Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1853-01-01
The Tie Vote.

BY the returns made by the commission.
ers Of the election on Monday last, there
appears a tie vote between Messrs. BAL.
LEY, DUNCAN and fiATcH-candidates for
seats in the Legislature. Aside from the
authority o%ftliese commissioners, a ques.
ton las been raised !: Whether a tie &C:
tually existed.--The question arises from
the fact, that there were some five gentle
men keeping the count, as well as two
authorized ~tallyinen /; after the count had
proceeded for some considerable distance,
the error occnrred-by which the author
lied tallymen cried "tally for HATCH"
when the other gentlemen were only
"four"-this difference was mentioned,
but the commissioners had proceeded too
far to admit Of a commencement, the
error was not rectified, and the count
proceeded-two tallymen giving Mr..
HATCH a italy vote while five others
equally competent and disihterested gave
him but flour"
Had the vote not been 90 close There
would have been no occasion for a recount
or another election but the one ote
with which MI. HATCH has been accred-
tied, shouldit not belong to him would
elect the other two. These are the
grounds upon which Messrs. BAILEY and
DUNCAN solicit a recount Of the votes.
This recount has been denied them, and
why and by whom? One Of the commits
sioners was in favor of a recount, another
could see no authority for such a proceed
ing, but if such could be shown his obiec.
ton would be waived-while the other,
sternly and ~obstinately refused justice to
interested-he had no author
ity to recount the votes We must tell
him that justice should have been his
authority that when he, sworn aud COM
missioned. took his seat as commissioner
Of an election. justice should have been
his sole aim. and he should have consen-
ted to a recount of the votes p~olled--it
would have been but the rectifying of a
mistake-and such is not without a prece-
dent. He will remember that in the cleo
lion for Representatives in the last Legis-
lature, q mistake occurred, by whicha can
lidate was accredited with an hundred
votes more than be received the error
pointed II to this gentleman, aud
ne without hesitation, rectitied the figures
by which the candidate was defeated.
This was but just and right, aud the seat
vas given TO whom it was due.
Now the present case is but an error
md the abose mnst serve rs d precedent
fthe commissioners had the right to alter
they certaluiy had the right to re-
count the votes aud ia justice the votes
ihould have been r~econnted. II no mis-
AXE should occur on d recount, no harm
will be done. but If the tally Of these ave
gentlemen should be sustained, Messrs,
BAILEY aud DUNCAN will take their seats.
ind the expense o. another election will be
aved.
It mus be observed that this error 90
'urred at the t~hirty-ninsh ballot-the ap-
tallyman making forty votes for
dr HATCH while the other gentlemen
we're only thirty nine The error was
laimed to be righted. and one 81 the CON-
n~issioners assured the gentlemen that. II
q error should appear At the end, the
should Be recounted
Il is in conclusion. but due % say thai
bis error Is ~nnintentional, that il i "a
onest difference belween Tie tallynen-
i il also due 80 say that ]. 81
)UrRocQ i decidedly Of opinion that the
should 81 counted over And Tint ]
N, JoNEs Esq. offered no serious sob.
'ction-and the consent Of {. ". CuRrs. !
Esq, was only required y ensure !
BEAL has Just re0eixed anothsr I
voics q Csndles, Chess. Infd III !
. which re attsntien 81 ihs md snd
'isurners aze generally soIicitsd. d