The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-02
THE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL.

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 21.-The Electoral Com
mission met at p. M, all the members being
present. The papers received from the two
houses of Congress relating to the votes of
Oregon were read ana ordered prnteo. Sena-
tor Kelly, of Oregon. then proceeded to submit
his objections to certificate No. /. He said he
presumed that there would not be any dispute
Of the third objection, viz: That Watts was
Postmaster, and they were prepared with proof
TO sustain the allegation. If this was an office
of profit or trust, the constitutional inhibition
was as clear as language could make il. Mr.
Kelly argued that if Watts was not qualified
on the It'll of November, when the cleo
ton took place, he could not be elected at any
subsequent election. He contonded that by
the constitution and laws of Oregon the person
receiving the next highest number Of votes was
entitled to be declared elector, and that the
Governor had right to inquire into and decide
the question of the eligibility of electors. Rep
resentative jerks next addressed the commas
sion on the Democratic side. Senator Mitchell
then presented the objections in behalf of the
Republicans. In his argument he said there
was no law in Oregon authorizing the Gov
ernor TO certify minority candidate
elected. The Legislature of Oregon might have
provided that electors should be appointed by
the Governor, the Supreme Court, or Secretary
of State, but it did not but it did direct that the
people, the qualified electors, shall by plural
Oh 10 cast tne different precincts.
choose electors. Behind this ultimate deter
mination of the Canvassing Board neither the
Governor of the State nor the tribunal whose
final duty it is to count the votes for President
and Vice President, whether il be the President
of the Senate, the two houses of Congress, or
the Electoral Tribunal, can rightfully go.
Judge Hoadley then addressed the commission
on behalf of the Democratic directors
BE contended that the action of Gov. Grover in
withholding a certificate from Watts, who was
clearly ineligible, and giving it to Cronin, the
next highest candidate, was legal throughout,
and that there is nothing in the law of Oregon
which authorizes any such certificate or exem-
plification as is presented by the supporters of
certificate No. /. He said "My proposition
IL that the State of Oregon, through her State
officers, has spoken and the result of that speech
as here in the certificates given to Cronin Odell
and Cartwright. These are the only legitimate,
lawful evidences of the act of Oregon i'm
this matter. / submit that the certificate or
hist signed by the Governor and Secretary of
State of Oregon and delivered to the College of
Electors is final and conclusive evidence. Why
were the Governor and Secretary required TO
sign this list? 1t is because the chief executive
of the State and the canvassing officer should
unite in declaring who is elected. and when
thus signed their signatures give it the con-
elusive and final evidence which is required
At the conclusion of Mr.. Hoadleys argument
the commission adjourned for the day.
THURSDAY, Feb. 22.-Judge Stanley Matthews
addressed the commission in opposition to the
Cronin certificate (No. p. He contended that
the Governors certificate fell to the ground
when il was shown that it was not a war
rant TO the electors for the performance of
their duties. The law Of Oregon required
that the votes for electors should be given.
received, returned and canvassed the same
AS for members of Congress-, and in the case
of members of Congress it was made the
dnty of the Secretary Of State to canvass the
votes, and there the statutory directions end.
The statute in relation to electors further
provided that the Secretary of State should
certify two hsts, showing who had received
the highest number of votes and there the
canvass ended. The constitution and the
law stamped that record the legal
and constitutional result of the election |
MIR. Matthews combsted the proposition that
the inehgibility Of Watts made non-elec- |
ton, or that the votes cast for an ineligible |
candidate were void. For the Governor 10 |
take upon himself executive, judicial and |
legislative powers was 10 bring about n
that would make the confusion
II the Government inextricabe. At the con-
'luson Of Mr. Matthews argument Judge