The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-01-10

might OF the republic, and their SOvereippfv
can not be invaded without their con-
sent. century ago our fathers took
up arms Ia defense of their right TO a voice in
the government which dealt with their lib
erty, their property and their lives We as
sert the same right now, when we ask that the
Will of the people be registered as the supreme
law, and that whoever may defy ii by overt
acts snail receive the same treatment which
the nation awarded to the men who appealed
from the ballot TO the bayOnet in 1851 Let
them be warned in season by every lover OF
found ready TO offer their lives -as hostages to
the sacredneSs of the ballOt.as the palladium Of
our liberty. "Whosoever hath the gift Of
tongues, let him use it; whosOeVer can WELD
the pen of the ready writer. let him dip il in
the ink-horn; whOsOever hath a sword, let
him grid II on for the crisis demands our
highest exertiOns. physical and moral
To say that Mr.. Julian s speech was received
with frequent applause would be but 10 feebly
express the truth. Cheers echoed and re-
echoed from parquette TO gallery, and from
the front % the rear OF the house. The adj
dress touched chord of sympathy in the
hearts of the honest democrats, and freuueflf-
applause was deafcning, while expressions of
approval were constantly uttered.
The Hon. B. W. Hanna.
At the conclusion OF Mr.. Julian's speech.
the Hon. Bsyless w. Hanna, chairman OF
the committee on resolutions, rtpSrfed the re-
SUIT of their deliberations and made the fol-
lowing address,:
Mr.. CHAIRNAN-In behalf of the committee
report the declaration of principles they have
agreed upon, and move their adoption.
l"Bouder."J Before proceeding To read il,
trust II may not seem improper If review
in rapid manner two or three Of the cardinal
questions which have guided us in our con-
illusions. | understand the call of this con-
yention was made responsive TO the expressed
declarations of the chairmen Of the national
democratic and republican parties that
people in this day and hour Of
public trial and danger. We have lust cause
sir, for general satisfaction that the appeal has
been so widely heard and answered. And il is
been heard and answered IA a better sense than
the mere dictation OF party authority.
throughout the state 10 send hither the dele
cations now comprising this convention /
observe some notable instances OF attendance.
sympathy and cooperation on the part of citi
zens who have never acted or voted with the
democratic party. fApplause. This is graf
i1ying sign. ltawakens hope that party spirit
Is not yet superior 10 love of cOantry in the
hearts of the people. Tongue nor pen can eX-
aggerate the dangers before Us. We stand
trembling on the shore OF the Red sea that
must be crossed Can pass safely over, or
VIII the waters. rushing together, OVerwhelm
and Destroy Us?
The complications sir, presented by Florida,
South Carolina, Louisiana and Oregon afford
a range too wide for the discussion of a single
day. We must grapple with the result Of these
complications. Ii will be admitted that the
people OF the states have done all that has
oeen required OF them. They have obeyed the
law implicitly. They have appointed theiro own
electors. The electors have already done that
which they were appointed to 10. The electoral
vote has been sealed aud sent forward TO the
president of.the senate. The great remaining
question now is, how shall il be so counted
that Justice may be done and the will OF the
people vindicated. Can fraud take the place
o. justice? t'No."l Can little squad Of poll
Teal night-riders and fIeeDOOterS surprise,
overcome and slaughter our mailed sentinels
in the very doorway of our citsdel? There is
the absorbing question, and il now becomes
the duty of the people of I, diana to answer
ii. II must be answered by the people of every
state in the Union, and answered with such
intelligence pair iotism. clearDess and deter
mination as viii insure the attention. respect
and obedience OF every conserVatOr OF their
liberties.
great deal has been said in congress and
out of IL about the I'D joint rule; whether il
should be rec nacted from time 10 time as the
electoral vote should be counted, or whether
once adopted II does not remain in force like
other rules until amended or abrOgated BY
both branches of the same legislative power
which made IL. The latter construction seems
TO me to be the fair, straightforward. common
sense view OF the question. But there are those
Of large pretensiOns in congress to-day who
say confidently that joint rules can not be kept
binding on either house without its consent.
Well sir, be thataS IL may, II don make much
matter, for / think il Is clear proposition
that the 22d joint rule never was anything be-
yond the mere formulation OF the letter and
spirit of the constitution II the United States,
the laws passed TO give them effect, and the
long and unbrOken line OF prccedeDts under
these laws. The constitution. the laws and the
precedents still stand, though the formulation
may not.
Inere is a history, Mr.. Chairman, connected
with this question that throws Hood of light
upon IL, and which furnishes perhaps the best,
safest and compieIest solution We can hope to
find anywhere. Let us begin at the first, fol-
low 1t down, and see with what results. II
was provided in section of article of the
original constitution that
Zach state shall appoint, in such manner
as the legislature thereof MAY direct, a num-
electors pnual whole n
senator's and representatives TO which The
state may be entitled in congress; but no SEN
office of trust or prot under the tinted Stsstes
shall be appointed an elector The congress
may determine the time of choosing the cleo
tors, and the day on which they shall give
throughout the United STATE So
On the LIST day of March, 1872, congress passed
ance of the constitutional provision. 1 un-
deTStand il has never been repealed and is
still Ia force to-day. Here Is the section bear
ing Upon 'e caap 0l ano N1de
THAT congress shall be in session on the
second Wednesday of February, one thousand
second Wednesday of February succeeding
every meeting of the eles tors, and the certlfi
Gates, or so many of them as shall have been
I. ceived, shall then be opened, the votes
counted, and the persons who shall iii the
offices of president and vice presto ent ascer-
tanned and declared, agreeably to the consti-
tuition"
Such, sir was the act OF congress passed in
the very period of time when the constitution
of the United States was framed. And now
let us see what followed. The record shows
that on the 18th day of February, 1893, the year
next ensuing the passage of the above act the
senate and house of representatives met, that
they appointed teliers, that the vice president
opened the returns, that they were counted
by the tellers, and that the report was handed
back TO the vice president, who announced
the result. George Washington was so re-
elected for second term. Applause
But the method of electing the president
and vice president seemed not yet 10 have
been regarded complete enough, for on the
18th day ofs5eptember, 1904, the twelfth
of the constitution was put in
force. Then another step was taken towards
The settlement of this vexed question. will
read only that portion bearing upon the ques-
lion we are now considering:
''The president of the senate shall, III the
presence of the senate and house OF represent
atives, open ali the certificates, and the vote