Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-12-20
Infamous.

We refer to Gov. Grover, Of Oregon
We say that Gov Grover is infamous be-
cause he has violated his oath of Office.
The law of Oregon declares that
The Governor shall grant certificate n eiec-
tion to the person having the highest mum
Der OF votes, and shall also Issue procla
nation declaring the eiection IF such person.
1t says, furthermore, that
If there shall be any vacancy in the Office
OF an Elector, occasioned by death, refusal to
act, neglect 10 attend, or otherwise, me Efec-
tors present shall iDtDetiiateiy proceed ~ JtH ~
,1ru race md plurality efsots such roca'scy in
the Electoral College.
This is plain, and it is mandatory. 1t
leaves no room for the exercise Of ''judg-
ment' on the part of the Governor Of
Oregon. Coy. Grover says
protest was filed In the Executive Office
by prominent citizens Directing To the is
suance Of certificate to Watts as a person
disqualified, accompanied by proof Of his
disqualification, and demanding that the
same issue TO the elig bic person having the
next highest number of votes.
But Coy. Grover knows that while
prominent citizens had right to
file protests on any subject they pleased,
he had no right to take any notice what
ever OF such protests. GOV. Grover pro-
ceeds to say that he I" ruled in the case
that, where the objection to the applicants
right to receive the certificate rests upon
the ground that u constitutional prohibition
is interposed, the Governor, acting under
his oath To support the Constitution, is
bound To entertain and determine the
question" 1t is in this that Gov. Gro
yer's fntumy consists The law com
manded, and his oath required, that he
should do certain thing, namely: Grant
n certificate 10 tie person having the high.
est number of votes" But he did the
very opposite; he granted a certificate of
election to the person having the smallest
number OF votes. The people of Oregon
declared, by ma jority of 100: l. That
Watts should represent them in the
Electoral College. 2 / hat Cronin should
not represent them in the Electoral Col.
lcge. Go. Grover undertook To override
the will Of 'o people by an arbitrary re
versal Of the.r verdict in favor of Watts
and against Cronin. In free govern.
ment there cannot be "A more infamous act
on the part Of Ii servant of the people.
But there is more s1tfamy behind. llav.
ing decided to violate his oath by usurp
ing functions not conferred upor him by
infamous act How does he do thisy By
disappearing the law and misquoting
the authorities. He declares that the law
is: 1.-The votes cast for the ineligible can
didate cannot be counted for any purpose,
and the eligible candidate having the next
highest number Of votes was duly elect.
ed" We showed at length, on Saturday,
that this statement of the law is not only
not true, but that the converse of the propO-
silion is the law. Gov Grover says he
bases his ruling on " the great weight OF
English authorities liut after an eX-
haustive review OF the decision on the
subject, the best authority in this country
says "Thus il will be seen that the
weight OF authority IN this country is de.
cldedly against the English doctrine, and
adds Any doctrine which opens the
way for minority rule in any case is anti
republican and anti-AmcriCan. In the
case of .1bbOn, o! North Carolina, who
claimed a seat in the United States senate
ON the ground of the inelgibilty
81 the opposing candidate it was
held that the fact that the voters
had notice Of the incligibilty of
The candidate al the time they cast
their votes for him upon which Gov.
Grover relles) made 20 difference" And
in that leading case The broad doctrine
was asserted that. In this country an
election by a minority of the persons yot-
ing az net "a BE- totcrdt6d aad,r any cipcuUt.
StaHctS' To assert thing to br the law
when it is VIGOROUSLY not law, and base
official action thereon, is TO act infamous.
lY Gov. Grover declares that iii has
been the uniform practice of the United
states House of Representatives 70 hold
that the eligible candidate hayingthc next
highest number of votes to the Ineligible
candidate should be declared elected -
This Is false, jgtimo'wig false, since the
direct contrary has been uniformly held
by the United States House of Repre-
sentStive>, We showed This AT length in
our issue of last SATURDAY. Fortunately,
Gov. Grover has furnished remedy rs
against his Infamous act, SO far rs the
Electoral vote of the State is cuuccrncd.
The certificates OF The rival sets of Elect
ore show ON their face a pytma Gtcte case
IN favor of the Hayes Electors: and the
President of the Senate will find no DIM.
Guilty IN determining The choice of the
people of Oregon. and in SO counting and
declaring the ulrer votes for HAYES. -
Inter bgsuu.