The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21
fIl.'L fIl.'EIL.EGRAPIHt;.lI.C. IHt;.lI.C
Photographed to the Rock Island Argus. I
THE ELECTORAL COUNT F.!

HI II-S StiNG OOOIN /
WASHINGTON, February 2l.-At |
I1:45 the senate and house met in Joint
convention. When Oregon was reached |
the presiding officer opened and handed to |
the tellers one of the certificates received |
and it was read by Mr.. Stone, and proved |
to be the certificate Of the three Hayes |
electors. The papers contain full state |
ment OF the doings of the three electors, |
the resignation of Watts as postmaster. |
his subsequent choice by the other two
electors, and the original ballots cast by
the three electors. They were read 10
full.
The presiding officer then handed to the
tellers the certificate of the three lival
electors, Cronin, Miller and Parker,
| authenticated by the signatures of the
governor and secretary Of state, With the
seal of the state attached. This eerti6-
| cate gives two votes to Hayes and one
vote to Tildtn.
Senator Mitchell presented objections to
the certificate Of Cronin, Miller and Park
er on the following grounds:
First, Because neither of said persons
was ever appointed elector by the state of
Oregon in any manner whatever.
Second, Because it appears from the
records and papers contained in and at,
tacbed to the certificate of Odell, Cart
wright and Watts that they were duly
appointed electors and cast their vote as
such.
! Third. Because it does not appear from
the face of Coy. Growers certificate, at
tached to the returns of the votes Of
Cronin, Miller and Parker, that such GER
tifcates were issued to the three persons
having the highest number of votes for
electors, but were issued by him to p +
, sons whom he deemed eligible, though one
of them tCronin) was not appointed there
to according to the laws of Oregon.
Fourth. Because it appears from the
certificate of the secretary OF state that
: Odell, Cartwright and W ats received the
highest number of votes and that the sec
retary of state in pursuance of law so de-
clared, and that therefore the certificate Of
the governor, in so far as it omitted to Ger
tlty the name of Watts as one of the
electors appointed, and in so far as such
= certificate contained the name Of Cronit
as one Of the electors appointed, fails tt
conform to the act of congress In such cases
made and provided, and to the law o.
Oregon, and that such certificate is, as tt
said Cronin, without authority aud Of NJ
effect
Fifth. Because it appears from both
certificates that Odell and Cartwright, a
majority of the electoral college, were
duly appointed electors by Oregon, in tht
manner directed by the legislature, an(
that5their record, presented to the presl
8 dent ofthe senate and by him to tive
houses, shows that vacancy In the othc
of electors existed on the day fixed by law
ser the meeting of electors and that sucf
vacancy was filled by the appointed o
Watts.
7 This objection is signed by Senators
! Mitchell and Sargent, and by Represen
tatives Lawrence, Burchard of Illinois
and McDill.
Senator Kelly presented the objection
to the certificate Of Cartwright, ODE
and Watts, signed by Senators Kelly
Dogy, Mcdonald, Stevenson and Cooper
and Representatives Field, Tucker, Lane
jerks, WalIiug. Clymer, Wigginton, PoE
pelton, Vance Of Ohio, Hurd and Lu'
,e trcll. The grounds OF objection are.
Ill First, The papers purpoTung to b
20 certificates of electoral votes OF Orego
&c have TOt annexed to them the certificate
ch vi the governor oil Oregon, as required.
@, Second. The papers have not anneXe
he to them a list of the names Of Cartwright
TO TO Odell and Watts as electors to which th
it seal Of the state OF Oregon was affixed /
the secretary of state, and signed by tt
he governor and secretary as required.
WI Third lt was the right aud duty
le[ the governor OF Oregon, under the laws
that state, to give certificate OF elecut
or appointment as electors to John
me Cartwright, W m Fl. Odell and 4. A. Or
ne nin. they being the three persons capab
ch Of being appointed presidential electo
oU oIr who received the highest number OF vote
ac- Fourth Cartwright and Odell had
md right or authority in law 10 appoint " al
= md nd elcctor, Dec 9th. 1876. as there was
iou vacancy in the Office of presidential elect
- that day.
: Fitch. Cartwright and Odell had
right or authority 10 law to appoint Wa
- eiector, Dec 9th, 1876, inasmuch as tb
n lid NOT on that day, compose or TO-
HI any part OF the electoral college Of Greg
Us as by law constituted.
Sixth. Cartwright and UdeIl had
md md authority to appoint Watts eiector. ID
skly 9th. 1876, because ou that day " Natts v
.iaas ad still postmaster at Lafayette, Oregon, i
full was holding said office of profit and tru
& OF Seventh. v ats, who claims TO be eec
'oSe are in the above described certificate, was
in February, 1873. appointed postmaster
gnta 2nsi, Lafayette, Oregon, aud was duly CONN
/ ie- stoned and qualified as such p'
and master, that being an office
Ne" trust and po6t under the /;
- the United States aud continued
= be and act as postmaster from Febru
D 1873 until after November 18th and
acting as such postmaster On Novembe
n 1876 when presidential electors were
- pointed by Oregon, and that he
ineligible as presidential elector.
Eighth. When the governor OF Ore
caused lists of names of the electors OF
\ state to be made aud certified, such
did not contain the name OF said w
but did contain the names OF Cartwr
where Odell and Cronln who were duly appc
iring ed electors.
saSd 3aHi Senator Kelly announced that he
otties Mr.. .Jenks would appear as directors
y certificate No. /.
Mr.. Sargent announced that Mes
. Mitchell and Lawrence would appear
obiectors to certificate No 2.
Mr.. Kelly asked an order for the
duction of the commission and reslgna
of w ats from the post office departm
also that Mitchell and Watts nigh
= subpenad as witnesses.
Judge Clifford esked If the wltD'
lnent- were within reach.
ty, all Senator Mitchell said they were bo
or six the room.
c. B. An order in both cases was granted
drpo. at the request of Senator Kelly r.