The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-11-16
SOUTH CAROLINA BALLOTS.
THE POWERS AND DUTIES or THE
BO.IRD or CINV1SSERS


to Decide the Governors Election.
CHARLESTON, $. C., Nov. l3.-Thc Board
Of state Canvasscrs re in session. but have not
vet d clarcd the election Officially. They have
Jurisdiction over the Presidential vote and the
state Ticket for all officers except Governor.
They arc also an appellate court for contested
cases from the county boards VINO decide pri-
MARTY upon all county elections except those
OF the members OF the House ana Senate. these
latter are decided by tho respective Houses,
each House being the judge Of the qualinca-
tons Of its own members. The Governors
election IL decided by the two Houses u tho
General Assembly separately. II they disagree.
then another election bv the peopls IA ordered
to take place within sixty DAYS.
Tie Board Oi state Ctntassers however, u
composed Of Republican Oil .ehoders and can.
dida'e !, and they scruole at nothinR. The peo-
pie are satisfied that Hampton Is elected. but
whether the Board Of t,to tahvassers will not
be manipulated by GOV. CHAMBERLAIN in such q
way az to defeat the voice Of the peorlc IA
another question. The board h already in
Dictated that Il will not interfere with the cleo
ton returns Tor toverrO-, bat transmit them
t. the Senate and House. They have however,
also resolved To near protests nnd memoriils as
to w"o shall constitute those Houses. The un-
scrurulous incungruity Of these positions Is
clearly seen from tho words Of the Stnte Con3i-
tuition:
Article ILL.,. sec. "Con,csted elections flr Cover.
nor shall be determined hy the General Assembly IN
prescrbcs ,ch pier :, sec ~ Rcvrcd s,ltutcj
that IN Ctc OF "a contest OF tho election OF Cover.
nor thu senate AMI House shall cach separately proceed
to near aud determine ca iicts."
Article |. sec H. of tt, Constitution says; Each
House nall judge OF the election ietuins and quaca
uOus uf ia w u ncinucr'.'
How the Board Of State Canvas-ers assume
the power to decide upJn the contested cases
OF members of the Legislature, when they refer
the Governors election to the Legislature. can
only be accounted Tor In the necessity Of the
situation to retain Chamberlain. and vet shift
the responsibility from the Board Of State Cam
vassers to Their creatures waOm they may ille-
Rally put In the LEGISLATURE.
The Two Houses which are to judge OF the cleo
ton Of Gen. Hampton meet ON the fourth Mon
day IN THIS month. The Senate Is continuing
body. and Will be presided over by Lieut.-Gov.
Glcave-, Republican, until his successor Is quail
head, Republican. % AbDevile, there Is no quo
rum. and the first duty will he to acquire a
quorum by seating senator Maxwell, Democrat,
VI Ahbesiile. Then the other senators who hold
certificates OF election from the county boards
come forward and are qualified; The protesting
aspirants are then allowed To nave their claims
referred to a committee appointed Dv Gleayes.
me senate Is then ready TO hear and deter
mine the facts OF the Governors election.
In the House the Clerk Of the late House calls
the roll compiled from the ONCE of the Secretary
| OF state, to whom the county returns should
have been forwarded according to law. Those
answering to their names constitute the tempo
| 4 rs organization, ana a temporary Speaker ia
! elected TIE temporary Speaker appoints "A
| Committee ON Credentials and the protesting
! ciam ms are referred t. them. he House is
| then ready ITO hear and determine the facts
/ Of the Governors election. Whether the two
! Houses viii wait until the contests are decided
!
| ed will make bat little difference.
he two Houses stand, according to accred-
ltsd' bui nom 'ial' returns House, % hepubh-
| ems nd % Dtnocrat. senate, Is IL epuolicaus
and Is Democrats. Efforts are being made. how
| ever. whcn ma' result III the senate standing L.
! Republicans and 10 Democrats. officially re-
| turned 90 the Secretary u state. one OF the
white kepuuhcIn Senators, a native, and man
| Of means, from "A county which ha, gone iu-
! tenscly Democratic In this election, IS SAID to
| Nur Gen. HamptOn's election. ana Is opposed
to a new election. There are several exemplary
M hHNlI
over and those who were lately elected. who
are said to favor he same settlement. some Of
| Democratic. and they can hope for nothing by
anlagonizing the WHITE people any longer.
The returns sent to the two Houses will give
| Gen. Hampton a majority Of at least 2.lOO. II
| GOV ChamOrrldn contests these returns II will
| be because of alleged intimidation ami fraud
ulent voting IN Edgeneld. Aiken, Birnwell. and
Laurcns counties. Inc aggregate Democratic
m Jority IN these counties Is bout GOO votes.
| Inns, Of course. the Democrats will DENY. and
VIII SET up counter clAim against the Repub-
/ lean IMPURITIES In Beaufort, Charleston, Cole
| TON, oralgepurg, Georgetown, Darlington,
kir-haw, Ne yburv, and kcnland counties, az
gres.tiue li,ODO votes.
Besides tni- intimidation Of n gro Democrats
the contested maj rty Of the Republicans ls
| made up largely of reporters. Beaufort gives
1000. Charleston 4OJO and so on OF the savage
country negroes whose aim Is to vote "a often AS
they can. The penitentiarv has no fears tor
them. hey are better IN there than In their
! homes. Though the negro has been dying on
TERRIBLY In lleaufpri and Charleston counties yet
they voted 1,0D more than theS ever did before.
| Thus will stand the respective claims before
me IN % Houses II the contest i made 10y GOV.
! chamberlain. IL - said he would like to make
| an arrangement by which he ret iins his hold
! ulon the bnNernprs position, TIA" Legislature
becomes Democratic. aud Made Hampton il
! made United states senator. rms, Of course,
| Is declined. Nothing short Of his incarceration
will atone for the wrongs he has done to the
| State. and many re OF the opinion that he viii
" flee the wrath to come.
The best escape from these troubles, 10 the
| negro, the nation, ana the state, u to seal the
| book as II stands made by the election The
farft an lef tar lnrf IA