The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-08-05
The Returns from Election Districts
Contradictory and Confused.
SEVENTY SEVEN COUNTIES HEARD FROM.
Merrimon Probably Elected by
q Small Majority.
cAlowEll's FRIENDS STILL HOPEFUL.
The Omcial Figures Not
To he Obtained.

RALEIGH, N. O., August 4, 1872.
There has been but little news received here to-
day, and that does not change the estimates or
predictions made in my dispatches last night. The
situation remains the same Republicans ebstt-
nately continue to hope against what appears In
evitable-the election OF Merrimsn. They are
candid enough, however to concede the election of
five conservative Congressman, whose majOrties,
though they run behind the State ticket, would
elect it by small majority. b asing an estimate on
the vote OF 1870.
CONSERVATIVES GAINS ON THE vi BASIS
II the vote OF last year, by which the cali for
convention was defeated was taken as test Of
party strength, the atves have gained over
eleven thousand votes, according to the returns
now at hand. This is not a fair basis, however of
party strength and, consequently, the vote
Of 1870 is the one upon which all calcutta
tons are made to ascertain how the State
Is going; and II has proved correct in every
instance. The conservatives will carry the LegIs
lature by probably forty majority on q joint ballot
which defeats the election OF John Pool as United
States Senator. and indicates in an unmistakable
manner the election Of Zebulon B. Vance as his
successor. It has been ascertained by close calcu
lation and on information received here that
sufficency of negroes In the State voted for Mer-
rimon to insure his election by majority of
shows that they may never vote as q unit again
unless their organizations are kept up with more
strict and thorough discipline than heretofore
PROBABLE EARLY SOLUTION OF THE PROBLEM.
The news tomorrow evening from the west will
decide beyond question the general result in the
State, and probably the actual majority by
which Merrimon has carried the State. The
people here are still intensely excited. and
await impatienly the result. No rejoicing
or public demonstration has yet taken
place. owing to the great doubt which has existed
about the election. Estimates made tonight upon
sixty-six counties heard from show that the net
gain Of Caldwell republican,, is only 1924, an av-
erage OF about twenty-nine votes to the county
This leaves 3,O of the democratic majority Of 1870
still to be overcome in the remaining twenty.sx
counties-an average OF 11S votes to the county,
which Is regarded as impossible, as most OF the
counties to be heard from are strongly conserva-
tive.
MERRIMoN's ELECTION CONSIDERED CERTAIN.
Eleven more counties have been heard from to-
night, making seventy seven in all and the indica-
tons as to the general result remain the same.
Merrimon's election is almost certain, and is con-
ceded by some republicans OF the more moderate
stripe. could send the vote of counties with their
reported majorities, but as most Of them are In.
correct and the reports received are conflicting
they would only tend to confuse rather than
enllghten. Merrimon's majority is now over ], 100,
and this must be largely increased in the sixteen
counties to be heard from.