The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-30
Oregon Electoral Case.


Senate Committee on Privileges and
Elections commenced taking testimony
in regard to the Oregon case this morn.
ing. Hon. Stephen Chadwick, Secretary
of State of Oregon, in reply to questions
put by Senator Morton, chairman
OF the committee, testified that the
first intimation he had that
Watts WAS postmaster, was after the
election of last November. The witness
canvassed the vote of the State oh Mon
day and in the manner prescribed by
law, ard nothing was said that day about
Watts being ineligible for the office of
Presidential eleclor. Witness did not
prepare the lists Of electors voted for
with both the vote OF attached and under
the Seal OF the State. The governor
prepared the lists after look
ing up the law on that sub
ject, rs he and witness in conversa-
tion agreed to comply with the acts of
Congress and statutes of Oregon rs
nearly US possible in this matter In re-
ply to Senator Mitchell, his wit.
armed men in the capital on
the day the electoral college met
to his knowledge, and in reply to Sena-
tor Herman he said Cronin received
the highest number OF votes tor
elector on the Democratic ticket,
which was l4,l67; Watts received
Ii, ,2O6 votes. The official canvass was
made by me Oh the 4th of December, and
the Electoral College met on the 9Th inst. ;
the law Of Oregon requires me II canvass
the vote in the presence OF the Governor
and the other State officers; Oh the day
following the canvass the point as to
whether the Governor had the right
to appoint Cronin in the place oi Watts
as elector, was raised, as Watts WAS
said to be ineliglblei there was hear
ing on this subject before the governor,
aud protest was read from Odell against
Cronln's appointment on the 9th inst. a
MIR. HodgkILs came 10 me and | gave
him certified list of the eeCtor voted
for with the vote of each attached; on
the day the Electoral College met | went
at II o'clock to the room OF meeting and
handed the certificates TO Cronin, who
came to the door when ] knocked; think
tnat all the Republican and Democratic
electors were in the room a. the time.
w. II. OdelI, of Eugene City, Oregon,
was next called, and testified that on the
day of the meeting OF the Electoral Col.
lege he went with Cartwright and Watts
to the Secretary of State to procure the
certificates of election; was referred to
the Governor, who stated that at II
o'clock the certificates would be gwen to
the electors IN the room OF their meet
inp: Mt the time specified Chadwick, Sec
retsry of State, handed an envelope
through the door TO CroDin, who stood
searest 1t ut the time; Cronin took pa
per from the envelope and read that part
OF it which certified that Cartwright,
Odell and CroEin were eligible
and had been elected Presidential
electors; Cartwright went towards Gro
min. when Cronin returned the paper to
the envelope and put it in his coat
pocket, and upon being requested by
witness and Cartwright 10 read the paper
through he refused; ne also declined to
give up the certificates OF any of the
electors the college was organized, wit
ness being chosen chairman and Cart
wright secretary; rs chairman OF
the college witness then asked
Cronin to produce the certificates
of the electors for the guidance
of the college, he declined TO do soi
Watts then rendered his resignation as
An e.tctor, and il was accepted; Cronln
then said, You refuse 10 recognize me;'
witness replied, No, sir; buL We want
the certificates. You must not think
that we will not act with YOU, and you
must never 20 away from here and say
that We would not act with you" Cronin
lett the part of the room IN which the
college was sitting, and the college then
projected TO cast the vote, Watts being
elected to tll the vacancy IN the EIec-
torsl College by his own resignation;
witness heard OF no purpose to arrest
suy one or the day the Electoral
College met; saw no armed
men, but l have since heard that there
were twenty in the room near when the
college met.
At this point the committee adjourned
until tomorrow, when the examination
of Mr.. Odell will be continued. Mr.
! Chadwick was also notified 10 be present
The com mittee, at the request "t SEN
ator Thurman, ordered subpoena TO be
issued for E. A Cgonin. twas served or
him this evening in this city.