The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-02-22
from Our Regular Correspondent
WILL SPEAKER RANDALL RESIGN:

|
. From Our Regular Correspondent
! WILL SPEAKER RANDALL RESIGN:
WASHINGTON, February 21.-The sensa-
ton Of to-day is report that Dir. Randall
intends to resign the Speakership of the
House. 1t is surmised that his object is to
take the leadership OF the obstructionists,
who are sadly in need OF leader. The
very act of resigning would cause some de-
lay in the electoral count, as it would be ne
cessary to elect a new Speaker before other
business could proceed.
1t is doubtful whether he will resign, but
not doubted that he is in entire sympathy
with those Democrats who desire to defeat
the operation OF the electoral act, and that
he has sought to organize them so that their
efforts might be effective.
/ ANLNFoRTUNATE MISTAKE.
Whatever merit there may have been in
the Nevada case the Democrats lost the
benefit of it by clerical error. The OBJ
lection presented by Mr.. Springer, of Illi-
nois, alleged that Daggett was United
States Commissioner, instead of United
States Circuit Court clerk, and as there was
no practicable way to amend the objection,
Springer was under the necessity of moving
to reject his own objection.
THE JOINT SESSION
commenced at 11:45, and in fifteen minutes
tue certificates of New York, New Jersey,
New Hampshire, North Carolina, and Ne
braska had been read and their votes count
ed without objection. The president of the
Senate, contrary to bis practice in the Flo
rida and Louisiana cases, opened first and
marked cone" the certificate not signed
| by the Governor. The effect Of this course
was to give the Hayes o6ectors the close in
presenting reasons for their objections to
the Commission.
| Very little interest was taken in the pro-
cecdings. The certificates and objections
| were read and referred to the Odd Man,
and the Joint assembly temporarily dis
solved. .-.-
| The Commission convened at l o'clock
and took up the Oregon case, Senator Kelly
and Representative jerks appearing as OBJ
iectors, and Messrs. Hoadley, Green, and
Merrick as counsel for the Democrats; Sem
ator Mitchell and Representative Lawrence
directors, and Messrs. Evarts and Mathews
counsel for the Republicans.
General Sickles, General Dodge, Kellogg,
Logan, ex-senator Foote, Watts the Ore
gon postmaster, and Governor Grover were
among the notables present.
Directors on each side were allowed two
hours for argument; which was concluded
Of 6:15 p. NJ. ...
The Commission held q session tonight
in the Senate chamber, and Judge Hoadley
spoke for two hours and half. A recess
was then taken until 10 O'Clock tomorrow,
when. Matthews and Evarts will present the
other side, and Merrick will close for the
Democrats. 49,
g.. DENIAL FROM SPEAKER RANDALL.
Tonight Speaker Randall positively de-
MES that he has intended to resign. Re-
publieans say if he should resign they
would prevent delay of the count by voting
for any conservative Democrat who is OPP
posed to obstructing the count.
ASSOCIATED Press Reports by telegraph TO the Dis
.'.'''.... patch.1 !! ..s.... u
THE OBJECTIONS TO THE WATTS CERTIFICATE.
The objections to the Watts certificate
are ......... -.. ~
First. The papers purporting to be the
certificates OF the electoral votes of the State
of Oregon have not annexed to them GER
tifcate of the Governor OF Oregon, as re-
quired to be made and annexed by sections
1876 and 1873 Of the United States Revised
Statutes.
Second. The papers have not annexed to
them list of the names OF Cartwright,
Odell, and Watts as electors, to which the
seal Of the State Of Oregon was affixed by
the Secretary Of State, and signed by the
Governor and Secretary, as required by sec.
ton 60 of capter xiv, l.. 8, Of the general
laws Of Oregon.
Third. 1t was the right and duty OF the
Governor OF Oregon, under the laws OF
that State, to give a certificate OF election,
or appointment as electors, to John G. Cart
wright, William Fl. Odell, and +. A. Gro.
min, they being the three persons capable Of
being appointed presidential electors who
received the highest number OF votes at the
election held in Oregon on November Z
1876. ....-..... -..-.......,-
Fourth. Cartwright and Odell had nc
right or authority in law to appoint Watts
to be an elector on December 6, 1875, al
there was no vacancy in the office of presi
Dental elector on that day. 81
Fifth. Cartwright and Odell had no right
or authority IN law to appoint Watts ar
elector on December 6, 1876, inasmuch az
. they did not on that day compose or form
any part of the Electoral College OF Ore
gon, as by law constituted. e,
Sixth. Cartwright and Odell bad no au.
thority to appoint Watts as elector on De
!, cember 6, 1876, because on that day Watts
was still the postmaster at Lafayette
, Oregon, and was still on that day holding
tine said Office OF profit and trust. - 80.
Seventh. Watts, who claims to be .oar
elector in the aboye-described certificate,
was, in. February, 1885,. appointed, post.
master at Lafayette, Oregon, and was duly
commissioned and qualified as such post.
I master. That being an office OF profit and
, trust under the laws. of the United States,
and continued to be and act as such post
masterfrom February, 1873, until after No.
Yenber Is, 1876, and was acting as such
q. postmaster on November 7, 1876, when
4 presidential electors were appointed by the
;" State Of Oregon, and that he was ineligible
. TO- be appointed as one OF the said presi
Dental electors. @l3'.i go g4a, :;
1 Eighth. When the oyernbr Of Oregon
caused the lists OF the names ofthe electors
J, OF the State to be made and certified sucf
lists did hot contain the name Of said Watts
, but did contain the. names. OF Cartwright
OdeH. and Cronin,. who were duly appoint