The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-12-08
THE WATTS CASE.

Persons who have taken an interest
in the late election, and this includes
nearly every man and woman of aver
age sense and sound mind in the State,
have, since the question of the eligibil-
ity of DIR. Watts to act in the capacity
of elector has been raised, regarded with
much solitude the signs in the political
horizon that betokened his confirma-
tion or rejection. The fight which has
been brewing for several weeks culmin-
ated this week at Salem, as by constitu-
tional law it is required that the result
should be announced on the Tuesday af-
ter the first Monday in November of
each presidential year. In announcing
the result of the late balloting through
out the State, His ExceHency Governor
Grover remarked, that in the case of
the candidates for Congress a certificate
would issue to Richard Williams. In
the matter of the electors protest had
been filled in the Office of the Executive
against the issuance of a certificate to
Mr.. Watts as an elector This protest
raised grave questions as to Jurisdiction
and law, and as the certificate need not
issue until Wednesday, the question
could in the meantime be Investigated
and argued. This protest set forth that
Watts was ineligible, having been post
master at Lafayette on the day of cleo
tion, that the votes cast for him amount
ed to nothing-the same as if they had
never been cast-and instructed the
Governor to issue certificates to the
three qualified candidates having the
highest number of votes. A counter
protest, signed by the Republican cleo
tors, was filled on Wednesday, in which
these set forth that they were present
at the canvass of the vote for Presiden-
tial electors on the day previous when
1t had appeared by official count and
was conceded that each of the Republi-
can electors had a clear majority of over
one thousand votes, and they were sur
prised to hear from His Excellency that
he proposed to delay the issuing of GER
tificates until he could hear arguments
upon the subject. After citing the law,
constitutional and otherwise, the coun-
ter protestants expressed a belief that
an examination of the subject must con-
vince the Governor that the attempt to
exercise other functions than the purely
ministerial one confided to him by the
law would be violation of the statute
and the we'll settled principles of the
common law. That law, precedent and
common honesty all unmistakingly in
dicate that in no case is either Demo
cratic candidate elected, and holding
these views, they declined to argue the
question, and submitted their protest
against any assumption by the Cover
nor of any judicial functions as unwar-
ranted by law and revolutionary. Sen
ator Kelly, with the characteristic blus-
ter and frenzy of those who seek tC
make assertion take the place of argu.
ment and fraud to displace honesty, &C.
cused Watts of imprudence and audacity
in asking for a certificate, and consumed
the time until noon. w. w. Thayer
81. Y. Thompson, and Col. Effinger oc
cupied the rest of the day and evening
The gubernatorial court adjourned a
ten o'clock, the Democratic arguments
being concluded. The Governor, con
trary to the expectation Of many of tht
best men of the State of both parties
: allowed partisan feeling to take tht
place of plain justice and submission t.
the will of the people, and refused to DR.
Watts a certificate. The certified list o
certificates, containing the names o
Messrs. Cartwright, Odell, and Cronin
, were prepared by the Governor ant
handed to Secretary Chadwick, whc
affixed his official signature and PLACED
thereon the seal of the State. The.
were made out on a Single piece of pa
per, placed in an envelope and handel
+ to Mr.. Cronin, who holds them, refus
ing to give them to the majority of lie
gally chosen electors. The Hayes elect
y ors refused to act with the elector chosel
> by the Governor, and meeting, file,
the vacancy in the electoral college b,
electing DIR. Watts. They chose Wm
=. H. Odell to carry Oregon's vote t
Washington.
4 The bogus college was filled by Nj
4 Cronin by the choice of J. n. T. Mile
Of Washington county and John Parke
n of Linn, and Cronin was selected t
carry the vote to Washington.
d The excitement at Salem was, an
Q still is, intense. The people are justl.
d indignant ut the attempt of the Cover
d nor and Secretary of State to set asid
e the popular vote. The end is not yet.