Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1877-01-31
HOUSE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. %.
Payne moved to go to the speaker
table in order to refer the comprom.
ise electoral bill. He said the com.
mittee would report back the bill
Immediately, let debate run all day
with a night session. The house
would then adjourn till ii o'clock to-
morrow and at 2 he would call the
previous question.
Frye suggested that during the last
four hours of debate, speeches should
be limited to ten minutes, that MEM
bers might explain their votes.
Payne assented, and suggested that
to-mOrrow's session begin at ten
o'clock. Members should have the
right to enlarge their speeches for the
Record.
Agreed to unanimously.
The bill was then referred back to
the committee, and Payne immedi-
ately reported it back. The Clerk
read the bill, when Payne said the
Senate had passed the original
bill, and he moved to recommit the
bill in order to prevent amendments.
McCrary, of the committee, then
opened the debate. He said he had
after an anxious, earnest and thor
ough examination with other MEM
bers of the committee, concluded
that the bill ought to be passed. He
commented on the features of the
present controversy, the suspense OF
the country, the period which our
forefathers had expected would be
most dangerous to the government,
the equality of popular opinion, emf
nent jurists and opinions on either
side, and declared that the statesman
was untrue to duty who failed i'm
earnest endeavor to provide lawful
mode of decision before an unques-
toned tribunal. Some twenty mil
lions of people believed Hayes elect
ed, and that without legislation the
President of the Senate must count
the votes. Twenty other millions be-
lievcd Tilden elected and the Presi-
dent of the Senate had no authority.
The passage Of a bill settling this
question was imperative. If the bill
failed, one or the other OF the parties
must peacefully submit; he hoped il
would, but he begged the gentlemen
to consider the possibility OF dual
Presidency. He quoted authorities
on both sides as to the jurisdiction ol
the President of the Senate. He said
many of his political friends consid,
cred the arguments conclusive tina,
the President of the Senate mus
count the votes, but he believed thu
authorities quite as numerous OH til,
other side and as potential, and i
would be unfair for the House to re
fuse to adopt this proposition ant
| then take the chances. lie sOlemnl,
believed neither doctrine that the OBJ
jectiOns OF one House would throw
out vote, nor that the Vice-Presi
dents power could stand before tn
people. He quoted from Marshal
will in 1900 and Webster's in 1872
which contained about the same pro
visions as this.
Mr.. Hunton represented the unprt
cedented danger which now threaten
the country from at least four State
Two sets of returns would be r,
ceived. He held to the doctriu
that either House might reject vot
l UNs WOuASA yACAu AOI TIC pIOpOSc
compromise. The commission woal
simply act as tellers, doing what tn
Houses themselves would do. TIL
Houses by concurrent action Nigh
authorize any mode of settling tn
matter. He believed that.unless sucl
plan as this bill was adopted n
earthly power could prevent war
confusion,a disruption of the govern
, ment and end Of republican institu
tions in America. 1t was, therefore
, high and solemn duty on the part o
Congress to bring about peaceful
solution of the difficulty and It'd
over this cventful period of history
j Mr.. Goode said that the member
of the concurrent committee whicl
had reported this bill were eminent
| ly entitled to the thanks of Congress
and Of the country for their self-sac
! rifioing labOrs, and he had no hesitan
cy in declaring that he was prepare,
to accept his share Of the responsible
ty and to accord to the plan propose,
his earnest and cordial support, I'll