The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-21
FLORIDA.
Nothing New.

Nothing New.
TALLAHASSEE, November 20.-There is
nothing new in the situation in Florida
Everything awaits the coming Of re-
turns Official returns have been re-
ceiyed from all but nine counties. The
count will hardly be commenced this
week.
A Radical Statement.
/ NEW YORK, November 20.-The
Times furnishes the following document
to the agent of the Western Associated
Press:
TALLAHASSEE, November 20.
To the Hon. Zaehqi IN Chandler, Chair
man OF the Republican National Cons
mitte>, Washington:
We have frequently been asked
to give the figures of the electoral
vote of this State, claimed by
! the Republicans. We have declined TO
do SO for the following reasons: Solely
| official returns have been received from
only thirty.two counties out OF the thirty
nine, and until all are in we NJ e unwilling
and think it unwise TO give our under
standing of the figures because of the pos
sibility Of the figures in the Democratic
counties still behind being sufficiently
changed to alter the result. Nedo not
necessarily impute TO any one design
to commit fraud, but it is enough that
such thing is possible and
not unknown here or elsewhere, Ms
in the case of the election frauds ia the
city of New York 1t the presidential
election OF 1868 and the we'll known
Tweed circular in furthersnce thereof
in 1872 In this state the rsising OF the
equity returns in favor # the Demo-
cratic state ticket, nearly 1000 votes
discovered At the last mo-
ment and only contcrscted by
the extraordinary efforts which
were made TO obtain the original precinct
returns. We feel entirely jusused in
rifusirg to give any information which
shall even in the remotest degree render
any such fraud possible or desirable. The
delay in the beginning of the canvass
arises from three causes: First, on the
uncertainty as to whether the Governor
alone or the general board OF State can
vassers are the legal canvassing officers
of the Presidential vote. The Demo-
Gratis have asked TO be heard on this
consideration. Second, all the returns ire
not in, which, it is claimed by many, Is
n legal perqulslte TO the beginning OF the
canvass, AID if it were otherwise, yet for
the reasons above stated, it would be
urwise 10 begin till al eturns are received.
Not unfrequently the returns from
remoter counties do not reach Talla-
hassie for three or !Our weeks, and the
law allows the general board OF state
canvasscrs ~ wait thlrty-dye days for
them. In sour cOuGtIes the canvass
even is not required " DO made TILL
twenty days from the election. Third,
frauds or Irr, sularItles IN certain pre-
cinCts are char ed by each side sgainst
the other, anu II is desirable and proper,
il it shall appear such questions are to be
gone into that both parties should have
ample time, if they desire II, to procure
proofs by law The General Csnvassing
Board is clothed with full powers to
correct fraud and irregularities in the
several polls provisions OF law eminent
iy wise and ncedtul IN thinly settled
country where elections are sometimes
not conducted with that order and regu-
iarIty SO generally observed in older
communities. In 1872 the vote o! this
State would have been given TO the
Democratic State ticket had not the
general board of Cauvassers, under Its
iudlcia. powers, corrected the fraud by
which the jackson county canvass WA
made, to show Democratic vote
OF some 400 more than Was
shown by tno or ginsl precinct
returns. Thos BIoxam the Democratic
candldate for governor received 939
votes, but the reIuTns were made " show
that he had received 1899, while the
vote of Hart, his opponent, Was reduced
from llU9 10 100. Wslis, Republican
candidate for Congress received llOS
votes. which was altered u l0S. THIS il
the county in which Republican ma
iOrIty at 800 IT. the last election is claim
ed t. be con verted into DsmoerstIo
majority of SO this year. la view Vt this
Democratic fraud so lately attempted
and so nearly successful and Of well
known frauds elsewhere by that party,
we think the Democratic assert 'ons
that fraud is contemplated by the Repub-
lcan members Of the State board Of call
va.sers sr the Governor, should he be
legally the canvssslng otficer, being made
a, thew are without the slightest proof
and in respect TO men Of honorable char.
scter, are wanton and made with no isir
or hanest purpose, and they should
have no weight with just and rea
=onable men. The power Of this
Board 70 correct fraud, and wrongs Is
un ti.puted by anyone, they viii act open.
Y and will be subject 10 the scrutiny Of
the whole country, and no one can ask
suvihrng but that their decision shall be
based upon such facts a. will carry con-
yic.ion to the Impartial, I'D upon
the well settled rules OF rw and
c7dence applicable to such cases,
snd such We believe Will be the action Of
the caGvAsers.
r,icncd.I Francis &. Barlow. Of New
York; j. NJ Thornburgh, Pennsylva.
ma: W L Chandler, New Hampshire;
Edward F. Noyes, Onio; w. II. Rob
crtsoa, D G.. Rollins, New York j. Z.
- E,nr,or. Florida. aV Wallace