The New York herald., 1876-11-15
THE INELIGIBLE ELECTORS


THE MIDDLE IN THE ELECTORAL TIcKHr OF
OREGON AND vERNoN1-rwo VOTES FOB
rrLDEN POSSIBLE FROM AN UNEXPECTED
QuARrxR-posrMAsrERs WHO RESIGNED TOO
LATH-ALARM IN THE REPUBLICAN CAMP.
WASHINGTON, Nov. II. 1870
surprIsing II not serious, and most important
turn has been gwen the aspect OF the Presidential
muddle by the discovery to-day that two OF the rcpub
lican electors. chosen In oregon aud another In
tho State fvsrmont. were until yesterday In the
and until to-day the other case oceholdcrs undor
the United States, and therefore, Is insisted
upon by the democrats, disqualified TO servo In tho
capacity electors Of President and Vice President
REPUBLICANS ALARxED.
Whatever force little great there may be TO this
argument Of the the discovery has alarmed
tho whole republican camp, for, should the claim OF
the democrats be made good and prevail, Governor
Tiidsn will have at least ls6 electoral votes. ire
spective OF the results Of tho election South Caro-
Ina Louisiana and Florida.
THE ALLgGED INELIGiBLRs.
The two persons referred John W. Watts, late
late Postmaster bridgeport, W. The word slate" In
this connection. docs not, however, and unfortunately
probably for Governor Hayes, indicate sufficient
antiquity to save the game TO tho republi-
cans Tho resignation OF the Oregon Post
master Is dated only upon yesterday, Novem-
bcr 13, was forwarded by telegraph and took
all night TO the Continent from San Fran
CISCO so that got into the hands OF the Postmaster
General only this morning The resignation OF the
Vermont Postmaster written, and received
day. Both designations accepted by Post
master General Tyncr.
THE ARGUMENT
Tho trouble likely to arise ou. OF this matter is a.
follows:--In the 6rst place. both were holding
Office OF trust and profit under the United States
upon and subsequent to the day Of election. In the
second place, tho constitution, in article 2 for
bids that any person .'holding olice Of trust
profit under the United Siatcs shall be appointed
clector." Tho democrats argue that tho cleo
ton by the people the appointment contemplated
by the constitution, aud good many republicans
honest enough to fear that the democrats right
and that the republican party Oregon and Vermont
have made most e2regious and inexcusabe couple
OF blundcrs ana thrown away the election by the
grossest carclessnoss. Tho republicans who ''pooh.
pooh" tho matter say that tho electors not ap-
pointed in the OF the constitution until their
,icacs made out, sstested every detail and gvon
into their possession Interpretation Of the const
tuition and law which would invest tho two gentlemen
(which was possmastcrs' with tho full capacity OF
olectors that BY rcsgning their oce they shall
not bc disqualified when thor certificates to be
made out AZ bcst Il Is a most awkward and embar-
rassiug complication for the republicans.
PossiBLx CONSEQUENCES.
Should, ~ the democrats contend. tho two men bs
disqualified to serve electors. tho consequence
would that tho States Of Oregon and Vermont tho
candidate each Of the respective demo-
cratic electoral tickets receiving the highest popular
would DO chosen Presidential elcctor In combna
tion with the diminished number Of republican cleo
tors. the result being gain OF two votes for Mr.
Tildcn. II might be Thoughts that there Is tic vote
Tor the parallel and rival OF democratic electors
which would still further compIcase this extraordinary
matter, but Is the experience Of everybody who has
ever inspected the result Of Official canvass that
names, even IN 30 compact ticket that Of the
Electoral College Of any political party. are 80 fro
quenlly and numerously scratched as mako
parauvcly wido differences The votes for the
candidates the same ticket
~ THE cAnIyrr.
Tho extent oftho impression created In Official and
political circles may be In the fact that the prob
cmasra status OF the electors tho subject OF
portion Of tho discussion in tho Cabinet at the
thereof to-day, with what result has not tran
spircd. .
isrKREsr - THE QUESTION
The rather curious feature OF the compication has
captured the fancy OF those who yet warmly
vassing tho probabilities OF tho question OF the
noxt President. and Tor the nonce has set
aside all conjecturing as 10 ,ne result In Louis
lana, tho twensy-second Joint rule and other
the republicans uneasy and anxious, II nos
discussion during The past evsntfui week. That
matters which have formed tho staple Of speculative
alarmed ~ quito evident They are searching autbor
tics 70 nnd prccedcuts for maintaining the pos.tion
that the 70 approximations arc disqualified, and, n
she point Of disability 10 raised. IL certainly VIII b.
ihoy VIII hs fortified with opinions IN support