New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-12-15
Tho Ofeaos NIaEenvre.

Hero is smother editorial that Barr didn't
telegraph for the Associated Press. 1t ia
from the New Yoik Herald Of December II
The warmth with which the Democratic
press defend the acti of Governor Clover
Electoral College, bet0kens their belief that
the election of Mr.. TlA en- depeBds on the
action which may be taken in relation to
the Oregon vote. We suspect that they
are leaning ON q broken, reed. The only
thing which can be accomplished 10 to
compel tho Senate to 90 behind the face IF
the certificates, The Democratic expecta-
have thus. forced open the door. the
certificates from the three disputed south
ern States will come in for review ss
we'll - the certificates from Oregon. Con-
Oodipg this We do not zee that il will telp
Mr. Tliden. IL makes very pretty politi-
Calsensatlon, but Democratic hopes founded
ON 1t will prove delusive. To be suye the
other States, butt must be applied with the
same Limitations. Nobody will contend
that beoauas the certificates from Oregon
may be reviewed the certificates of Massa.
ohusetts or New York may also be reviewed.
The popularity Of the Oregon case is that
two certificates will be sent, and the ques.
ton to be rAised IL which of the two is reg.
ular. A decision to 60 behind tho face Of
the certificates for this purpose would in
The investigation would be confined to
the one point OF aecertainiDg, which
Electoral College was entitled to act iu
States where two assembled. Oregon and
Louisiana are the only two States in which
this heppsaed. II did not happen in South
Gasoline; not In Florida; not in any Etste
beeidss Oregon, with the single exception
is the legal Electoral College where two met
and voted will be very limited in its ecope.
Tho inquiry can not be pushed any further
in one case than ia the other. As there is
NO pretext for going behind the official
count of the votes 10 Oregon there can be
mono for doing SO in Louisiana, unless it
rests on some other principle than uni
fo1mity Of proceeding in analogous cases.
In Oregon the whole difficulty relates to
what took place subsequent to the official
count. But in Louisiana the subsequent
proceedings were regular if the count was
correct. It is fsrcical to pretend that
McEnery il Governor Of Louisiana. Both
Houses Of Congress- have recognized KEEL
logg - Governor, the seal of the State can
b affixed only to documents which bear his
signature; the laws of the State for the last
four years have been IN sde valid BY his ap.
prevail Everything done in Louisiana sub
sequent to the adjournment of the Canvass
ing Board has been perfectly legal and reg
ular. 49,
Tho Governors certificate merely IN.
thenticates the list Of presidential electors.
Governor Grover certified that two Repub.
licans and one Democrat werc entitled to
seats In the Electoral College. Tho title of
two Republicans was unquestioned, and
they formed majority Of the college. Tho
proceedings of such body sre controlled
By ito majority. 1t il for the majority to
decide whether there are vacancies, and to
fill them If they exist. Even if Cronin was
duly chosen an ele0tOr, he had no authority |
to organize the college against two others,
whose titles were - good as his own. The
other two members did not resig0, did not |
absent themselves, did not refuse to act a.
electors, did nothing to forfeit the claim
to act % euch which they derived
from the vote of the people and the |
Governors certificate. As . majority of |
tho college they had right to organize it
and to control lts proceedings. Cronin's |
the Electoral College organized by major !
ity of Its certified members. The persons
with whom he acted were not elected BY tho l
people; they had NO certificates from the |
Governor; had no title to vote which either |
house of Congress can recognize. Governor |
Growers certi6cstes, though sent to the |
President Of the Senate in tho wrong en- |
velope, prove that the other Electoral Col |
lege was regular. Its majority consisted of |
members whom he had declared elected. |
That majority found q vacancy and filled |
it as the law of the State required them to |
do. We have no doubt that their proc eed- |
ings will stand and the three votes of Ore
gon DO legally counted for Hayes.