St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1875-04-30
Political Excitement in New Hamp
shire.

There is evidently great deal of
feeling in the political circles of New
Hampshire in view of the coming ses-
sion of the Legislature. The Republic
cans claim to have carried the House
by nine majority at least-the figures
standing 373 in all Republicans elect
I9I, Democrats ls2 This record seems
to he clear enough. The Senate is Il
tie, leaving two vacancies 10 be filled
on joint ballet. As there is no choice
of Governor by the people. the election
will be made 10y the Legislature, and
will b. determined 10y the ma jnritA of
the House. The result, namely, the
choice of Republican Governor. would
seem to he inevitable and Yet the
Democratic papers throughout the State
show IL strange unanimity III refusing
to concede that the Republicans have
control of the House. Besides there
has been IL great running to and fro of
Democratic managers since the election.
and many sinister intimatiOns OF sur
prlScs on foot. About twenty notices of
Impending contests have already been
sent to members elect. How the threat
ened reversal of the Republican verdict
at the polls Is To he accomplished, no
body can conjecture with amy certainty e.
except that ii will have to he attempted
through the agency of the clerk of the
old House. who prepares the list of
representatives from the certificates OF
election sent to the Secretary of State.
and who calls the roll of the new House
from that list. He has no power It"
tampcr with. or to go behind. the
1
the Republicans will allow nothing of
the kind.
The trouble unprecedented in the son
ate will he confined otwo rather Singh
Ian cases. in districts two and four. The
election To till the vacaucic> there must
he made from the TWO highest caudi-
dates Who are eligible. In district two.
Mr.. perriug. the pr"hihlr"ry candidate.
i not one Of the two highest. neither l.
he eligible. because he has not lived in
the State toI the length of time rcpur-
ed 10y law. Are the votes east for him.
then. 81 mauN blanks aud to he. throw u
away ? If 81. the Democratic candidate
l. elected if not. there il Il Vacancy to
Ice filled on joint ballot. On general
principles il would Ice assumed that
those who voted for Derring did not
know that he was ineligible ~ was
undoubtedly the case Cu>hing> Man
ual holding that the whole pr"rc,din"
in such cases. 'mu>t perhaps hr held
void or valid. according rs the electors
have actual "r presumed know ledge of
the lnelIGIbIlItN OF the persons Ton whom
the excluded votes are given.
Ia the fourth district the Republicans
voted for Matt Head" whereas the
Democrats contend that ~ these bal
lots ought rs have borne the full hap
ti>nal lame ''Nathauiel Head" they
are not valid. and not To he counted
1t is plain enough that such an in
terprctation would do gross injustice
and wrong to the people of that >rrra-
torial district. Gen. Head. all through
his public life. has been known only ll
the name printed on these ballots. aud
we venture to say that not IN honest
Democrat i'll the district on election day
doubted that these votes honestly he
longcd Ia him. ANY more than he doubt
ed that they were meant for Gen. Head
and nobody else. The principle ap-
plicable To the case Us laid down in the
treati>cS on parliamentary law supports
this view. and would seem to control
the cast, without regard to the letter of
the New Hampshire statute. which has
Il different hearing. We have NOT COM
memted upon the contingency which
has 50 aroused the anxiety of the Re
pubicaus of New Hampshire. because
we do not apprehrnd that the more
desperate of the Democratic plotterS
will daIc To carry out their schemes. OF
will succeed if they make the attempt.
Still. what the same class has done
elsewhere is we'll calculated to awaken
the distrust To which we have REFEREED
- Boston ,JOHruUI