New-York tribune., 1876-12-07

view may be taken of the action OF the latter
now, the Supreme Court ought not to DE
banded about in cheap comparisons wllh he
turning Boards or other political bodies whose
garments are not free from the smell OF hre.
Uncertainty still reigns at Versailles. Presi-
dent MacMahon judiciousy refralns IRON III
reference, and appears as willing to accept
new ministers as he is TO retain those who are
temnorarily in power. NJ. Duclerc, who is ex-
pected to form a new ministry, ought to COM
mand the confidence of both radicals and con-
seryatives Sprung from the ranks OF the
people he attained distinction as Journalist
and was Minister of Finance under tho Pro-
visional Government in 1S48. lie was
member of the late National Assembly, ana
there voted with the advanced Repuohcahs'
His career gives assurance that he VIII never
betray the popular cause.
The suggestion made in letter TO the edltor
this morning, based upon recent Statute
toucbiDg the choice of electors, deserves at
tention. IF, according to this theory, the
mower resides in the State Legislatures to pro-
vide for casting the vote of State In the
event of the votes having been for any cause
thrown out by Congress, it puts new phase
upon the whole matter, and possibly check
mates any action by the Democrats in Con-
eress. All the disputed States are in Republi-
can hands, and to leave the choice of electors
to the Legislatures, by throwing out the pres
ent vote, would not alter the situation The
ONLY Democratic hope in that case would be
in the establishment of the Hampton Govern
ment in South Carolina and the rejection OF
the electoral vote of that State The commu-
nication raises an interesting question.
The report of Senator Sherman and his col
leagues in the Republican delegation to New
Orleans, which the President transmitted to
Congress yesterday, gives careful and inter-
esting resume of the whole Louisiana contro-
versy, from the Republican point of view.
1t begins its review with the riots and
prosecutions of 1868, during which year 1t
is said 1000 cases of murder, outrage, ana
violence were recorded. 1t was the necessity
of having some revision of the returns of an
election vitiated by such influences that led to
the establishment of the Returning Board,
both parties cOncurring in the measure. lhe
report gives some personal account OF the present
members of the Board and adds the detailed
statements of violence and intimidation III the
election just past, and their results, with which
Northern readers are already familiar. 1t is
an able statement of the Republican side OF
this unhappy controversy, and as such 1t VIII
make useful reading for the Democratic House
and Democrats everywhere, Mr.. Fernando
Wood to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The monotonOus form Of casting the electO-
raj votes is this year invested with an unpre-
cented interest, and, uDhappily, apparently
darkened with the shadow of attempted
bribery. While no news has been re-
ceived of the meetings of a number of
the more remote Electoral Colleges. it is
evident that Gov. Hayes has received $50
votes. including those of Louisiana, South
Carolina, and Florida, and Gov. I1lden lS4.
I'm Louisiana both sets of electors met and
voted, and in South Carolina the Tliden cleo
tors met, but there is so far no announcement
of their having voted. In Oregon there is a
tangle of an amusing kind. One Democratic
electOr having been counted i'll on the
ground of the ineligibiity of the Re
nublcan postmaster, the Republicans re-
fused to act with him, and he began, In
bis solitary grandeur, to "fll vacancies"
The dispatches do not state whether the Re
nublicans ioined in the ballot in which 1ildcn
received one vote, or whether the Democratic
elector, in the goodness of his heart, filled the
vacancies with Republicans. The one fact of
importance is that Tiden elector has the
Governors certificate. 1t is not likely, however,
| TO be of much service to him. In Vermont there
WAS a Democratic lunatic loose. He wanted
MIR. Sollace's place, filed his protest, voted for
Tilden, signed his own certificate, appointed
| himself his own messenger to Washington,
and is probably already on his way, with the
charitable design of making it hot
for Congress. This episode has none
of the serious character of the Demo
cratic maneuver in Oregon. That attempt
to defeat the clearly expressed will of the
people by party which loudly demands that
| that will be allowed expression elsewhere, lays
bare its graspng and INSCRIPTIONS lnsincerity
But even this is of minor Importance com
pared with the definite statements made OF
attempted bribery of electors. They come
from States where Gov Tilden's friends have
been irving to secure votes, and are entitled
to serious attention. There are facts within
the knowledge of the proper authorities which
! leave little room to doubt that deliberate ef-
forts of this kind have been made, that they
were instigated from New York, and that the
| money to carry them out was provided In this
city. The acceptance of such bnbe would
be an appalling crime what shall we say OF
| the offer of it 4?