Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1877.
THE SPEECH OF MR.. WRIGHT, OF IOWA, ON


THE ELECTORAL ouEsT1oN-AN EXTREME RE-


PUBLICAN vIEw-suRPRIsE OF SENATOR'S


CHANGE or FRONT WITHIN TEN MONTHS


The battle the Of the electoral vote opened
in the Senate to-day with set speech, read from
manuscript by Senator Wright, OF Iowa. Mr.. Wright
said it the duty Of the President OF the Senate
count tho votes, and both houses TO DO present
witnesses and not as actors They wero to be
present to mako tho act public. In some parts his
speech intempefate that has attracted good
deal OF attention. Ho said the republican party hav
ing saved the Union !. ought to be permitted to say
something about governing 1t, and added n eulogy OF
the bravery OF the Iowa troops IN the and their
willingness to peril everything earthly In defence Of
tho right


Senator Wright is the FIRST man TO bring tho troops
into this question, and 1t must DO said that hts effort
made disagreeable impression upon most OF tho
publican Senato.a 1t Is beloved that he had pre-
pared his speech before the committee the count
ing OF the electoral vote was appointed, and
whilo many republicans still talking
wildly about the exclusive right OF the
Vice President to count and determine the
vote. Another supposition 10 that Mr.. Wright,
being person OF little importance influence, he





the vote KIND OF iceer TO sound the way and as
certain how tho public and the Senate would receive
tho proposition, the more important Senators who
hold with him not caring to expose themselves until
they should that tho policy avoraby received


II is curious that Senator Wright no longer ago than
last March opposed vigorously tho right the Vice
President to count tho vote under any circumstances
He advocated Dir. Morton's bil which gave tho whole
question to the two houses, and when Senator Maxcy,
OF Texas offered amendment giving the decision to
the Vice President in u when the two
houses could not agree, Mr.. Wright refused
to let tho Vice President have this con-
ditional power, and he utterly opposed tho very
plan he has now brought forward OF giving the deci-
sion to what he called then outside tribunal He
said In speech on March o. last year.


confess that so far ~ the amendment under con.
sdera.ion (Senator Maxey's) is concerned, It strikes
mo- OF all Others as being the most Objectionable.
There can be but one reason It seems to in logic,
for leaving the question 10 the presiding officer and
that s by reason Of his relations to tho two
bodies. There is an argument In favor OF that by
Of his relation, rather than leave II
side tribunal and yet 1t seems to that that
Is more than overcome by his possible and, In many
cases. his actual relation to the question: and for that
reason, without mentioning othors, II seems to mo
that tho argument against intrusting tho power
OF deciding the question to him tho Vice Presi-
illogical and in the faco of the very theory
OF our system Of government, tho nature and duties
Onu ODIlRatlOnS imposed legislative DEPART
mcnts Of the governments, that an outside tribunal
shall be selected umpire. II seems me Just as
logical that, in case where tho two houses unable
agree upon bill, upon joint resolution or any
other measure you shall provide that umpire shall
be called in to settle this difference It is said that !t
Is unfair and that It Is unjust to State
that ITS electoral vote shall be rejected and
that unless you provide tribunal may occur,
the two houses dsagrceng, that tho voto cannot DO
counted. Now suppose that shall OCCUR 1t occurs
after honest and faithful effort the part of the
to agree. The two houses have attcmpte cd
agree upon bill and II fails, and the houses
have attempted TO agree upon this question and they
fall think II would rarely occur that the question
could be presen ted In such form that the
could agrcebut II II should occur results from
misnanagement; corrupt, captous, unfair, unfaithu
conduct the part OF the officials OF State because
persons representing the State have sent up their
turns such form that The two houses, acting IN
good faith and under their obligations, are un-
able 10 determine what shall be DONE IL In such
event State shall not have It's vote II occurs TO
II Is only one Of those cases where, whether by
OF tho mismanagement OF the State or by reason
of the inability Of tho two houses 20
agree after the most faithful action, or both
together the State fails TO have Its vote II may be
misfortune but Is only another Of those that ire
quenty occur legislation, IN the administration
OF our affairs where there Is loss, and II better
and safer that The loss should occur Perhaps than
attempt to encourage any doubtful Legislation, or 10
provide a tribunal or method OF settling II that s
doubtful aud questionable, TO say the least oft


This language held less than ten months ago BY Mr.
proposed to-day Then there Presidential cleo.
ton 10 be decided He spoke evidently his
sentiments and thought the Vice President should not
have even conditional power. Now President Is TO
be elected and Mr. Wright suddenly believes the Vice
President has all the powers and the two houses are
only lockers on.