The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-02-22
Interview with Judge Mackey.
COLUMBIA, g. G., February /:

Interview with Judge Mackey.
CehuMsfA, g. G., February :13.
Judge T. j. Mackes, who recently
visited Governor Hayes, has been creating
lively sensation throughout the upper
portion Of the Stately preparing the peo-
pie in series of addresses for the in
auguration of Hayes as President. The
Judge, a few days ago, decided that
Hampton was the legally elected and
qualified Governor ofthe State, in the case
of a prisoner pardoned by the distin-
guished Democratic claimant for the
office. Judge Mackey arrived here to-
day, and as his utterances have attracted
such general attention, he was called upon
by the Herald correspondent, to whom he
freely expressed his views. He said:
II regard it as an absolute verify that
Hayes Will be declared President. fhave
no doubt that the electoral commission
will hold that the votes of Louisiana and
Oregon must be counted for Hayes. /
regard the position of the Republicans as
to both of these States as perfectly i'm
pregnable. The statute which creates
the returning board in Louisiana, and
defines its powers and duties, virtually
vests it with the authority to appoint the
Presidential electors by comforting upon
it the power to revise the returns and to
reject or expunge majorities which in
their judgment were obtained through
intimidation. The constitution of the
United States provides that the Presiden-
tial electors shall be appointed in such
manner as the Legislatures Of the several
States shall direct, and the power Of ap-
pointment in Louisiana has practically
been delegated to the returning board.
This may be dangerous law, but it ia
nevertheless law, and the decision of the
returning board must be regarded as the
Judgment of the court of last resort upon
the question as to who were duly elected
Presidential electors.
"The Oregon problem will be solved
by the application Of familiar legal prin-
ciples. The statute there provides that
the college Of electors shall fill all vacan-
cies. This means, in law, that the ma
jority shall exercise the power, and mega
tives the idea that in college actually
composed of three persons present, one
of them should segregate himself and
proceed to disfranchise the other two, by
declaring their seats vacant aud pretend
ing to elect two others in their stead.
This would be alike contrary to law and
right reason, and would be, in fact, re-
versing the order of nature BY making
the tail wag the dog instead Of the dog
wagging the tail. I'm, -. -.
II believe that Hayes, as President,
will exert bis powers benignly toward the
South and be the pacificator Of the sec
tions. am satisfied that he will speedi-
ly recognize the government of Hampton
in South Carolina and that of Nichols
in Louisiana, and that he will do this as
an act of supreme Justice and sagacious
policy. This will also be in accordance
with the pledge given by him in his let.
ter of acceptance, in which he declared
that if elected President he would en-
deavor, by all legitimate agencies, to
foster the establishment of intelligent
and honest local self.government in the
States of the South, and expressed the
opinion that it would be practicable for
him to contribute to this bene6cent re-
suit, when, in those States, the rights of
all are recognized and respected by all.
Hampton's government stands ready to
comply with this just condition, both in
letter and spirit.
"I have been endeavoring, and think
successfully, to impress my fellow-citi-
zeus with the views here expressed, since
nv visit to Governor Hayes. i have ad-
dressed many public meetings. called to
hear me on the political situation since
my return from Ohio, and the probable
accession of Hayes to the Presidency is
no longer regarded by the Democracy of
my Circuit as portending evil to South
Carolina, or the cause of good govern
ment in the Southern States. On last
Saturday addressed upon this subject a
large audience of white and colored citi-
zens I'M Lancaster, the birthplace Of Cen
eral Andrew Jackson. was heard with
respectful attention as l portrayed the
civil and military career of Hayes, and
when I read his letter, written from the
Shenandoah Valley in 1884, protesting
against retaliation upon Confederate pris-
oners for cruelties inflicted upon Union
prisoners at Audersonville, l was hearth
fy applauded by the x-Confederates who
were present.
~ was followed by General Kershaw,
one of the most splendid types of the SOL
dier that the late war produced. His di-
vision was Immediately opposed to that
of HAYES at Cedar Mountain, of which
battle it has been said by Howell, the
biographer of Hayes, that.it made Sheri-
dan = Lieutenant General, Gordon United
States Senator and Hayes Governor Ut
Ohio. Alluding to my encomium upon
HAYES, General Kershaw said: Even
though the dearest wish of our hearts be
defeated by the failure of Mr.. Tilden to
be declared President, am encouraged
to have faith that, with Hayes as the
President of the United States, justice
will be done throughout the whole land,
and glory and honor and peace will crown
our country through his wise and benign
administration of its government; and as
to the question of his title to the Presi-
dcncy, shall hold the judgment Of the
high electoral commission NOW sitting at
Washington as final and authoritative
upon ali the issues Involved in the great
and porplexing problem which it bis been
assembled to solre;'" -,
TBe judge advises the formation Of q