Morning journal and courier., 1885-01-09

in absolute secrecy, such ballot he may have a right to cast, and see fit to cast, at every election.
 As thing intrinsically right and, at the same time, likely to be worth much more than it will cost, I recommend the passage of an act providing that every judge of the Supreme Court of Errors or of the Superior court who shall cease to be judge after hay ing served two full terms, or who shall cease to be judge by arriving at the age of seventy years during his second term, shall receive thereafter, annually during his life, such moderate and reasonable sum as the act shall specify.
 Such a law would furnish to the judges, as the fair reward of veteran service. 8 guaran- tee of decent subsistence in their old age, and thus, by increasing, at a very small ex- pense, the moral as well as the material value of their position, it would do much to make the bench more attractive than it is now to the men best fitted to occupy it.
 A moments reflection will show how few the chances would be that under such a law any considerable sum would be drawn from the treasury in any year, or any annual sum whatever by any one person for any consider able time.
 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
 Under ordinary circumstances and in or dinary cases it is obviously desirable that
 
 to the discharge of its appropriate duty of regulating the internal affairs of the State, without endeavoring to exert direct influence upon the action of Congress. departure from this general rule may sometimes, how ever, be not only justifable but highly ex- pedient
 Eight years ago the peace of the republic was threatened by dispute in relation to the validity of votes cast by certain per claiming to act presidential electors in certain States, and in regard to the count ing of those votes. The great danger then imminent is not unlikely to recur an incl dent of any presidential election. There was possibility, and possibility by no means remote, that it might recur as a formidable incident of the presidential election which has just taken place.
 Without criticising the long continued failure of Congress to guard the nation against the danger in question, we may with propriety express the hope that the irnpera- tive duty of furnishing such protection to the country will speedily be discharged by that body
 Although the President has very recently spoken upon this subject its great and vital importance induces me to recommend the General Assembly to pass an appropriate resolution, respectfully but earnestly, in the name and behalf of the State, requesting Congress to enact without unnecessary delay some suitable law regulating the ascertain ment and counting of the votes of the presi- dential electors.
 If any justification other than the nature of the emergency should be required for the action of the State in this matter, it may be found in the fact that by the theory of the national constitution the presidential elec- tors are the representatives of the States in which they are respectively chosen rather than of the people at large; so that the States, as such, may not improperly be said to elect through their own duly appointed agents the President and Vice President. Al States, therefore, they have an especial in terest in all matters affecting the presidential election.
 Beyond doubt such q resolution as I have suggested, conveying request req sonable, from a State which performed a memorable part in the creation of the tional government and feels profound solic itude for it's peaceful preservation, would re- ceive from Congress most respectful eonsid- eration.
 With these recommendations and sug- gestions, and with trust in God that he may help us all to serve wisely and faithfully the State of Connecticut, welcome you to the honorable work before you.
 HENRY B. HARRISON.