Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-11-15
strong's Weak Defense.
Nashville American.

j We publish below from the
New York San of Tuesday, a
letter written to Justice Strong,
tone~ Of the Electoral Commits
sion, by Hon. George w. Jones,
of this State, and the reply of
Judge Strong. 1t will be OBJ
served that the latter justifies
ihisyote solely by casting around
it the shield of technical law,
and nowhere intimates any
stronger ground on which the
Idecision could rest:
"FAYETTEyILLE, Tenn, Oct.
is, 1877 Hon. Charles A. Da-.
na-Dear Sir: During the sit
ting Of the Electoral Commits
sion in Washington, last VIM
tier, / wrote to Mr.. Justice
Strong, Of the United States
ISupreme Court, and member
of the Commission, with whom
| had been associated formerly
in Congress. | did not keep a
copy of my letter, but address,
ing him, | wrote in substance
as follows:
when you and | were in
Congress together you were a
democrat, and regarded as an
honest man.. DO you believe
that the people of Louisiana e.
lected or voted for the Hayes
electors?' M
81 enclose herewith a copy
/ of Justice Strong's letter in re-
sponse to mine. If you think
his letter worth publishing You
are at liberty to give it to the
Ipublic. 4
'1n my reply to Justice
StroIg's letter | wrote: BY
the Constitution of the United
States it is provided that Presi-
dental electors shall be appoin-
ted in such manner as shall be
prescribed by the State Legisla-
lures; but the returns Of the
electoral votes are to be returned
to the President Of the Senate,
and shall be opened in the pres
ence Of the Senate, and be then
counted. Congress clearly has
the right to inquire and deter
mine whether or not the electors
of the several States had been
appointed in the manner pre-
iscribed by their respective
States
'1never write secrets nor keep
copies of the letters / write.
And | do not believe that the
official acts of public servants
and the reasons for their acts
should be regarded as private
and secret. Very respectfully |
yours, G. w. JONES"
"WAsHINGToN, Feb. 26.--I
The Hon. George w. Jones-My |
dear sir: | was a Democrat |
when you and l were together in
Congress. | am a Democrat
now. | hold to all the opinions
the State Rights Democrats have
always held, and to which the
acknowledged leaders of the
party have avowed up to the
present winter-never more
clearly than in 1873 to 1876.
'I do not believe that Con-
gress has any constitutional
right to inquire into State cleo
tions for State electors.
+ Congress has of late years
interfered quite too much with
the States. The Electoral Com
mission has no more power than
Congress has, and | think it
would be a most dangerous usur-
patton, were it 10 do what the
States alone have a right to do,
even to cure what | fear was a
great wrong of the Louisiana
Returning Board.
81 cannot doubt that such
will be your opinion when you
reflect to what the assertion of
such, a power would lead. 1t
would place the 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.
"Better suffer a present evil
than open such door, better
than abandon all the time-hon-
ored principles of the Demo-
cratic party. / am yours, very |
respectfully, "W. STRONG.