Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-01-26
MORGAN ON THE COUNT.
SHERMAN'S PROPOSITION DE-
CLARED DANGEROUS.

The Exercise OF the Proposed Power
Would Destroy one of the Electoral
Bodies Provided by the Constitution
The Senate Citadel for tho Peoples
Defense.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.--rhs Senate to-
day proceeded to consideration OF the
Electoral Count bill, and Nj. Morgan
took the floor. He characterized Mr..
sherman's proposed amendment as en-
tirely new, IL would usurp, he said, into
the hands of Congress power that was
not given to Congress by the constitution,
and power, the exercise of which, under
the proposed amendment, would tear
down and destroy one Of the electoral |
bodies provided by the constitution, He
could not see how the danger to the Sem
ate could be decreased by having
10 Senators voting pell nell with 325
members. Could there be more daring
threat or greater danger to constitutional
powers than the proposition brought for
ward by the Senator from Ohio Mr.. Sher-
man, supported by the Senator from New
/ York ( Mr.. Eyarts), when they declared
| the right of Congress to create an cleo
tOrsl body which the people had never
chosen with reference to the choice OF the
President of the United States.
EDMUNDs' BILL DEFENDED.
The EdmunGs bill, Mr.. Morgan said,
submitted the electoral returns to the two
| houses separately. Then a disagreement
would destroy the vote of a State only
when there were two sets OF returns. Ii
asked why the vote shown by the two sets
of returns should be destroyed, Mr.. Nor
| gan would reply because the fault of the
State had made it necessary; but more
than that, Mr.. Morgan fearlesslY and
! frankly defended the direct course of re-
! jecting the vote of State in such case
! because it was the true course indicated
in the constitution.
| THE SENATE A CITADEL.
The Senate, Mr.. Morgan continued, had
been made the very citadel for the States
to preserve for them, against all enemies,
/ the great function of electing the Presi-
| dent of the United States. He would not
| if he could, either by legislation or con-
stitutiOnal amendment, lay hands on
| any part Of this great system of
/ successive electoral bodies provided by
| the constitution with their present wise
! judgment. Personally, Mr.. Morgan would
| have preferred that the remedy for the
present difficulty should take the form Of
| a concurrent resolution agreed to in ad-
! the action Of the houses of Congress free
! from interference or control OF the EXecu-
/ tive, and would avoid the necessity of the
/ Presl. ent signing bill In which he would
have a direct personal interest as likely
| to effect his own reelection.
NOT UNFOLDING.
| While preferring the concurrent resO-
luton, however, Mr.. Morgan yielded his
preference on the point of mere form in
order to secure a measure that would
meet the approval Of the Senate. The bill
reported from the committee was worthy
| of the Senate and be hoped it would pass.
! On the conclusion of Mr.. MOrgan's re-
marks at 1888 O'Clock the Senate went
into executive session. At 4:05 O'Clock
| the doors were reOpened. The death OF
| Representative Rankin was announced
/ by Mr.. Sawyer, of Wisconsin, and out OF
respect for the deceased the Senate adj
| journed.
Messrs. Sawyer, Blackburn, and Jones
/ of Arkansas, were appointed a funeral
| committee to act with the House commit
| tee.