New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-03-09
but which we trust may yet
"Touch Gods right hand IN tina. darkuess.
And be lfied mn aud ttrengilenedn

And be Ehed up aud strengthened"
In May last the biennial election for President Vice
President Senators and Representatives, held in this
Republic. and the adherents Of the Hon. f. ]. Roye OBJ
tanned large majority in the County of Since the
adherents Of the actual President, j. g. Payne. Soon
after the election the Sheriff OF that country placed the
votes and of the election IN the hands Of mes
senger TO be conveyed to MonrOva, tho capitol, ald
placed in the Office Of the Secretary of STATE. The
Lberan Constitution requires returns Of votes
shall be made the Secretary of State, who shall open
the same and forth issue notices Of the election TO
the persons apparently elected Senators and Repre-
seDatiyes" But strange as IL may appear large crowd
81 excited assembled and declared that the returns
should be sent by that messenger aud finally they
concluded TO possession OF the returns and votes
themselves which they did, IN spite OF the Sheriff. and
gave them In charge Of two OF their number who as
happened had been Judges OF the election ~ some one
Of the polls election day These kept possession
Of the and votes for month or more and then
sent them up MOnrOyia box of freight on board
OF vessel belonging of the foreign traders resi-
dent here When the box arrived Monrovia some Of
the leading OF the Roye party tried to induce the
Secretary State by persuasons and threats TO receive
the box said to contain the Since return When II was
brought andopened the papers therein were declared to
be the from Snoe and the persons appearing by
those papers to be elected ordered to be added
to the list furnished by the Secretary OF State,
and declared duly members OF the House of Representa-
ives The Constitution declares that "the returns Of
shall be made TO the Secretary OF State. who shall
open the same, and forthwith Issue notices OF the cleo
ton to the persons apparently elected Senators and
Representatives and such returnIshal be by him laid
before the Legislature at It's ensuing session. to-
geher with list OF the of the persons who appear
by such returns 10 have been duly iected Senators and
Representatives and the appearing by such
be duly elected shall proceed To organize them
selves accordingly the Senate and House Of Repre-
senatiyes The votes for President shall be sorted
hv he ~ lives
&C.. &c.
The dominant party in the House would not permit the
roll or list Of names furnished by the Secretary 10 be
read until they had added TO 1t the OF the persons
appearing TO be elected by the papers found In the box
and although there was present quorum OF legally
returned members who should have proceeded TO organ
lie. and then attend TO the matter OF the Since
members yet the dominant party would not permit
IT, They were determined that their partisans from
Since should be admitted, and they, being allowed to
vote on the question: willing to 70 10 any extreme
even the violation OF the Constitution 70 obtain their
seats The House then appointed Committee on Elec-
tions composed OF OF the Payne and four OF MT.
Royes partzans who finally declarediMr ROye the Pres
ident although It b the impression OF nearly all the ct
Gems that Mr. Payne had received majority OF the popu.
lar vote What confirms this impression Is the fact that
the Election Committee made no report to the House as
to how they arrived at tho conclusion that MI koyo was
elected nor would the House allow any questions TO be
the President but declared that the report must be voted
ON without question or debatel
This box and contents remained at the store OF the
merchant who had brought them 70 monrovia until the
frs Monday in December last, when the Legislature a.
sembled. and that day the persons claiming 10 DO
elected from Since County entered the House OF Repre-
sentatves with the other members and when the clerk
Of the late House called House 10 order they TOOK
seats with the rest IL was ordered that the secre
tary OF State should lay before the House the returns OF
the election held In the several In May last. with
list Of the names Of the persons elected according 10
those returns This done, and II being feared thht
no returns from the County Of Since had been sent
another message was sent 10 the Secretary for ten VINO
replied that returns from that county had been for
wardcd TO Ills Office, question then arose
as 10 the right OF the persons who had
not been legally returned, TO take part IN The
organization Of the House, but tho Clerk ruled that
they had right 10 take part In tho organization ana
they allowed 10 speak aud vote the question
Of their right TO seats in tho House Their sd'"s