Year: 1877

WASHINGTON, Jan. %.


The following is the text of the Presi-
dents Message concerningSthe Electoral
bill:


To the Senate of the United States:


follow the example heretofore occasion
ally presented of communicating in this
mode my approval of the act to provide for
and regulate the counting of the votes for
President and Vice-President and the decis-
ion 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
Constitutional means of escape.


For the first time in the history of our
country, under the Constitution as it now is,
dispute exists with regard to the result of
the election of the Chief Magistrate of the
Nation. 1t is understood that upon the dis
position of the disputes touching the Elect
oral votes cast at the late election by one or
more of the States depends the question
whether one or the other of the candidates
for the Presidency is the lawful Chief Mag
istrate 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 cheerfully agreed to by all
the people of the Republic, cannot be over
estimated, and leads me to express to Con-
gress and to the Nation my great satisfac
ton at the adoption of a measure that af-
fords an orderly means of a decision of the
gravely exciting questions.


While the history of our country, in its
earlier periods, shows that the President of
the Senate has counted the votes and de-
cla1ed their standing, our whole history
shows that in no instance of doubt or dis
pute has he exercised tie power of deciding,
and that the two houses Of Congress have
disposed of all such doubts and disputes.
a1t ob in no instance hitbartn haU +bou
been such that their decision could essen
TALLY have effected the result. For the first
time, then, the Government of the United
States is now brought to meet the question
as one vital to the result, and this under con-
ditions not the best calculated to produce an
agreement or to induce calm feeling in the
several branches of the Government, or
among the people of the country. In a
case where, as now, the result is in
volved, it is the highest duty of the
iaw-making power to provide in advance
Constitutional, orderly and just
in this most interesting and critical
clause of It's provisions. The doing so,
so far from being a compromise of right, is
an enforcement of the right and an eXecu-
ton of the powers conferred by the on
stitution on Congress. 1 think that this
orderly metz cd has been secured by the bill,
which, appealing to the Constitution and
law as guide in ascertaining the rights,
provides means of deciding questions of
single returns through the direct action of
Congress, and in respect to double returns
by tribunal of inquiry whose decisions
stand unless both houses of ongress shall
concur in determining otherwise, thus
securing definite disposition of all ques-
tious of dispute in whatever aspect they
may arise, with or without this law.


AS all of the States have voted, and as tie
vote is impossible, it must be that one of
two candidates has been elected, and it
would be deplorable to witness an irregular
controversy as to which Of the two should re-
ceive or which should cont nue. to hold Of
fee. In all periods of history cont foversies
have arisen as to the succession or choice of
chiefs OF States, and no party or citizen low
ing their country and its free institutions can
sacrifice too much of mere feeling in pre-
serving, through the upright course of law,
their country from the smallest danger to its
peace on such an occasion, and it cannot be
impressed too firmly in the hearts of all peo-
pie that true liberty aud real progress can
exist only through cheerful adherence to
Constitutional law.


The bill purports to provide only for the
settlement of questions arising from the re-
cent elections. The fact that such que stions
can arise demonstrates the necessity, which
I cannot doubt will before long be supplied,
of permanent general legislation to meet
cases which have not been contemplated in
the Constitution or the laws of the country.
The bill may not be perfect, and it's provis-
ions may not be such as would be best ap-
plicable to all future occasions, but it is cal
culated to meet the present condition of ques-
tions and of the country. The country is agi-
tated. Itneeds and it desires peace and quiet
and harmony between all parties and all sec
tions. Its industries are arrested, labor unem-
ployed, capital idle, and enterprise para
Iyzed, by reason of the doubt and anxiety
attending the uncertainty of double claim
to the Chief Magistracy of the Nation. 1t
wants to be assured that the result of the
election will be accepted without resistance
from the supporters of the disappointed
candidate, and that its highest officer shall
not hold his place with questioned title Of
right. Believing that the bill will secure
these ends, give it my signature.


U. s. GRANT.


Executive Mansion. Ian % 1SH