The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-23
FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT

rBE POSTMASTER GENERAL
Mr.. Postmaster General ryner was called by Mr.
Evarts. telegram was produced and admitted, from
Watts 10 Postmaster General 1yncr saying
county. Oregon. Answer by telegraph.
This received on the morning OF November IA,
aud The same day answer sent saying
Your RESIGNATION .s Postmaster 1t Lafayette yamhl
county, Oregon bearing d"!e SOysmtsr U.s. ISIS hereby
Aiterward received o letter the 9th Of December
by course OF the mail through j. II. Underwood. ad
dressed to Underwood AS Special Agent OF The Post
ONCE Department, In which Watts rendered to HIM bis
resignation as postmaster
To Mr.. Evarts-Underwood was Special Agent OF the
Post Office Department. With official and personal resi-
dence IN Oregon on the 14th OF November witness
telegraphed TO Underwood that Watts mad resi- sned
AMI directing him take charge OF the oicc TIL his
successor was appointed; same day received "a reply
that the telegram had been received; would take
charge OF me once mat evenings on Tue 24tn OF no.
IN accordance with instructions OF the 14th inst he
had taken charge OF the Office the evening OF that
show the details connection with the OF
Watts and the appointment and qualification OF his
successor.
Mr.. Thurman inquired II there was any law or rule
Of the department that required the accounts OF u
postmaster 10 he settled before his resignation could
The Postmaster General replied that no was not
aware OF any.
TESTIMONY OF ELEcroR WATTS
Mr. Evarts then called John NJ Watts
MI Watts after the statement that he the post
master at Lafayette Yam Hi county. Oregon, said
that he resigned his Office the l3t h day OF Novem-
Der by telegram, and received acceptance OF IL on
the l4th Of November by telegram; he knew J. b.
Underwood, special agent OF the Post Once Depart
ment, and knew him in November last; on the I4th
day OF November Dir. Underwood showed him a teie-
gram that be said no had received from the Postmaster
General directing him to take charge OF the Office
he (Wsttsl immediately delivered It to him made his
settlement with nm and turned verifying
He was asked the question: "Did you sottlc tho
counts OF your Office with himy" aud replied ~ did"
Continuing he said that the business was kept IN his
drug store but that upon his resignation Il was re-
n IN hta
store, 70 tho drug store OF Lttcnsd Hill; no did not
act as postmaster AZ all alter the 14th of November,
nor was the Office kept upon his place after that Mr.
Hill, AZ he understood, was appointed by Mr. Under
wood, who renamed there two three days himself
in opening up the ONCE before Mr.. Hill wac ready TO
Judge Green In cross asked IL no was
candidate for tho Office OF Presidential eector In No
vember last
Mr. Evarts said that he did not object to that In
curry, except for the mere purpose OF Identification
Judge Green said that was enough.
The witness rcsuming said that Eugene City was at
the head of Yam Hill Valley about seventy i've miles
or little more from Lafayette.
Judge Green asked him the question: ''Have you
as Postmaster In Lalayettef"
fully settled in this way; there commission yet
coming to and few dollars that aid pay over
TO Underwood he stating that there was commission
would about balance; all the rest paid TO him.
He was asked II his account had been adjusted be-
tween himself and the auditing officer OF the depart
ment and replied not that he knew Of; he went to
them and they said they had sent full statement to
him. but in point OF he had not received It when
he lett, about the 18th oil December.
THE POST OFFICE AUDITOR.
). NJ. hcGrcw was next sworn, and examined by Mr..
Evarts, saying in response 10 inquiries that the
tlement Of postmascrs' accounts under his do
partment the account OF Mr. Watts had been settled
emolumcnts and salary nxcd by that settlement, to
which the witness answered, 'sTo and including tho
14th OF November 1876; that was the last account
rendered by the postmaster Z"
Judge Green, IN crosse ami nation asked the wit.
ness H. Sixth Auditor, he had charge Of the adj
mont OF the accountsO i this postmaster
The witness replied that he had and these accounts
were audited some time during the last month, Janu.
airy; his accounts were received in the office
1lh day OF December last, and his final about
the l4th OF November 1876 the account OF the Audit
ing department took place some lime in the month OF
there were 81, 900 other accounts 10 settle.
