The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-10-06

power to prepare and report without un-
necessary delay such a measure, either
| of legislative or other character, as may
in their judgment be best calculated to
accomplish the lawful counting of the
electoral votes and best disposition of
all questions connected Herewith, and the
due declaration of the result; and that
said committee have power to confer and
act with the committee of the house of
representatives named In said message
and to report by bill or otherwise.
On the following Monday, December Is,
Mr. Edmunds called up his resolution in
the senate, and it passed without a word
of debate or a dissenting voice. Three
days later the president of the senate
announced the committee of seven, as fol-
lows: Mr.. Edmunds, of Vermont CHAIR
mani; Mr.. Morton, of Indiana; Mr. Frey
linghuysen, of New Jersey; Mr.. Logan, of
Illinois, Republicans; and Mr. Thurman,
of Ohio; Mr. Bayard, of Delaware, and
Mr.. Ransom, of North Carolina, Dem
ocrats. Gen. Logan believing he had
just then more important fish to fry
at home, being in the midst of struggle
with the Illinois legislature for reelection
"a struggle ending in Logan's defeat and
the Hateful choice of Judge Davis-de-
cl1ned to serve on this committee Ros-
coe Conkling was named in his stead. and
proved one of the most Jealous and use
full members.
The gratifying temper of congress its
prompt action to meet the crisis, and the
nigh character of the men appointed on
the Two committees, had an electrical eff
feet on the popular mind Congress had
risen to the occasion
Judge McCrary had brought before the
house committee the germ of the eIector-
al commission. 1t was in the form of a
bill to. create tribunal, outside of con-
gress, for the settlement of all disputes
growing out of the electoral count This
tribunal was to be carved out of the SUI
preme court. 1t was to consist of the
chief justice CWaite) and certain num-
Der of associate justices. to be named in
the order of their seniority on the bench
The conclusions of this tribunal were to
be binding, unless overruled by the con-
currence of both houses of congress. 1t
has since been learned that like meas
ure was simultaneously introduced by
Mr.. Edmunds into the senate commit
tee. Then follows history of the two
+. committees, and an account of their
agreement upon method of adjustment
Intelligence that these committees had
finally, and so nearly unanimously. agreed
on plan to fit the crisis was hailed with
patriotic outbursts throughout the land
II was dSCSplSu DIS d guaranty OIL peace
and of an orderly presidential succession
Intense interest, on floor and in CALLER
les, greeted the reports, made simultane-
| ously on the morning of Jan. 49, through
| Chairman EdmundS to the senate and
Chairman Payne to the house. After
debate ever to be memorable in the an
nails of congress- a flow of oratory filling
many pages of the Congressional Record
the bill passed the senate on Jan. "a and
the house two days later.
Gen. Garfield, ina speech of charac-
teristic force and brilliancy. scomed at
the alarmists. 1--WE have been told today
III this chamber" said the future presi-
dent and martyr to the violence of party
| spirit, that there is danger of civil war
| if the bill does not pass. l was amazed
at the folly which could use such a sug-
gestion as an argument in favor of this
| or any other measure. The senate at
Rome never deliberated a moment after
! the flag was hauled down which tioated
on the Janiculum hill across the Tiber.
That flag was the sign that no enc
my of Rome, breathing hot threats OF
war had entered the sacred precincts of
the city, and when it was struck the SEN
ate sat no longer. The reply to war is
not words but swords. When you tell
me that civil war is threatened by any
party or state in this republic, you have
given me supreme reason why an Amer
lean congress should refuse, with unut-
terable scorn, to listen to those who
threaten, or to do any act whatever under
the coercion of threats by any power on
the earth. With adj my soul 1 despse
your threat of civil war, scome 1t from
what quarter or what party it may.
Brave men, certainly, a brave nation,
will do nothing under such compulsion."
But the best-laid schemes O. mice an
men gang ait agley." Days were spent in
committee, in hair-spltting discussion of
the political bias of Justice Davis, who,
1t was taken for granted, was to be the
fifth judge on the commission. In the
ponderous~ Illinois jurist were centered the
hopes of Democracy, the approximations of
Republicanism. 1t was the irony of fate
that Judge Davis was not to sit on the
commission. That was settled, not at the
capital of the nation, but at the far-off
capital of Illinois, when, in their inconti-
nent zeal to beat Logan, the Democratic
members of the legislature joined with
a struggling independent or two, ana