The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-12-01

The sections here quoted provide for the
investigation by the CanNsssing Board OF All
alleged eases Of fraud, violence, etc, aud
authorize the Board 10 exclude from the re-
turns theyotes OF all precincts where such
fraud or violence is satisfactorily proven To
have existed or taken place.
Hence II there are any facts requiring the
Judgment OF the board upon the validity of
any election or returning as affected by such
rauds or violence, IL would be manifest
Interference with state rights aud local self
government for persons like ourselves,
without official right, 20 attempt 10 inlu-
enee or control It's judicial electiOe.
Had corresponding board In the state
OF New York in 1868 been authorized 10
pass upon the fraudulent returns OF votes
of the city OF New York that year, and a
delegation OF citizens Of Louisiana, how
ever respectable, attempted 20 inhaence IT,
judicial action upon the facts presented TO
IL under the laws OF that State, such an at
tempt would have been universally con-
demned. II the duties OF the CanYassing
Board OF Louisiana were merely ministerial
or clerical, As in the case OF any officer
charged 10y law with the duty Of verifying
and declaring the result Of any election, and
investigating with no discretion, as when
the President OF the Senate counts and de-
"lares the votes OF the Electors OF the sever
al States in the election OF President and
the United States, different case would be
presented. IL IL, in our Judgment. vital TO
the preservation OF constitutional liberty
that the habit Of obedience 10 the
forms OF law should be sedu-
lousy incucated and cultivated, and that
the resort 10 eXtra-cOnstitutional modes OF
redress, FOR even actual grievances. should
be avoided and condemned a. revolutionary.
disorgsnizing, and tending TO disorder and
anarchy. To reduce the whole question.
therefore, 10 the mere clerical duty OF
counting the votes actually cast, as pro-
posed by you, in distinction from votes le-
ga!ly cast and returned Irrespective OF the
question whether they are fraudulently or
violently east, or otherwise vitiated, in
VoiNes "A nullifcaiiOR OF the provisions OF
the laws of Louisiana, which have already
been adjudicated and declared valid 10y the
supreme C0urt-would be wholly unjustih-
able here as well A. In any other State 81 the
Union " hish had provided laws TO protect
the rights Of voters and the purity OF the
ballot. We can not concur In your PROPOSE
ton for conference on that basis. Very
respectfully,
John sherman, Ohio. VIM. u. Kelley, Penn.
STANLEY Matthews. Ohio. John a. kAsson Iowa
y. a. Garfield, Ohio. r. w. >tou zhion, y. Y.
=. irving Duty Md. J n. Van Allen. y. \.
Eusene Hale, Me. NJ :. Quay, Penn.
Wan. tumbaek, Ind. hi. h. Noyes ono
JOB r: Stevenson OHIO. John COburn, Indiana.
Lew. " Allace, Ind. J. VI. Iuttle. Iowa.
W. A. McGrew, Iowa. j. W Chapman Iowa
W. X. smith, Iowa. Abner Taylor, IN
;. r. Haven, IN. J. NJ. Bcarlsley m.
c. Is. FArwell III. sidney Clark, Kan.
j Z HilfOn, Kan.
To the Hon. John NJ Palmer, Ioui. Borv.
Lyman Trumbull. James o. Broadhead, v.
Morrison, and others. present at the request
Of the Democratic Executive Committee