Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1876-12-23


SAN Francisco, Dec. Q.
A Salem, Oregon, press dispatch
gives the following statement by the
Democratic candidates for Presidential
Electors which was published in last
evenings Daily Mercury, headed "A
True Statement to the People of
Oregon:
Inasmuch as grossly false statements,
purporting to relate to what occurred
mt the holding of the Electoral College,
have been industriously circulated by
the Republican party, we, the under
signed, submit the following as a faith
full detail of the proceedings in ques-
ton in said Electoral College, held in
Salem, the 9th day of December, 1876,
at the hour of12. There were present
in the room designated as the one in
which the electoral vote should be
cast, the following persons J. G.
Cartwright. w. III. Odell, j. w. Watts,
Henry Klippel, w. B. LasWell and K.
A. Cronin. At said hour the door of
the room in which the electoral vote
was to be cast. was opened, and the
Secretary of State handed to Mr..
Cronin an envelope containing the GER
tifcates in tripicate of election as
electors of +. A. Cronin, j. G. Cart
wright and w. ii Odell. After hand
ing the certificates to Mr.. Cronin, the
secretary retired from the room. I'm
mediately afterwards Mr.. Cartwright
opened the door and admitted one Mr..
Mimic, a police officer of the city of
Salem and a deputy United States
Marshal. Mimic, upon entrance,
closed the door, locked it and took
the key, whereupon Cronin requested
him to leave the room. Cartwright
and Odell insisted at first upon Minto's
remaining, but finally upon the request
of Cartwright. Mimic retired. leaving
the KEY in the door. Ode1l then locked
the door and took the key. but upon
the request of the Democrats replaced
the key in the door.
Cronin then read in the presence and
hearing Of those in the room one of the
certificates, showing the election of
himself and Odell' and Cartwright.
After the reading, Cronin inquired of
Odell and Cartwright if they were
ready to vote with him and proceed
with their business as electors. They
answered by demanding the certif-
Gates in Cronins possession. Cronln,
i'm reply. proposed to proceed with the
vote for President and President,
stating in effect that the certificates
would be produced and attached to
the certificate showing the result.
Cartwright and Odell refused to pro-
coed and requested Klippel and Cas-
we'll to retire, which they declined to
do. Cartwright arose, and addressing
Cronin, said: " If you want row you
might as we'll have it now as at any
other time. . ...
Cronin said: sit down we are not
here to have a row, but to vote for
President" and again requested Cart
wright and Odell to proceed with the
election. Cartwright then moved that
Odell act as chairman, and upon the
vote of himselfand Odell declared the
motion carried. Odell then appointed
Cartwright secretary. DIR. Watts then
read a paper purporting to be his resig-
nation as elector. Cartwright moved
TO accept the pretended resignation,
and twas declared carried, and imme-
diatelv thereafter, by the vote of those
two. Watts was elected to fill the va
cancy. These proceedings were inter
rupted throughout by dialogue which
had the character of an alteration
between Cronin on one side and Cart
wright and Odell on the other, CrOnin
insisting that the latter should act
with him and proceed with the bust
ness of the college, and they refused to
do so. After the pretended appoint
m"nt Of Watts. Cronin arose, and ad-
dressing Cartwright and Odell said In
effect, If not in these precise words:
Gentlemen, do you refuse to act
with me in proceeding with the bust
ness of the Electoral College? ?" One
or both Of them replied, signifying
their unqualified refusal.
Cronln then said this refusal to act
created vacancy in the Electoral
Colle-e, and he appointed J. NJ. L.
Miller, OF jackson, to fill one of said
vacancies. Miller, having been intro
duced into the room and informed of
what had taken place, asked Cart
wright AMI Olel If they had refused TO
act with Cronln in casting the vote of
the State. Cartwright, answering
said that they had so refused. Miller
then signihed his intention to accent
the appointment. The two then an
pointed John Parker secretary. and
the votes were taken by ballot for
President and Vice President, and the
business formally proceeded with to
the end. Pending those proceedings.
cartwright, Watts aud Odell were en-.
gagged in signing the papers.
TSicned1 f. a. CRONIN,