Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-13
The PRESIDENTIAL SITUATION.
From the Madison Journal.

gain, regardless OF the manner IN
which it is done. Frauds were at
tempted in all the States. Even in
Wisconsin, TiIden emissary circu-
lated for several days before election,
and in his social condition at times,
let out many Of the party secrets, as
to the means that were intended to
be executed to carry Wisconsin.
Here they did not win. The united
South was another thing to be de-
pended upon and when this failed,
the condition Of the party was DIES
perate indeed. Then came Oregon
Here postmaster was Republican
| candidate for elector and notwith-
standing he resigned the postmast-
elship before his term of office com
menced, the Democratic Governor OF
Oregon makes the fact that he once
held the position of postmaster,
protect for refusing to give him the
certificate of election, and gave the
certificate to a Democrat who had
no more right to it than Sitting Bull
This Democrat calls two men to act
with him, and they go through the
farce of casting the electoral vote OF
the State--one for I'ilden and two
for Hayes. There is no pretense
that the Republican ticket did not
receive respectable majority of
the votes in the State of Oregon
there is no pretense that the votes
were not legally cast and legally re-
turned; no one claims that Hayes is
not legally entitled to the vote Of
that State but without show OF
law the Governor attempts to pre-
vent the people from having their
rights, by an arbitrary exercise of
power which does not belong to him.
la this country, there is no prece-
dent where a minority candidate has
been given an office, when it re-
quired majority to elect. The
courts have decided against such q
thing, as we are informed, over and
over again and a few years ago
there was u strong case OF the kind
in the United States Senate, Mr.
Vance. an unpardoned rebel, was
elected Senator from North Caro-
lima; his opponent, Mr.. Abbott, con-
tested the election, on the ground
that Mr.. Vance was ineligible, and
the votes for him were void and
that he, Abbott, had received all the
legal votes, and although not ma
jority, was entitled to the seat. The
Senate held adverse to the claim OF
Abbott. This was o strong case,
because that body was Republican,
and Mr., Abbott was Of that party,
and had served term in the Senate.
Our own Supreme Court has decided
that, "although the person who re-
ceiyed the greatest number OF votes
for n particular office is Ineligible to
that office, such votes are not a null
ity, but should be counted by the
canvassers; and the person who re-
ceiyed n less number of votes In
such ease, although ineligible, cannot
be regarded as elected | Chand.
III: and 1t Wis, 497. Thus, the
conduct of the Governor of Oregon,
was arbitrary and without precedent
aud without common sense or de
cency. The two Republican elec-
tors met, and filled the vacancy in
the Board, and east the vote of the
State for Hayes and Wheeler, III ac-
cordance with the undisputed will of
the people, and this return is, beyond
all rcsonable question. the legal re-
turn, and will be so considered. If
such conduct in q Governor is
good cause for feeling happy, our
Democratic friends should te allowed
to enjoy it, for il seems to be all
there is left COR them.
Now the ease in the Southern states
is entirely different. In Florida aud
South Caroliua it is not seriously
disputed that Hayes received ma
iority in both of those States, on the
face of the returns In Louisiana it
is different But here the returns
have been Investigated in accordance
with the laws Of the State, by the
proper tribunal, aud the canvaS>ers
make return on oath, that. OF the
legal votes east aud returned. aud
cauvassed in accordance with the
laws of Louisiana, the Hayes and
Wheeler electors have majority OF
over three thousand. Here is the
report Of the Canvassiug Board.
which in itself must be assumed To
be correct, till the contrary is shown.