Year: 1877

The following is the text of the Presi-
dents message concerning the Electoral
bill:


To the Senate of the United States


] follow the example heretofore occasion
ally presented OF mmuncating in this
mode my approval of the act to provide for
aud regulate the counting of the votes for
President and Vice President, and a decision
OF the questions arising thereon, because of
my appreciation of the imminent peril to the
institutions of the country from which, in
my judgment, the act affords wise and con-
stitutional means of escape.


For the first time in the history of our
country, under the Constitution as it now is,
a dispute exists with regard to the result of
the election of Chief Magistrate Of the ma
tion. IL is understood that upon the dispo-
siton of the dispute touching the electoral
votes cast at the late election by one or more
of the States depends the question whether
one or tho other of the candidates for the
Presidency is the lawful Chief Magistrate.
The Importance of having clearly ascertained
by procedure regulated by law which of the
two citizens has been elected, and of having
the right to this high Office recognized and
eheerfully agreed in by all the people of the
Kepubhc, cannot he overestimated, and
leads me to express TO Congress and to the
nation my great satisfaction at the adoption
OF measure that affords an orderly means
Va EiaNtiJ CAtlblllG QuCStlOHS.


While the history Of our country in its
earlier periods shows that the President of
the Senate has counted the votes and de-
clared their standing, our whole history
shows that in no instance of doubt or dis
pute has he exercised the power of deciding,
and that the two houses of Congress have
disposed or all such doubts and disputes, al
though in no instance hitherto have they
been such that their decision could esaen-
TALLY have affected the result. For the first
time, then, the Government of the United
states is now brought to meet a question as
one vital to the result, and this under condi-
tons not best calculated tn produce agree
ment or to induce calm feeling in several
branches of the Government or among the
people of the country.


In case where, as now, the result Is in
volved, 1t is the highest duty of the law
making power to provide in advance a con-
stituuonal, orderly, and Just method of eX-
ecuting the Constitution in this most inter-
esting and critical clause of it's provisions.
The doing so, far from being a compromise
OF rlght, is an enforcement of right and an
execution of the powers conferred by the
Constitution on Congress. | think that this
orderly method has been secured by the bill,
which, appealing to the Constitution and
laws as guide in ascertaining rights, pro-
vides means Of deciding questions of single
returns through the direct action of Con-
gress; and in respect to double returns by n
tribunal of inquiry, whose decisions will
stand unless both houses Of Congress shall
concur 10 determining otherwise, thus Sc
curing definite disposition of all questions
OF dispute in whatever aspect they may
arise.


With or without this law, as all of the
states have voted, and as tic is impossible,
it must be that one of the two candidates has
been elected, and 1t would he deploTable to
witness an irregular controversy as to which
OF the two should receiye, or which should
continue to hold, the Office. In all periods of
history controversies have arisen rs to the
succession orchoicc of chiefs of States, and no
party or citizen loving their country and its
free Institutions can sacrifice too much of
mere feeling in preserving through an upright
course of law their country from the small
est danger to its peace on such an occasion,
and it caunotb be impressed too firmly In the
hearts OF the people that true liberty and real
progress can exist only through cheerful ad-
hcrence to constitutional law. The bill pur
ports to provide only for the settlement of
questions arising from the recent elections
The fact that such questions can arise dem
onstrates the necessity, which l cannot
doubt will, before long, be supplied by per-
manent general legislation, to meet cases
which have not been contemplated in the
Constitution or laws of the country.


The bill may not be perfect and its pro-
visions may not be such as would be best ap-
phcable to all future occasions, but 1t is cal
culated TO meet the present condition of
questions and of the country. The country
Is agitated; 1t needs aud 1t desires peace and
quiet and harmony between all parties and
sections. Its industries are arrested labor un-
employed capital idle aud paralyzed by reason
of doubt and anxiety attending the uncer-
tainty Of a double claim to the Chief Mag
istracy of the nation. 1t wants to be as
sured that the result of the election will be
accepted without resistance from the sup
porters Of the disappointed candidate, and
that its highest officer shall not hold his place
with questioned title of right. Believing
my signature. b, 8. GRANT.


EXECUTIVE MANSION, Jan. 90, 1877.