The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-02-15
David NJ. Key.

When the electoral vote Of Oregon was UNI
der discussion IN the Senate. DAVID NJ. KEY,
then u Democratic Senator from Tennessee
and now de tdctO PostmasterG OF the
Fraudulent Administration. contcndcd We
hemently that the rule applied to the Louis
lana case, of accepting as final the decision
Of the Returning Board, should also be APP
piled to Oregon. We quote from his speech
OF Dec. H. 1876:
Now II all this be true Of Louisiana aud its Returning
Board. 1t l. equally true that Oregon says how her
electors shall he elected The United States have
power To interfere with her laws Her laws and her tri
bunas her mole Of cunc sting and returning have to be
regarded. In other words the laws Vi oregon con.
siuic the Secretary vi state and Governor its returning
board
"Itshy the laws OF oregon this must be decided,
and by the laws Oregon the Secretary VI state and Gov
ernor required to upon these returns They have
done 50. aud bound TO give their decision the
that would be given To the supreme Court
the United Their decision Is nnal according
the law Of oregon and the supreme law " the land
This he So II the position assumed by the senator
from ohio Mr. sHKRsAS) be true II We may gO behind
the certificate the o,.rno of oregon aud review aud
change his decision. may, In like manner go behind
the certificates OF the Returning Board in Louisiana aud
review aud determine the ments Of its decision"
These views are unQuestonably sound,
and the Senate and the Electoral Commission
were forced Ia contradict their own dcclara-
tions In rejecting them, In order to consum-
mate the great Fraud. But Mr.. KEY did not
stop here. For instance
our Govcrnmen, Is weak indeed ifi,s Administration
to he cho.,nh, the action Of stunning Boards GOV
against the will OF the people ltswcak indeed
II We maN not behind the iraudu nj decision of X,
turning Board Governor ad must accept /, nnal.
though may know II erroneous or corrupt and
thus allow the Will Of the people to be tlwartcd
On the eth of last November. majority OF the peop,
Of the United states amounting tutwo hundred and forty
eight Thousand. about that. counting the votes Of
Louisiana. South Carolina. and FLORIDA determined by
the Returning Boards declared that they desired that
saNttLJ fiDts shouldhe President nj The United Stairs
III the If tie nalorit, shall he sthcd and di,rc.
gafded. the proud boast OF republican institutions w he
gone and the nod ct faction beck VI the yrant Will
take the place OF the peoples voice
II supported Mr. Tllpi> ani Mr. HiNpRicNs because
thought them IN every worthy Tor the high offices to
which they esprcd. Ny opinion NJ Of them la.
chansed None ot them De sire the offices Tor which they
supported agan. the will the people express
ed under ia. mcth'Sis provided by law
When this speech WAS made, KEY looked
forward I" tn" confirmation Of MIR. TILDENs
election. and had his eye sharply set on an
Office. IL his hope and expectation should Ice
fulfilled. But the eight by-seven Commits
sion upset his calculations, and then he
changed front. and became suppiant for
the place he now holds, Ia the disgust of
honorable men Of both parties. Il II sur
prsing that Republicans. whom he ar
raigncd for fraud, and Democrats whom he
betrayed fol price. should regard this man
with contempt and distruss, KEY il not
alone in his trcachcry and vonallty. Others
calling themselves Democrats We're equally
corrupt. and when 1t Is proposed to tear OF
the mask that now hides the bargain and
sale 10y means Of which HAYES entered the
Whit" House by the back door. they are
foremost in connecting devices 10 stiie In
NcstigntiOn