Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1877-04-04
McLin's Reward.

pointed Associated Justice for
the Territory of New Mexico.
The people of the United States
have heard of McLin before, and
we hazard nothing in saying that a
man was never before appointed to
judicial position in Territory
who was so well known, by reputa-
ton, throughout the length and
breadth of the country, as McLin
is. Hayes cannot be accused, in
making this appointment, of seacb-
ing for some obscure parsonage
whose judicial talents should first
develop themselves in the far of
regions of New Mexico; for it
was by an exhibition of his judi
cial qualities that McLin brought
himself prominently to the notice
of the American people, and it
was this exhibition which has re-
commended him to Hayes for ap-
pointment. The exhibition was
made i'm the canvass of the votes
cast for Presidential electors in the
State of Florida, at the election in
November last. McLin was Secre-
tary of the State, and Chairman Of
the Board of Canvassers. The
complete returns of the vote show
ed majority for the Tilden elect
ors of ninety-four, and the judicial
question with which McLin charged
himself and his associate Republi-
can member on the Board, was how
to transform the Tilden majority
into a majority for Hayes. II
would have puzzled m honest can
vasser, and he would have confess
ed that there was no solution for it,,
except the honest one Of counting
the votes actually cast, and a pro-
clamation of the true result-a ma
jority of ninety-four for the Tilden
electors. Not so with McLin, how
ever. His judicial capacity was
equal to the task, and prompted by
w. Z. Chandler and other Repub-
lican assistants, sent down by lack
Chandler to help him, he succeed
ed, by throwing out the vote Of
several precincts which gave Dem
ocratic majorities, in counting in
the Hayes electors by a majority of
99l.
The work was cunningly con-
trived and artfully put into execu-
ton. The commencement of the
canvass was purposely delayed. so
that the Republican manipulators
might perfect all arrangements,
and the canvass was not completed
until it was too late to have a pro-
per recanvass made before the
meeting of the Electoral College.
Immediately upon the completion
of the canvass the machinery of the
State courts was set in motion to
redress the wrong. 1t was effectual
in blocking an attempt of McLin
and Cowgirl to cheat the people
out of the State government they
had elected; but the electoral
commission held-eight to seven
that the electoral fraud had been
consumated by the meeting of the
electors, and that thereafter there
was no power, State or Federal,
which could properly arrest or de-
feat the fraud. By McLin's exer-
else of judicial functions-an exer-
else which has been condemned by
the State courts of Florida as lille
gal and q piece of fragrant usurpa-
tion-the four electoral votes of
Florida were stolen for Hayes; and
without these votes, thus wrong
fully obtained, Hayes would have
been just four short of a majority
of all the electoral votes-counting
for him the stolen votes from Louis
lana.
McLin was not the originator Of
the scheme TO capture the vote of
Florida for Hayes; but he was the
chief instrument of the conspira-
tors against popular rights. He
did his work according to orders,
and counted in Hayes. He is de-
spised by every honest man in the
State. But he did great-if ig-
noble-service for Hayes, and
Hayes has rewarded him. The
great reformer in the White House
is evidently determined to show
that he is not base migrate, but that
the men who have descended TO the
depths of infamy In bis behalf
shall be befriended II II is In bis
power to lend them helping hand.
The appointment of McLin will
give hope to J. Madison Wells, who
the theft Of the
electoral vote; while it
may be taken as an earnest that
Chairman Chandler will be remem-
bered and amply rewarded for bis