Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1877-11-15

by letter under his own hand-that in
arriving at this conclusion, Judge Strong
was governed by a strictly technical rule,
aud that although lie cast tho determining
vote in favor Of Mr.. Hayes for President,
be docs not believe, and never did believe,
that Mr.. Hayes WAS lawfully elected to that
ollice The view taken by Judge Strong
was that Congress has no right to inquire
into State elections for State electors; that
the electoral commission had no more power
than Congress had; anl so he voted for
Hayes, although lie feared q great wrong
had been perpctratcd by the Louisiana re-
turning board.
All this fully appears 10 letter addressed
by Mr.. Justice Strong to an old personal
friend of his, the Hon. Gcor. w. Jones,
of Tennessee This letter, being entirely
importance, has bccu forwarded to us by
Mr. Jones for publication, aud we print the
two letters, which are as follows, in FULL
"FAYErTEvILLE, TEvN.. Oct. 16, 1877.
"lIon. Charlcs Il. Dcrl--DEAn Sir:
During the sitting of the electoral commits
sion in Washington last winter, wrote to
Mr.. Justice Strong, of United States Su-
preme Court, and member Of the COM.
mission, with whom had been associated
formerly in Congress. l did not keep
copy of my letter, but addressing him,
wrote in substance rs follows:
"'When you and we're in Congress
together you were Democrat, and regarded
as an honest man. DO you believe that the
people OF Louisiana elected or voted for the
Hayes electors?
IL enclose herewith copy Of Justice
Strong's letter in response to mine. If you
think this letter worth publishing, you arc
at liberty to give it to the public.
''In my reply to Justice Stroug's letter
wrote: by the Constitution of the United
States it is provided that Presidential
electors shall be appointed in suc!, manner
us shall be prescribed by the State Legisa-
turc; but the returns of the electoral votes
arc to be returned to the President of the
sss.Ya. ssssss.Ya.s and shall be opened in tho presence
of the two 6oas9S'zHf ftK, IL -',ra {nnd he then
counted. Congress clearly a" s!he right to
inquire and determine whether or Iioss III tie
electors of the several States had beer ap-
pointed in the manner prescribed by their
respective States
Il never write secrets nor keep copies Of
letters I write. And do not believe that
the Official acts of public servants und the
reasons for their acts should be regarded as
private and secret. Very respectfully,
yours, G. w. JONES'"
"WAsnISGToN, February 80, 1877.
"1hc lion. George ". james My DEAR
SIR: was Democrat when you and |
were together in Congress. l am Demo
crat now. hold to all the opinions the
State rights Democrats have always held,
and which the acknowledged leaders of the
party have avowcd up to the present winter
mover more clearly than in 1873 to 1875.
81 do not believe that Congress has any
constitutional right to inquire uto State
elections for State electors.
Congress las of late years intcrfcred
quite too much with the States. The
electoral commission has no more power
than Congress has, and think it would be
a most dangerous usurpntion, were it to do
what tho States alone have right to do,
even to cure what l fear was great wrong
of tho Louisiana returning board
81 cannot doubt that such will bc your
opinion when you reflect to what the asser-
tion Of such power would lead 1t would
place tho right of the States, respecting the
choice of electors, at the mercy Of the
Federal government, and be the greatest
stride ever made toward Capitalization.
"Bettcr suffer present evil than opon
such door, better than abandon oil the
timc-honorcd principles Of tho Democratic
party.
81 am yours, very respectfully,
"W. STRONG"