New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-09-15
COyERNOn WARMOTH,s POWER.

We copy this extract from an editorial il,
the Southern Standard. published in Jack.
son parish. The tone of the paper is gen
orally unfriendly to the Republicans, but it
has the manliness to utter some plain truths
which may tend to relieve the fears of those
who suppose the election Will not be con-
Quoted fairly:
There is no concealing the fact that some
of the more timid of our fellow-citizens are
manifesting considerable uneasiness as to
the manner in which Governor WarmOth
and his cO-returning officers may use the
power conferred upon them by the late cleo
ton bill. This arises in some degree from
ignorance Of the actual provisions of the
law, and also from a natural suspicion of
everything that is Radical. 1t is thought
BIZ many that the Governor & Co. can de-
eide, Independently OF the bailot-bOX, who
are the chosen officers and representatives
Of the people. This is a great error. The
law, it is true, cOnfers upon the Governor
and the returning officers a most arbitrary
power, yet it is hedged in by provisions not
easily overcome.
The only way in which they can change
the result of anyselection is by throwing
out and refusing tOcOunt the vote at those
boz where the supervisors and three res
pectable citizens show that fraud and in
timidation occurred. On the evening Of the
day Of the election, after the votes are all
in, the Supervisor of Registration will have
to count in public the votes pOiled for each
candidate, and make. ont a statement of
said votes, as actually pelied, together with
d statement of any fraud, violence etc.
which materially affected the election at any
p in the parish.
1t will thus be known in the parish who
are duly elected long before the returns
reach the Governor. The Governor & Co.,
however, can, as we have said, alter the re-
suit, if the supervisor Of the parish and
three respectable citizens prove to them
that fraud, violence. etc, has occurred suf-
ficiently to throw out the vote of any par
ticular box. There is much, then. depend
ent upon the supervisor and the three citi-
zens. In this parish we believe there is lit
tie to fear. We do not believe our people
will suffer any fraud. violence. etc. TO occur
at the ballot.box and we have faith enough
in our supervisor to believe that he will not
make up false statement. We would give
but little for the future welfare Of any SUI
pervisor in the State who would dare to de-
fraud his fellow citizens by false return of
facts. The Loyal League and all its cohorts
could not protect him from the just ven
geance of an outraged people. He must fol-
10 ~ the law as it is, otherwise he will most
certainly be arrested and punished for per-
jury
!. It is true, as we have said, that the Gov
crnor & CO. may so manipulate the state
ments of supervisors as to throw out GER
tain boxes, but all will know in the parish
before the returns reach the Governor. who
are truly elected and those officers who ac
tually receive the highest vote will have
their remedy against any unfair dealing.
AS to the representatives who fairly obtain
the highest vote, they viii take their seats,
no matter how much fraudulent manipula-
ton may occur at the hands Of the return
ing officers.