The Portland daily press., 1877-01-09
Serious Irregularity in the Arkansas
Electoral Vote.

Tne Democratic leaders have been so quick
to take advantage of every technicality affect
ing the eligibility of some of the Hayes elect.
ors. and have given so much attention to these
points that they have failed to look after the
proceedings of the electoral colleges in several
overwhelmingly Democratic states, and to see
That the duties have been performed in accord
ance with existing laws.
grave irregularity exists in regard to the
ceertihcate OF the electoral vote Of Arkansas, as
MED with Acting Vice President Ferry, and il
the Republicans are disposed to take advantage,
and to follow the precedents established by the
Democrats and object on technical grounds, the
vote OF this state may not appear in the Tilden
columns on the second Wednesday in FEBRUARY
When the certificates are opened and counted
Inc messenger bearing the electoral votes of
the state presented himself to Mr.. Ferry and
rendered package which he said contained
the votes cast by the electoral college. Upon
examining the wrapper of this sealed package
it was discovered that the necessary certificate
OF the electors that the package con-
1ained the votes OF the state was wanting.
The messenger could produce no certif-
cate OF MS appointment as such and he
had nothing to show that he was what he
claimed to be, duly appointed messenger of
the Electoral College of Arkansas The law of
March l, 1892, provides that 1.-The electors in
each State shsll make and sign three certifi-
Gates OF all the votes bv them given, and shall
~P VIZ oo.i OoitVyHv OIt 6uCiS tuab D IlSI
OF the votes of such State, for President and
Vice President is contained therein, and shall
6y acrating under their hands, or under the
hands OF q majority of them, appoint person
to take charge Of and deliver to the President
OF the Senate at the seat of the government
before the first Wednesday in January then
next ensuing. one OF the said certificates"
Mr. Ferry declined to receive the sealed pack
age unless the messenger could prove his iden-
tity, and even then, was in some doubt wheth-
er he ought to accept it. The messenger with.
drew and shortly reappeared with some Demo-
cratic members of Congress who vouched for
his identity as duly appointed messenger.
Mr.. Ferry again directed attention to the law
above cited, and the failure of the Electors to
enter the necessary certificate on the package,
but concluded to receive it and let the question
Of its irregularity 60 until the second Wednes-
Gay in February.
Several days afterwards, the messenger again
made his appearance, and asked that he might
be allowed to aoittdraW the package previously
filed, and to substitute another one which, he
saiG, met all the requirements of the statute.
This request was, of course, refused, and the
irregular certificate must stand until action
can be taken by the constitutional authorities
to determine its validity.
The question is, how did the messenger get
the second sealed package, and if the Electors
failed, on the day prescribed by existing law,
to draw uD the certificate in proper form as to
their action, had they any legal right to meet
on subsequent day and rectify their mistake
at the telegraphic request of Democratic leaders
here? 1t may be that the Republicans will not
raise any question as to informality of the first
return, but that point has not yet been deter
mined,