That Democratic
elector proceeded then to hold a meeting, at which he was
the only person present, and as the two Republicans whom everybody
admitted were lawfully chosen, did not meet with him, he proceeded
to fill two vacancies himself.
The Secretary of State made the canvass required by law,
recorded it and filed it in his office. He made that canvass
in the presence of the Governor. He could not change it.
He could not tamper with it. He had completed his official
duty when he had completed it. So that the Governor's certificate
as to the effect of the election was of no more official character
than a like certificate of the Governor-General of India would
have been.
There was no claim or pretence in any quarter that the Republicans
did not have a lawful majority of the votes cast for electors
in Oregon. The only claim was that one of the electors was
postmaster, and that he did not lawfully resign before he
was chosen elector. He was postmaster at the time of the
election, but resigned a few days later. He was also chosen
after he had resigned to fill the vacancy in the Electoral
College, if his ineligibility created a vacancy, in the regular
form according to the laws of Oregon.
Pages:
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664