Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-10

vote, let them have the responsibility. Let
the Democrats await that day, and when it
came let them take their seats and see that tbs
votes opened by the Vice President we're
genuine votes. Let them see that every
elector was qualified, and let them take any
other step they pleased in the way of inquiry
and investigation to know whether the electors
who had cast the votes were qualified electors.
If perchauce they should find that, as was the
case In 1877, electors had voted who were not
qualified, let them have the courage to refuse to
certify or count such votes. or if they found
that the vice-president had opened the certid-
Gates, where the votes alleged to have been cast
were forgeries, let them have courage now and
forever TO refuse such votes. Let them do as
their fathers had done-take their seats. ap-
point tellers, count the votes and as honorable
representatives of the people certify to the
genuineness of the votes or refuse to certify to
it. He had never met a man who had not re-
gretted the necessity for the electoral commits
sion, but now he looked back with infinite sat-
isfaction to the fact that the Democratic party
had both in 1876 and 1880 the oandi.
dates who believed it was the duty
of the Houses to count the votes. Every per-
son felt that 10 delegating that power to
another tribunal, the responsibility had been
with Congress, and if there had been any
shame or dishouor in the sction if reacted
here. He had for that reason never felt at
liberty to denouuce that tribunal. He would,
however, never cast Vote to create another
He hored the Democrats would not be infiu
enced either by flibustering or by offensive
insinuations that they were Matching mischief.
Except in case of a State which had voted for
Hancock there was no question in any State.
There was question and q very serious ques-
tion as to the vote OF Georgia. He could not
conceive of any more detestable thing than Ie-
jecting the vote of State except the voting
State against its will. That was the crime
of the Republican party. It had accepted
perjury and forgery as means of certifying
votes. In face of this fact gentlemen on the
other side stood here and endeayored to give
the Vice President power to count the votes.
It was an attempt al usurpation that looked to
the future, and there was no legislative action
that was not iustihable to defeat that purpose.
A diEjointed running debate then ensued,
participated in by McLane, Cslkins, Hunter
Cox. OF New York, and Mills, during the course
of which Mr. Mills intimated his opposition to
the pending resolution on the ground that
under its provisions the Senate might declare
who was President.
Mr.. Lapham said that last session be had
looked upon the pending measure as all at
tempt to debauch the electoral count. Why
were the wheels Of legislation now blocked to
consider question when it was admitted that
there was no necessity whatever for the oper-
alton of the extraordinary pro-
visions OF this !. resolution. That
there was lying behind it some
purpose ne was bound to assume from the
tenacity with which the matter was pressed.
Under its provisions, questioning return
would justify majority in rejecting the vote
of State. It provided that if more than one
list of electoral voters, or ''papsrs purport ting
to be such list. were received from State.
either house may refuse to receive the vote
What was this paper? An official paper? Not
at all, but paper certified by a chairman of
a Democratic State committee would answer
the requirement OF that provision. The Re-
publicans were willing to Justify themselves
in resorting to every expedient known to par
liamentary usage to resist the purpose Of this
resolution.
Mr.. Herbert argued in opposition to tls
theory that the Vice President had right to
count the votes. He denied that there was any
political motive which induced the Democrats
20 press the matter, unless the desire to pre-
vent the theory that the Vice President had
power to declare who was his successor from
passing into precedent were political mo-
tive,
MIR. Newberry made an elaborate argument
in support Of the proposition that the power
to count the votes was vested in the Vice Pres
ident. The proposed rule was unconstitutional
in the attempt to take from the president of
the Senate certain powers and rights and vest
them in the two houses. Pending further de-
bate the House adjourned.