The New York herald., 1876-11-21
The Political situation.

In New Orleans yesterday the Returning
Board met, together with the five members
of each party. Mr.. Wells. president OF the
Board. took the remarkable position that
the Board need not fill the va
vancy in its body unless 1T wishes
to, and that the democrats have no
claim to a member. He also announced
that no Louisiana democrats would be per-
mitted to be present at the meetings OF the
Board, and no strangers except the visiting
statesmen" as they begin to be called.
The public here does not forget that
Mr.. Wells is drawing pay as Sur
veyor of the Port of New Orleans
a federal Office while acting MS president OF
the Returning Board. People here IN the
North are wondering, too, how far this Re-
turning Board will 60 in excluding the pub
lie from its deliberations and in making
partisan board to scrutinize vote of ma
tional Importance.
In Florida the democrats have asked
judge Of the Supreme Court for an injunc-
tion to prohibit Governor Stearns from
making Of himself alone board of can
vassers, and a mandamus to compel the Re-
turning Board to begin Q scrutiny of the
votes. The presence Of General Barlow
and Mr.. Marble appears to give great salts
faction to the democrats. The republicans
are silent Mr.. Marble expressed himself to
our correspondent convinced that the State
had gone for Tilden.
In South Carolina the Court has not yet
decided upon the proper functions Of the
Returning Board, but our correspondent
remarks that the fact that four of the
five members of the Board are can
didates for election begins even there
to. prejudice the republican side.
We have report that secret conferences of
the republicans are held at the State House,
and that Judge H. L. Bond, of Balti-
more. and ex-Attorney General Akerman,
of Georgia, have arrived at CO.
lumbia. Both are republicans. Our
correspondent sends ms the official
returns from Congressional districts. If
these are confirmed by the Returning Board
they show important gains by the demo-
Gratis /; the election of two democratic Con-
gressmen, the Governor and a majority of
the Legislature, with majority in the State
of four hundred and twenty-six votes. It
remains to be seen, however, whether these
figures get final confirmation.
Washington is excited over the arrival of
troops. Those now there number four hun
dred men, and General Sherman very Justly
says that their presence is advisable to pre-
vent rioters and thieves taking advantage
of the political excitement to commit
a burglary upon the Treasury. They
are needed generally to protect the public
property at the capital To a European OBJ
server the alarm and indignation at the
quartering of four hundred troops at the
capital will seem laughable and absurd.
To reasonable Americans who have not lost
their heads it will appear very proper
precaution.
On the whole, the delay Of the republican
returning boards in all the disputed States
about counting the votes impresses impair
tial Northern observers with the belief that
they are not sure of the result. All the
Southern States remain orderly, and the
peaceable appeal of the South Carolina and
Florida democrats to the courts for protec-
ton has gained them sympathy in the
North, while the suspicious dilatoriness of
the republicans in counting the votes begins
to create indignation here among repub-
licans.