The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1877-03-01

nus resloence, on the 23d 10 render decision
in the Oregon case.
order by Justice Clifford, President. and a
vote was taken on the following proposition.
which had been intorpaasty SUBMIT dis
session:
Resolved, That the certificate signed bv Z.
A. Cronin, J. N. T. Miller and John Parker.
purporting to cast the electoral vote of the
State OF Oregon, does not contain or certify the
constitutional votes to which the State is en-
titled.
Justice Field offered the following as sub
stitute:
Whereas, J. W. Watts, designated in Ger
tificate No. l as an elector OF the State of
Oregon for President and Vice President, on
the day Of election, viz: the 7th day of No
under the United States, therefore
Resolved, That said J. W. Watts was then
ineligible to the Office OF elector within the
express terms OF the constitution
Rejected.ayes 7; nays 8-as follows:
Yeas as-Abbott, Bayard, Clifford, Field, Hun
ton, Thurman, Payne-7.
Nays-Bradley, Edmunds, Frelinghuysen,
Garfield, sa, Hoar, @ Miller, Morton, strong::-S.
OF November, 1876, in the State OF Oregon for
electors of President and Vice President, w.
H. Odell, J. w. Watts and J. c. Cartwright re-
electors: but
WHEREAS, Said Watts, then holding an
office OF trust and profit under the United
States, was ineligible to the Office of elector,
therefore
Resolved, That said Odell and Cartwright
were the only persons duly elected at said
election, and there was failure on the part OF
the State to elect third elector.
Rejected-ayes Z; nays 8-the same vote in
detail as the preceding:
Justice Field then offered the following:
WHEREAS, The Legislature of Oregon has
elector under the act Of Congress where there
was failure to make choice on the day pre-
scribed by law, therefore
Resolved, That the attempted selection OF
the third elector by the two persons chosen,
was imperative and void.
Rejected-ayes 7, nays s-as above.
Mr.. Bayard then offered the following:
Resolved, That the vote of ". II. Odell
and the vote OF J. c. Cartwright, cast for
rutherford B Hayes, of Ohio, Tor President Of
the United States, and for William A. Whee-
Ter, OF New York, for Vice President of the
United States, were the votes provided for by
the constitution OF the United States, and that
the aforesaid Odell and Cartwright, and they
tors in the State Of Oregon, At the election
held November z, 1876, tsTere having been a
failure at said election to appoint third elec-
tor in accordance with the constitution and
laws of the United States and the laws of the
State OF Oregon, and that the two votes afore-
said should be counted and none others from
the State Of Oregon.
Rejected-yeas Z, nays 8.-as above.
A vote was then taken on Edmunds oriQin-
al proposition, and it was adopted-yeas Is =;
nays none.
Mr.. Morton then offered the following
Resolved, That w. H. Odell, J. C. Cartwright
and J. W. Watts, the persons named as elect
ors in certificate No. l, are the lawful electors
OF the State OF Oregon, and that their votes are
the votes provided tor by the constitution OF
the United States, and should be counted for
President and Vice President of the United
States.
MIR. Hunton moved to strike out the name
OF J. w. Watts.
Disagreed to-yeas !; nays 8.
Mr.: Morton's resolution was then adopted
yeas !; nays z, as follows:
Yeas-Bradley, Garfield, Morton, Edmunds,
Hoar, Strong, Frelinghuysen, Miller-8.
Nays-Abbott, Field, Payne, Bayard, Hun
ton, Thurman, Clifford-7.
The decision OF the Commission was then
drawn up and signed by the eight members
voting in the affirmative.
The report sets fourth the election
~ sSosto W sAC OtACI tWO mSmUGTS OF the
electoral college was in accordance with the
constitution and laws of Oregon. The grounds
Tor the decision, so far as they concern the
eligibility of Watts, are substantially that it
is competent to go behind the certificate of
the Governor so lar as the same is not founded
upon the action of the canvassing or return
ing authority provided tor by the laws OF the
is held to be the Secretary Of State.
When the decision became known the
Democrats in the House held caucus and
resolved to delay action on the reLort until
Monday the Goth. Quite number of Demo-
cratssbolted and refuse to be bound by the
caucus.
The two Houses of Congress met in
joint convention at noon on the oath to re-
ceive the report of the Electoral Commission
relative to the vote of Oregon. The report
having been made the Democrats objected ia
its reception, and the two Houses separated
to consider the objections. After two hours
debate the Senate decided to accept the re-
port and the House to reject it. The Joint con-
vention again assembled, and this result be-
ing announced Oregon was counted for
hayes. The count then proceeded and Penn
charge being that Daniel J. Morrell, one Of
the electors was centennial commissioner.
The two Houses again separated and the
Senate promptly voted to overrule the OBJ
lection but the House took recess until Nor
day without action. Early in the day mi
nority Of the Democrats in the
House had endeavored to DELAY
without action on Oregon. but this was de-.
feated by vote Of 169 to SO. Several dilatory
motions were ruled out Of order by Speake
Randall, and the intention of the majority
seemed to be to act in good faith.
On the Goth the joint convention of
both honses of Congress resumed its work
and in spite of objection Pennsylvania and
other States were counted until South Caro-
lima was reached. That State was referred to
the electora commission which heard arm
ment in tae matter ON the 9th.