The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-02-02

delicate information and was not dis
posed TO trust him. After had rea,
the letter from Gov.Wells, had conyer
sation with Gales Walker,and tlined will
him; ! talked with him about the elec
tion, but tnothing was said about dcclar
ing the result. Walker was the mar
with whom | operated when the sccon,
negotiation was attempted. He knew
nothing about any arrangements with
Wells. In consequence OF the conyersa,
ton with Walker, and on reelection,
concluded not to deliver the letter that
Sov. Wells wrote 10 Senator West
ulacussed tue contents OF that letter with
tue parry TO whom transferred ii.
" was there any arrangements be.
tween you and Colonel Pickett us 10 how
much money you were to get each.
A. Ibid nOt-know how much / was oo,.
that depended upon circumstances. ToI
Pickett said he did not care about tho
money except for charitable purposes.
Gov. Wells returned to the commit.
lee-room during the examination.
Witness stated, in reply to questions by
Mr.. Burchard, that he had frequently
chatted with Governor Wells about the
parish OF Rapides, in which witness once
owned plantation. After getting
through with their private tallS-they
had more room for political questions in
their ersation-Cioverno Wells
spoke Of the difficulties in the way, and
said that II he served the party he ought
to be paid for il, Witness did not think
he really wanted so much us million Of
dollars. Witness agreed TO represent the
case.
Jeremiah NJ. Wilson, counsel for the
Returning Board, said he desired that
Governor Wells and General Anderson
should be examined as TO the matters TO
which the witness had testified.
Committee adjourned until tomorrow.
INELIGIBLE ELECTORS.
Senator Mitchell, from the Committee
oil Privileges and Elections, made re.
port to the Senate to-day, under the last
clause Of Mr.. Edmundsl resolution, in.
structing that committee to inquire into
the eligibility to office under the Consti.
tuition, OF any persons alleged to have
been ineligible as Presidential electors on
the 9TH Of November lastto whom certif.
Gates OF election have been issued by ex.
ecutive authority Of any State. The re.
port covers three cases Of alleged ineligi-
bility as electors.
l. That Of Benjamin Williamson, Of
New Jersey.
.. That Of Gen. D. NJ. Frost, of Mis-.
souri,.
s. That of F. W. NJ. Holiday, of yir.
ginia.
In the case Of the New Jersey EIector,
the commission find that Williamson was
about % years ago appointed by the
U. s. Circnit Court, U. S. Commission.
er and that he never resigned the office.
The committee find, therefore that.said
Williamson was ineligible as an Eleelor.
On the 7th Of November last Williamson
resigned and did not attend the meeting
OF the Electoral College, and the vacancy
was filled by the Electoras present.
The committee find that under the
statute Of New Jersey the Electors could
legally fill such vacancy.
In the case Of Daniel NJ. Frost, Of Mis-.
souri,, the committee find that prior to
the rebellion he was in the U. s. Army;
had taken the oath required; had been
member OF the Missouri Legislature prior
TO that, and as such had taken the oath
to support the Constitution Of the United
States; also that he was an officer in the
Confederate army. The committee fur.
ther find that these facts rendered him
ineligible to be an elector under the third |
section OF the 18th amendment to the
Constitution. The committee also find |
that Frost received pardon from the |
President OF the United States on the 2Sth |
Of October, 1865. The committee also
find, MS conclusion Of law, that this par.
don did not effect or remove the disability
imposed by the 14th amendment, the re-
port holding that the disability cond not
be removed by two.thirds vote Of both
houses OF Congress. They also find, as 4
matter Of fact, that Frost did not attend
the meeting Of the Missouri Electoral
College, and that the alleged vacancy was
filed, or attempted to be filled, by the
electors present. The committee find
that under the statute OF the State OF
Missouri the electors present had no
power whatever to fill the vacancy occa-
stoned by the absence Of Frost, and their
act in attempting to do so was void. The
committee find that inasmuch as Frost
was ineligible to be an elector, he was
ineligible to be appointed.
: In the case Of Holiday, Of Virginia,
the Committee find that he was a Centen.
nial Commissioner at the time OF the elec. |
ton; that such office was one Of trust,undcr
the Constitution, and he was therefore
ineligible to be an elector. Holiday did
not attend the meeting Of the electoral
college, and those present filed the va
cancy, which the Committee find that
they could LEGALLY do under the stat
utesof Virginia. The Committee fur
ther find that should the doctrine as.
sumed by Gov. Grover, OF Oregon, be con-
ceded, which the Committee regard as
indefensible in either law or morals,
then Mr.. stifel, the Republican cnndi.
date in opposition to Frost in Missouri,
and Republican candidate in opposition
to Holiday, were each entitled to receive
certificate Of the Governor, and each
entitled 10 act as Presidential electors.
This report does not cover the Oregon
case, as the investigation in that case ia
under a special: resolution Of the Senate.
D. NJ. Watts, the alleged Ineligible
elector from Oregon, testified to-day be-
fore the Senate Committee on Privileges |
and Elections that he had not been post. |
master since the 14th Of November last,
when he teiegraphed his resignation to |
the Postmaster General, who corroborates
the testimony Of Watts.
Rules OF the Electoral Commits
sion.
WAHUINGToN Eahrnarv Thu EIa,