The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-02-01

er would present minority report.
The sinking fund bill for the service
Of railroads was resumed.
The house ilibustered over the
morning hour. The paying Mr.. Eads
in bonds was rejected, ard the bill
went over.
WASHINGTON, January Ex-senator
Conover, chairman of the Senate Com
mIttee on Enrolled Bills, ct 10 o'clock
this morning. presented a bill in re-
gard TO the electoral count to the Piesi-
dent who signed 1t Immediately and
informed Senator Conover that he
would send special message to the
Senate to-day announcing his approval
of the bill.
To the Senate Of the United States:
follow the example of communion
ting, in this mode, my approval of the
act To provide for aud regulate the
counting of the votes for President and
Vice President, and the decision of
questions arising thereon for the term
commencing March 4, y. D. 1877, he
Cause of my appreciation of the immI-
nent peril 10 the institutions of the
country from which, in my Judgment,
the act offers a wise and constitutional
means of escape. For the first time in
the history OF our country, under the
Constitution as 1t is now, a dispute
exists with regard to the result of the
election of the chief magistrate of the
nation. 1t is understood that upon
the disposition of the disputes touch
ing the electoral votes cast at the late
election, by one or more of the States,
depends the question whether one or
the other of the candidates for the
presidency is the lawful chief magis-
trate. The importance of having clearly
ascertained, by procedure regula.
ted by law, which of the two citizens
has been selected, and of having the
right to this high office recognized
and cheerfully agreed in by all the
people of the republic, cannot be over
estimated, and leads me to express to
Congress and the nation my great sat-
isfaction at the adoption of u measure
that affords an orderly means of
decision of gravely exciting ques-
ton. While the history of our
country, in its earliest periods,
shows that the President of the Sen
ate has counted the votes and declared
them as standing correct, our whole
history shows that in no Instance of
doubt or of 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 that their decision
essentially have affected the result.
For the first time, then, the govern
menU of the United States is now
brought forward to meet the question
as one of vital Importance 70 the re-
su t, and this uldel conditions not in the
least calculated to produce an agree
ment or to induce Il calm feeling in
the several branches of the govern
ment or among the people of the
country in case where now the re-
suit Is involved. 1t is the duty of the
law-making power to provide in adj
vance constitutional, orderly and just
method of executing the constitution
in the most interesting and critical of
is provisions. I'll e doing, so far from
being a compromise of right, is an en-
forcement of right and an execution of
powers conferred by the constitution
on Congress. think that this orderly
method has boen secured by the bill,
which, appealing to the constitution
and the law as the guide in ascertain
ing rights, provides a means of de-
cIding 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 determining otherwise,
thus securing a definite dispo
sition of all questions of dispute in
whatever aspect they may arise with
or without this law. AS all of the
States have voted, and tie vote is i'm
possible, it must be that one of the two
candidates has been elected, and it
would be deplorable to witness any ir-
regular controversy as to which of the
two should receive or which should
continue to hold the Office. In periods
| of history, controversies have arisen
as to the succession or choice of the
chief of the States, and no party or
citizens loving their couatry and Its
|
of mere feeling in preserving, through
the upright course of the law, their
country from the smallest danger
to its peace on such an occasion,
and it cannot be impressed too firmly
in the hearts of all the people that
true liberty and real progress can ex-
ist only through a cheerful adherence
TO constitutional law. The bill pur-
ports to provide only for the settlement
of questions arising from the recent
elections. The fact that such questions
can arise demonstrates the necessity,
which l cannot doubt will, before
long, be supplied by permanent and
general legislation to meet cases which
have not been contemplated in the
Constitution or laws of the country.
The bill may not be perfect, and Its
provisions may not be such as would be
the best applicable to all future occa-
sions, but 1t is calculated to meet the
present condition of the questions and
of the country. The country is agi-
tated, and it needs and it desires
peace and quiet and harmony between
all parties and all sections. Its indus
tries are arrested, labor unemployed
capital IDLE and enterprise paralyz ed by
reason of the doubt and enmi at,
tended by the uncertainty of q
double claim to the chief magis-
trate of the nation. l. was to be as
sured that the result of the election will
be accepted without resistance from
the supporters of disappointed candl.
dates, and its highest officer shall not
hold his place with questionable title
or right. Believing that the bill will
secure these ends, 1 give it by sigma.
ture.
[Signed U. S. GRANT.
Executive mansion, January 30, 1877.
WASHINGTON, January 29.-Senators
Sherman, Morton ana Hamlin and Rep.
resentative Hale and Governor Kellogg
and United States Marshal Pitkin Wis
tied the President yesterday in the in
terest of Packard, and other pressure
will be brought to bear between now
and Tuesday for cabinet meeting to
secure some positive action in Pack
ards favor. There are no indications
yet of change in policy.
WASHINGTON, January 30. The
Senate Republicans caucused two
hours, with heated discussion, as &c
whether the bill was a Democratic
measure, and whether Senators favor,
ing it should have place on the grand
commission. The caucus meets again
at 3 o'clock. The Democratic Senators
will hold no caucus. Bayard and
Thurman bV consent represeut them