The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1877-07-19
The Electoral Conspiracy.


their eyes upon the record, and re-
fused to see show many and what
persons were duly appointed elec-
tors" BY, the people, but listened ca
getly to the evidence (aliunde though
it was) which showed show many
and what persons" had been desig-
mated by the returning officers. 1t
was ultimately held (eight to seven)
that the appointees of the returning
board we're duly appointed, and the
appointees of the people were unduly
appointed. Did the eight suppose
that the legal power to make such an
appointment was vested by law in
the returning board2 Did they think
it was not vested in the people3 No,
that is impossible. But they may
have conscientiously believed that
the interest of their faction would be
we'll served by Hayes election
They may have been prompted by
virtuous admiration of carpet bag
government, and were sincerely aux>
fous to savo it from Mr.. Tilden's re-
form.
IT'S PETTIFOGGING,
But this decision in favor of fraud
which 80 shocked the common sense
and common honesty OF the nation
was not made without some attempt
to justify it. The eight gave reasons
so many and 80 PLAUSIBLE that Kel-
logg and Wells must have chuckled
with delight when they heard them.
One argument very seriously urged
was that it would be troublesome,
and required great deal of time, to
ascertain who was duly appointed by
the people. 1t was much easier to
accept the false vote and say no more
about it. To decide how many and
what persons got certificates from
the returning board was short and
simple process; but to push the in
quiry behind that-to inquire wheth.
or the certificate was honest, to look
for tho evidence which would show
who were duly appointed-hic labor
opus est. The seven reminded the
eight, but reminded them in vain,
that the due appointment, which no
body in the world except tho people
had the least right to make, was the
very thing which they were to find
out; and they could not be excused
from a duty to which they were
pledged and sworn by the mere in
convenience of performing it. Be
sides, the eight knew very we'll that
there was no difficulty in it; it was
but looking at the record of the ap-
pointment as the people n ado it mp;
they could read it as they ran; the
truth was palmer than the lie; the
honesty Of the case was easily seen as
the fraud. But no persuasion could
influence them to cast even glance
at tho actual appointment. What did
they think this commission was made
tor? Why was this great combination
OF learning and statocraft set up. Ac-
cording to the eight its sole purpose
was, not to determine any matter in
dispute between the parties, but
merely to declare that the returning
boards had certified for the Hayes
electors; which everybody know al
ready, and nobody ever denied. If it's
object was what the law said-to do =.
eide who were duly appointed-then
tho eight succeeded in making it
merely a splendid alteration, because,
among other reasons, 1t was too much
trouble to make it anything else.
HEDGING FOR OREGON.
But the commission, following tho
lead of counsel for Mr.. Hayes, insisted
that the certificate of tho proper State
officer ought to be regarded as con.
clnsive evidonco of the appointment
made by the people. 1t is undoubt-
edly true that tho State has O right to
speak on this subject through her
own organs, and when she does 80
speak, her voice should be regarded
as true. But what officer is her proper
organl The Governor beine her Dos
litical chief, and his certificate beinp
required by act of Congress, it would
not have been unreasonable to hold
that IT. vaA of,nclusiuo unlo,o .:.I