New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-11-20
THE RETURNING BOARD


The disposition thus far manifested BY
the members Of this body to do their duty
faithfully and tearlessly SCENE to have in.
creased public interest In their delibera'
tions as thes work progresses toward q
conclusion.
Before the board had been called to or.
der yesterday. and while four Of its mem.
bers were waiting for the fifth to put in an
appearance. Mr.. Sloanaker appeared and
desired to have an understanding in regard
to an examination of the returns from the
seventeenth senatorial district. He said he
had been employed as counsel for Mr.. Gla.
one OF the candidates for the Senate from
that district. to contest the returns from
Carol! parish. which gave Mr.. Benham 3
larger majority than his opponent, Mr.. Ola.
thought he vas entitled to; and that
as his .Mr. Sloanaker's) presence was de-
manded in vicksburg on business Of i'm.
portance he desired to know whether it
would be possible for the board to 60 into
an examination OF the returns in question
at once, and. if not, at what time the re.
turns from the seventeenth senatorial dis.
trict would be likely to occupy the atteation
OF the board
Mr.. Arroyo. in reply, said that when the
board was in session he would move 20
have the returns from the seventeenth sen.
atOrial district examined at once. as he was
satisfied that such . course would meet
with public approval, good deal of Gu.
riosity having been excited among the peO.
pie by rumors in regard to these returns.
At eleven o'clock the board was called to
order by President Wells. and. all the mem.
bers being present. the minutes Of the pre-.
vious day were read and approved.
Secretary Of State. stating that as press re.
ports made it appear that his Office had been
made . receptacle for the safe keeping of
the returns being canvsssed by the Return.
ing Board. he felt constrained, in justice to
himself, to let it be known that such re-
retary Of States office.
The letter was read and ordered to be
placed on file.
Mr.. Arroyo then moved that, ss q good
deal Of interest was manifested by the pub.
lie to know the result of the election in the
seventeenth senatorial district, and it hav-
ing been rumored that the returns would
show foul play, the board proceed at once
to an investigation of these returns. He
said that Mr.. Sloanaker, counsel for Mr..
Gla, one Of the candidates who claimed to
be elected from this district. was present,
and was anxious that this course should be
taken. as he had business away from the
city that demanded his early attention, and
that il the board decided not to take up
this matter at this time, Mr.. SlOnaker de.
sired to know at what time the board
would be likely to come to . canvass Of the
returns in question.
Mr.. Kenner objected to the motion made
by Mr.. Arroyo. npon the ground that it was
important that the canvass Of the city re-
turns shouid be completed at as early day
as possible.
Mr. SIonaker then stated that the result
of the election of Senator in the seventeenth
senatorial district hinged upon the vote of
Carroll parish. and that it was only neces-
sary to can vass the returns OF that parish
to determine the contest between Mr.. Ola
and Mr.. Benham. This he did not think
would consume much time, nor materially
interfere with an early disposition of the
city returns. which Mr.. Kenner seemed to
have in view when making his objection to
Mr.. Arroyo's motion.
With this explanation Mr.. Kennef with
drew his objection, and the board decided
to 90 into an examination of the returns
from Carroll.
Mr.. Zacharie notified the board that he
would enter a protest against receiving the
returns from Carroll, which gave Mr.. Ben
ham very large majority, for the reason
that those returns had been altered by un-
authorized parties.
The board then proceeded with canvass
of the returns from Carroll parish. At the
conclusion of this work the secretary was
instructed to have . grand total Of the re-
suit in Carol! prepared, which is - fol
lows:
For State Treasures-Dubuclet. 2202;;
Moncule. 335.
For Senate-Bennam, ?069; Gla, 296:
Brigham, SO.
There were no Irregularities discovered in
the returns, but at the conclusion OF the
canvass Mr.. Whitaker gave notice that .
protest would be filed against their recep-
ten.
Colonel Lowell gave notice that as pro-
tests seemed to be the order of the day he
would file one against the reception Of re-
turns from several polls in the seventh
ward of this city.
The board then resumed the canvass of
the city returns by commencing with the
eighth ward. While the work was progress
ing, Messrs Sloanaker and Whitaker filed
protests in regard to the returns in Carroll
parish.
Colonel Lowell asked TO be furnished
with copies of these protests in order that
he might be enabled to answer them.
Granted.
The board then continued the canvass OF
the returns from the eighth ward, and hav-
ing concluded them, went through the re
turns from the ninth ward. In these wards
many irregularities we're discovered and
the returns were accompanied by protests
alleging violence, intimidation and frauds
at many of the polls, perpetrated by Dem
ocrats.
Mr.. Whitaker said that as he had reason
to believe that the returns from the parish
of Ascension were in the same condition as
those from ST. James, he would move to
have them brought before the hoard and