The Vote That Made the President. Field David Dudley

Grant, President United States.

      When the letter was written does not appear. It is certain that Brewster was acting as Surveyor-General on the 10th of November.

      On the 16th of November a letter was addressed to the Commissioner of the General Land-Office, as follows:

Department of the Interior,

Washington, November 16, 1876. }

      Sir: I have received the resignation of Mr. Orlando H. Brewster, Surveyor-General of Louisiana, which he has requested may take effect immediately. Please inform Mr. Brewster that his resignation has been accepted by the President, to take effect November 4th instant, that being the date of his letter of resignation to this Department.

Very respectfully,

Z. Chandler, Secretary.

      At what time, if ever, the Commissioner informed Brewster of the acceptance of his resignation we do not know, but it could not have been earlier than the 20th of November.

      On the morning of the 6th of December, the four men who assumed to act as the Returning Board of Louisiana filed in the office of the Secretary of that State a certificate that Brewster, with seven other persons, had been appointed presidential electors. There was then on the statute-book of Louisiana this enactment: