The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-12-21
The Oregon Trick.

= s.=
The New York Times, OF the sth, has the
following clear statement of the law and the
facts in the Oregon case, where Mr.. Tilden |
attempted to swindle himself into the Presi-
dcncy, but signally failed: E
The device OF the Democrats to steal Re
publican vote from the Electoral College OF
Oregon on Wednesday was such a bold vic
laticn ofthe laws of the State, and was so
clumsily carried out that it does not give its
authors much comfort. The pr DIVISIONS of
the Oregon statutes governing the matter
are very plain, full, and conclusive. A SIM
pie and brief recital of them will show our
readers that the Democratic trick is as use
less as it is desperate.
The general laws of Oregon, chapter 8,
title 8, section CO., provide that ''the votes
for Electors shall be given, received, re-
turned, and canvassed as the same are given,
returned and canvassed for members Of Con-
gress.'' In regard to members of Congress,
and therefore in regard to Electors, it is pros
vided title 3, section 80 that ssthe Govern
or shall grant a certificate of election to the
person having the highest number Of votcs,"
and section 4O it is further provided that
Sin all elections in this State the person
having the highest number of votes for any
Office shall be elected" There is no option
or discretion allowed. The persons receiv-
ing the highest number of votes 10: the posi-
tiofs of Electors were entitled to certificates.
The Governor had no power to refuse them.
What are these certificates? Are they dis
tinct papers given one to each OF the Elcc-
tors Notfat all. They are, in The Tan-
suage of The Federal statute, (act Of 1872,
''lists Of the names Of the Electors, cersi-
fed" Such lists the Governor was required
to give to the Electors son or before" We'd
nesday. Gov. Grover deliberately violated
this law. He prepared lists which were false
in regard to one Elector, and gave them,
not to the Electors, nor to a majority of
them, but to Cronin, private citizen, who
was no more an Elector of Oregon than he
was an Elector of Florida.
In order to find Cronin, the Democrat an
Elector, it was necessary for the Governor
to declare that the election OF Watts, the
Republican, was void, and for such declara-
ton to have any effect it was necessary that
the Governor should be competent to deter
mine the question, But the laws of Oregon
Chapter Ii, titles section 49, declare. that
on ''tlIe decision of a competent tribunal de-
claring void an election or appointment, -
the ''ofiice shall become vacant The ac-
ton OF the Governor, then, if he had any
right to act at all, simply created a vacancy,
which the remainder Of the Electors, IN the
exercise of the power conferred on them by
the laws OF the State, proceeded to fill
These laws say, Chapter IA, title 8, sec. 59) ::
II there should be any vacancy in the Of
flee Of an Elector, oecasioncd by death, re-
fusal to act, neglect to attend, Or otherwise,
the ELECTORS present shall Immediately pro-
coed to fill by Utra coce and plurality of
votes. such vacancy in the Electoral College.
aud when all the Electors shall appear, or
the vacancies, if any, shall have been filled
as above provided, such Electors shall pro-
ceed to perform the duties required of them
by the Constitutions and the laws of the Uni
ted States.'' 1854
This is precisely what the Electors did,
Their course was literally in accordance
with the law, and the law is not permissiye
but mandatory. 1t does not say what may
be done, ut what shall be done, both in the
case OF the Electors and in that of the Gov
ernor. The Electors obeyed the law; the
Governor defied it. The absurd action of
the man Cronin, himself without shadow
OF title to the office of Elector, proceeding
to namela couple Of his fellow-schelners as
Electors, and then assuming to cast the vote
OF the State, is too ridiculous for furtt er
mention. ..-. 81.
The question of what will be done with
the Electoral vote of Oregon is very simple
one The legal vote will reach the President
! OF the Senate by the messenger appointed,
and will be opened as the Constitution re-
\Ilires- and it will "thcn be counted,' ;e