Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-12-11
rHR oREaoN AFFA1R.

THE OREGON AFFAIR.
Governor Lafayette Grover, Of Ore
con, is now in his second term of office
and has been elected to the United
States Senate, to succeed Senator James
P. Kelly, a Democrat, whose term
expires March 8, 1877. The Republicans
are so snraged because he gave Cronin
a certificate as slectcr that they threaten
to keep him out of the Senate. This
would be beautifully consistent. The
electoral muddle in Oregon, when sifted
to the bottom, involves purely legal
questions upon which interested parti-
sans should not make such greedy haste
to pass judgment in advance. If a
Southern Republican Governor had been
similarly situated with majoriiss re
versed, and had given a Republicaa the
certificates Just as Grover gave them to
Cronia, the Republican journals that
now deuounce him would have applaud
ed the act. 1t makes a great differ
ence whose OK is gored. 1t is really
amusing to witness the contor-
lions and grimaces Of the Repub.
licans over this Oregon business. They
stood BY aud saw twenty thousand votes
thrown out by an illegal board in Louisi.
ana and said it was all right, and Hayes
is no doubt willing to accept the Presi-
dency secured by such means. The law
in Louisiana requires the board to be
composed of members OF both parties.
This was disregarded. The board set out
TO give the State to the Republicans.
The return was a bold, barefaced false
hood, which no honest man, whatever
his politics, can, in his cool, impartial
Judgment, approve. 1t vas an outrage,
aud will have to be so admitted by the
Republicans themselves when the ques-
ton is settled and the excitement sub
sides sufficiently to allow reason to assert
itself. At present, however, they are ex'
hausting their vocabulary Of epithets
up)n Grover and Cronin. This shows
that somebody is hurt. They are really
in q very awkward attitude. After
taking the grouad for weeks, in
view Of forced results anticipated in the
three bayonetted States, that Congress
caunot and viii not 90 back on the re-
turns, the ghos. Of Cfonin is seen in the
misty distance coming across the Rocky
Mountains. His claim may be good, OF
may not. AS a matter Of equity, justice
and common sense, regardless Of the
vast consequences which must ensue q
decision, his certificate is certainly
as good as those coming from the corrupt
LOUISIANA board. Grover has been
barued in efigy and is called a Bsne'
dict Arnold" and all that. If Tildeu
needed FIVE or ten votes nothing would
be said about Cronin's certificate. The
Board Of Canvsssers interpreted the Law
land each State has its own laws to
mean that the three eligible can
didates receiving the highest number
of votes were elected. ard issued
certificates accordingly. The lisI
was sent to the Governor, who, il
accordance With the Federal law, mad;
out the list Of electors to be attached tC
the certificates Of the electoral college
The law does not require the Governor Il
give each elector a certificate. The lie
was placed in Nj. Cronin's banda. Th,
Republicans refused 10 act with him; b
appointed two others to fill the yacan
cies; proceeded to hold the election, an
attached the names Of the only lega
electors to the only legal returns Thesl
Mr.. Cronin will carry to Washington
and present to the President Of the Sen
ate. The question Of law raised is
very nice one-that is as Il whethe
votes cast for an ineligible candidate arI
lost and the next highest competito
elected. The courts Of New York an
Pennsylvania have decided it one way
Indiana, New Jersey and Louisiana al
other. Perhaps all we're right under th
laws of those respective States. To
Federal law does not regulate the d,
tails Of these elections. Fac
State appoints its W electors in sue
manner as the Legislature shall direc
Governor Grover claims that he acte
strictly in accordance with the laws {
Oregon, aud when the. matter is locke
into perhaps he has; If not, be will hs'
10 abide by the consequences. The r
publicsns have all along declared tb,
they would not have Hayes accept Il
Presidency ualess fairly elected. Tn
ple.encs is now thrown Of by many
them. The Cincinnati Commercial at
many Of the leaders at Washington
not Hesitate to say that the Republica
party is in power and will use al
mean necessary to stay 10 power. I'll
mask was too thin all the time; let
fall.
The Bolivar Bulletin mentions Colon
Marsh I. Polk as q candidate for Sta
Treasurer in the highly favorable al
a., ,~nlimentarv terms be deseryes Or