The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-01-05
THE LATEST
THE OREGON CASE
Governor Grover Testifies as to
His Course,

National Associated Press to the Star.
WASHINGTON, d. G., Jan. Ex-Governor
Grover, Of Oregon, in his direct examir-
tion before the Subcommittee of the
Committee on Privileges and Elections,
Senator Herman examining, stated that
the act Of Congress requires the Gov
ernor to cause certificates TO be pre-
pared.
The certificates were prepared by the
Secretary OF State, by my order, and de-
liyered to the Electors at the time OF the
meeting. l bad nothing further to do
with the matter. Alter giving the GER
tifcates to the Secretary nothing oc-
CURED between myself and Cronin in
regard to any action to be taken in the
premises.
The conclusion l came to was the only
one l could under the law.
Governor Grover said that he studied
laN i'll Philadelphia, was admitted to
The bar in 1850, and practIced after
wards.
Cross-examination by Senator Nor
ton-IIy opinion was prepared alter the
protest had been filed, although the au-
thorities were all collated before the
day the decision was announced, the
9Th. L received letter from Judge
Hoadly, of Cincinnati, containing some
points in regard to decisions in Indiana
and New York. have never seen
Judge Hoadly's brief as published in
the Cincinnati Commercial.
Got the letter about a week befn.e rem.
dering my dec sion; was not acquainted
with Judge Hoadiyy; he did not state in
mis- !eCVer "nether he wrote at the sug-
sesE..un OF third party. l knew by the
sworn papers filed in my office that DE-.
Watts was Postmaster att Lalay ette !;
they were exparte af1laYits filed by Cit
| liens oil that town.
GOV. Grover claimed that the Surreme
Court o! the State oil Oregon had de5iied
| that the Governor is the cOnseryalor of
the Constitution and the judge of the
! eligibility Of candidate when that eIigi-
bility was called into question i'll a
proper manner.
| The case heard was not reported, and
he had letter from the Chief Justice
giving the reason, why it was not done.
| He considered the decision a judicial de :
| termination that he had right to act in
similar cases.
Governor Grover, in answer to Senator
Morton, said his construction OF the
stajute vas that he was to give the GER
| tlhcate to the person having received
the largest number OF legal votes and
| being Constitutional y eligible. The
act of Congress conflicts with the State
| law regarding the preparation OF cerLii-
| Gates, the former requires the Governor
| 10 cause them to be prepared, and the
latter directs the Secretary Of State TO
prepare them.
lie considered the law OF Congress
paramount. The Secretary put on
lists the names Of all oaldidates and the
votes received by them, but one of the
candidates having been alleged and
proven to be Ineligible, his name was
lett of the certificates.
| Quesuon-Was that not direct VIC T.
| tlUh otthe statutes Of Oregon?
| Answer-The laws Of OREGON count
as nothing when coming into conflict
with the Constitution of the Ualted
| states. Ii member OF Congress was
proven to be an alien or cOnstltututioL-
ally ineligible, L should decline to give
| him a certificate of election.
,n1estloh-Do you not know that Con.
oress mas decided in several instances
fnat each H. use is the sole judge OF the
qualifications or rs members?
Answer-I do not pro,n nose to interfere
with Legal prerogatives Of Uu"..@'ress, but
will not, under any crcumstances, pre-
claim a lie and declare a person dul,'
elected who has been proven to be H.
eligible.
Governor Grover stated that he did not
have any correspondence with parties
in New York in reference to his action.
although he had received dispatches and
letters from there.
He got one dispatch from Senator
Gwynn, saying Watts was alleged to be
ineligible, anu asking what time there
would be to determine this matter. In
answer to this dispatch Mr. Gwynn was
informed that there were seven days.