against the bill, and
Kelley, Robbins, Townsend, Clymer, Mutch-
sr, Collins, staunton, j. B. Reilly, Powell,
:. Reilly, stenger, Matsh, Mackey, Turney.
hopkins, Cockrane, Wallace, Jenks, and
heakley will vote for it. Egbert and Ross
re absent. Speaker Randall will doubtless
ecord his votein the affirmative, though he
oes not fully endorse the bill.
JUSTICE DAVIS POSITION,
An Illinois Representative said to-day
nat he had been more or less associated
with Justice Davis for years, and
lat he did not think that he would have I
ny obstructive scruples about acting on t
,e tribunal of arbitration, If so invited.
.e had never been seeker after Office for
lmself or others, and his conduct in late
ears in respect to the Presidency, while d