THIS closed the testimony, and Mr. Evarts was in
vted to close the argument the part OF the repuD
Leans.
SPEECH OF Mn EvARTs
Mr.. Evarts occupied the nTst i've minutes of his
time by restatng the various propositions which he
aud his colleagues had the Florida and LOUIS
lana case insisting that they had strictly adhered 10
them in this case as ar as they applied He SAID that
the counsel upon the other side had themselves ID
the prolonged discussion maintained, as matter Of
law and upon authority, not only the position he
10 the action OF Stale bringing clector into
execution OF ms power as an eeclor but as he
understood the accomplished and experienced
lawyer who yesterday represented the argu.
ment OF thor opponents, that he was until
quo warranto until certiorari disturbed his decision
dc acto and de juro representative Of the Office
Now, said he, never having had doubt that before
many weeks had passed the universal judgment OF this
country would sustain these positions that were
espoused, and that have been adopted by this com.
mission, confess that did not expect so signal aud
immediate seal upon that expectation present
immediate avowal and espousa and maintenance vi
those positions, and welcome this as great aid
and necessary to the irresponsible and rash COM
mcntaries that have been made IN various public
those and III the PUBLIC
understand that IN securing that unanimity
OF profession so desirable a community, accus-
toned TO look upon the law the safety and welfare
Of the State, that this ana this achcr-
cnce will 20 far 10 unsetle any rising disposition Tor
further contest on the subject You have decided
questions OF constitutional law; you have decided
them In the presence oil great the people,
and you have decided them In way that will make
take other competitions aud bo forwarded IN the inter-
ests' OF other parties. For what you have done for
what you shall do principles oil the constitution and
the maintenance Of the laws Of this country In tho
great transaction Of Presidential election are made
certain, intellgible, rational md sound.
THE OREGON CASE.
Now, IN Oregon II Is very PLAN That nm election was
hello, ana through all its stages conducted with an
ontre observance OF all the requirements OF the law
and with an entire acceptance the par, of the whole
population OF the election and It's UP the last
stage, and OF its having beer according TO law unqres
toned IN integrity and In justice; that that result
reached by the authentic of the votes by the
proper authority and In the proper presence Ali that
disturbed this result alter the completion Of
the election aud It's certhcaton az completed by the
It's certIfcation by the officer OF the State
charged with the duty Of canvassing aud Of certifying
That remains OF record now IN the SECRETARY
Of States Office, undisturbed. undisputed, unques-
toned That Is the tact upon which tho title OF the
electors for President and vico Prcsdeut for the State
Of oregon rests, therefore there remained nothing
BIO done ON the part OF any official OF that State under
the terms Of the constitution OF the United States
nothing whatever; and under the law Of Congress
there remained but ono act 10 be performed-to
w.t. the provision by the Executive OF the State aud
tile delivery 10 tho Electoral College was clected
keQ n mans tof
authorization, tho action OF the Electoral College
VALIDITY OF CERTIPcArB l.
shall proceed with the inquiry into tho validity Of
the vote OF the three electors first certificate as
II rests upon the vote in your possession proceeding
from the State, delivered into tho hands OF the Presi
dent oil the Senate, opened before the two houses OF
Congress and now deposited with you evidence for
you 10 regard What. thcn does certificate No con.
lain And ask your attention to parts OF It that
now shall designate.
Mr.. Evarts then quoted from the language of tho
certificate as presented before the commission. He
then quoted the constitutional provisions on that sub
ect and SAID that the certificate presented BY OdelL
Cartwright and Watts fully complied with those pro-