Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-08-10

- 'N'N'J ~ WV pNoPiti biI NptN w w touUlNt
by the Supreme Court, and IN case there was
no choice the House of Representatives to
elect for President one Of the three candi-
dates having the largest number of votes.
Before the assembling Of the second
session (Dec. 4, 1876 great political battle
had been fought and the issue was doubtful.
On the first day of the session Senator Ed
munds introduced resolution creating q
of inquiry as to the eligibility Of
electors for President and Vice-President
and into the election therefor, especially in
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi. THIS he en-
planned, cond have 'no effect upon the pres
cnt representation Of those States in Congress
or upon the present electoral vote of those
States. 1t was simply resolution of inquiry
in order to get at facts connected with the
state Of the Union in one OF its most vital
respects, in order that If there be evil it may
be constitutionally rcdrcsscd by legislation in
fixing the next representation in the House
of Representatives.
AT this session, in a culogy on dead
Senator, Mr.. Edmunds well set forth his own
ideal of public man, aud one which he
himself has nobly attained. He said:
"Thc works we personally do for our
country must be few and small in the aggrc-
gate of history, and their permanent value
must depend, not upon the glamor of oratory,
the polish of scholarship, or skill in discus.
sion, but rather or that spirit of truth and
Justice aud the courage to follow them
always, that make up the character of
him
Who whether praise Of him must walk tho earth
For ever and to noblcr deeds give birth,
Or must go to dust without his fame,
And leave dead, Improbable name,
Finds comfort IN himself and in his cause,
And, while the mortal mist Is gathering draws
His breath in confidence Of Heavens applause"
We now come to that famous measure
with which Senator. EImunds's name is in.
dissolubly connected and which will render
it forever memorable We refer of course 10
the Electoral Commission bill. This bill lie
reported January lS, 1877, and advocated in
an elaborate and powerful speech, in which
was profound, lucid and convincing
exposition of the Constitutional questions
involved in the measure. OF the bill
itself we need not speak. 1t passed Tho
Senate jan. "a, 1877. On January aOth
Senator Edmunds was chosen a member
of the Electoral Commission aud that Com.
mission began its sessions Feb. 1st and closed
them March End.
AT the next session the silver bill came ur
for discussion and was opposed at every
step by Senator Edmunds. We will quote
a single passage from one of his speeches.
"The creditor class of this country en-
braces more Ul the poor and needy, whom
the laws are bound to protect than it does
of the rich and prosperous. Every laboring
man who earns his daily bread by the sweat
of his brow and goes home ut night with his
dollar, or half dollar or two dollars in hi.
pocket to buy bread for his children is q
creditor tor that day. He is selling his labor
for pay and he is a creditor of the manu-
facturcr or bondhollcr. The creditor class
is always in the large majority, aud that
large majority is not composed of the rich
but of the poor and needy. 1t is in tho
interest OF that creditor class that speak
to protect thcm az iinst this thimble-riggl
jugglcry Of two standards OF value (gold and
| SllNCl Jf anu W HtNC lNC N'bOiltIH man hllbN
When he sells his labor OF the day exactly
what he is to get for it at night. That IS the
class am speaking for, the class of pcopl,
WHO arc in great majority in this country
nnu whose Interests not diverse from
those whom employ them, whose interests
rightly understood are in harmony will
those OF the persons who have occasion fol
their labor; but that harmony can only be
preserved and that justice can only be don,
when the lubJring man knows in III,
morning when he engages to sell his laboi
exactly what lie is to get Tor it at night, auC
not leave The bulls and bears of Wall stree
or Lombard street the opportunity to change
the value of what he is earning during thai
day from one dollar down to ninety cents
MS they may bul or bear any double stand
| ard thai You may maitc.2
At the third session Senator Edmund!
introduced a bill (Which was passed by the
| Senate) to change the time of holding the
| Presidential election 10 the first Tuesday OF
October, of the meeting of the electors tc
January, providing for Il special election ia
case OF IA vacancy III 10th tho Presidency
and the Vice Presidency, and providing that
contested elections of Presidential Electors
be settled by the States themselves. He also
introduced resolution which, after much
debate, was passed, declaring that the
Thirteenth, Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments of the Constitution are as valid
as any part of that instrument that the
people of each State have common interest
in their enforcement and that it is the right
and dirty of Cnnprpsa IN anfnrpn them