New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-02
TIE GENERAL SITUATION.
MIR. KAssoNs RETURN NORTH.

MR.. KASSON'S RETURN NORTH.
THE FLoRr5A CANvAssERs WORTHY or PERFECT
cos. ,DENC .-THE CORRUPTION IN LOUISIANA
GEE Al WILLINGNESS TO ABIDE BY TIE
RES IT.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE.l
W JINGTOS, Dec John A. Kasson of Iowa,
..s, the gentlemen invited by the President to
Wits the count in Louisiana and Florida, returned
to. v. He gives clear account of the condition
o.. iars in those States. Upon being Intercepted
% the character ofthe Returning Boali in Florida,
M Kasson said
There is no canyassng board in any State in the
Union, certainly none in any Southern State more
entitled to public confidence than that in Florida,
Mr. McLin, the Republican Secretary Of State,
chairman of the board was born in Tennessee has
resided % years in Florida, is an attorney, and has
been editor Of the ablcst newspaper IN Florida. lie
was a Union man, but drifted into IL 7gicderate
service from which he was discharged within
year for disability. He then gladly went within the
Union lines and allied himself with the Union cause.
The Controller-Genera Dr. Cowgirl, is Deawarean.
lie is a physician, and held a medical commission
in the Union army. He is a gentleman in character
and manners, upright, and conscientious. MT.
Cooke, AttorneyGcneral, is thorough Demo
crat and Virginian The latter two gentlemen
came to Florida about the close of the war. Both
only charge made against any member is that Mr..
Cooke. who was appointed as a Republican by the
Governor, should retain his place in the Governors
cabinet after quarrclng with his associates and
changing HE politics The attempt to create prcju-
dice in the North against this board IS wholly I'M
justified. 1t proceeds solely from the disposition
South to calumnlatc every Southern man who allies
himself with the Republican cause. Whatever re-
suit the board may arrive at viii be sustained by
precedent aud principle, and the public may have
entire confidence in its business"
Slr. Kasson gives a very hopeful Wow OF the ma
teria condition of Florida Upon this point he said
FLORIDA is a we-gOverned State. Its finances
are carefully managed, and all fairminded men
there admit the honesty and integrity of Gov
Stearns aud of his administration. Many parts OF
the State are steadily improving, and all intelligent
men of both parties feel the necessity of preserving
the good government of the country and Of enconr-
aging immigration and the growing prosperity of the
State"
Outside of a few irresponsible persons Mr.. Kasson
heard very little of the violent talk so common in
certain ocarters North Upon this subject he said:
There are a few Democratic politicians in Florida
who threaten violence but the solid men of both
parties have no disposition to resort to any violent
measures; in fact, az far as could learn with re-
carl TO lIhic opinion throughout Louisiana and
Florida the almost uniycrs' sentiment is that IL any
trouble or violence shall come from the political
situation it must be begun in the North and West,
and not in the South. Southeruers suffered enough
from war. and prefer that such suffering, if any
there is to be- shall be tried in the North. Outside
of New-Orleans the Southern Democrats seem more
interested in the control of their State Government
than in the election of Mr.. Iiden."
Mr. Kasson has been absent from Louisiana some
DAYS but he was a very careful observer while there.
He spoke as follows about the situation there and OF
the possible outcome:
Louisiana you will remember, has beenlfor many
wears notorious as the scene of election excitement
troubles, and frauds Many years ago the whole
country heard of the Plaquemines frauds. when Mr.
Sdell was a candidate for the United States Senate,
when the Wings and Democrats each chartered
a steamer and sent several hundred rcpeateTs TO
vote at numerous precincts along the riyer DahK,
where they opened polls for that purpose. You VIII
recollect the Native American murderOus electloh
riots in Orleans in fact, with regard to election
frauds the history of Louisiana suTpasses that Oh
the CITY OF New-NOrk. The State has never
established reputation for good conscience
in elections, consequently the public ought TO be
slow To form Judgment upon Louisiana III advance
of authenticated evidence. That in this last election
there has been serious intimidation and outrage 10
prevent the Republican vote from being east there
ia no question 10 what extent this has affected tho
result il question which can only be settled in the
way provlded by the law Of Louisiana. The only
legal tribunal for determining it is the Returning
ID.