The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-21
Gov. Palmer and Ex-senator Trum
bull Of the Committee to
Watch the Count.

New ORLEANS, Nov. lS.-At II o'clock
there YVES quite gathering at the room
| of the returning board Messrs. Casan-
| ave and Wells, members of the board.
were there. Judge Trumbull. Judge
Stallo, Gov. Palmer and ex-Gov. McHen-
~. of the Northern Democrats, and the
Democratic committee which has charge
of the evidence to be presented on the
part OF the Democrats, were present.
There were a number of Republicans
| present also. There was delay in meet
ing on the part OF the board, on account
of the absence Of Messrs. Anderson and
kenne.
The board met at 1890, and authorized
the Sergeant alarms to procure a room
| for the meeting OF the board.
Gen. Anderson. member of the board,
said there were good many distin-
guished gentlemen in the city who
would desire to witness the proceedings
! of the board. He therefore offered pre-
amble and resolution. given below,
which were adopted without dissent. and
ordered spread upon the minutes.
| The secretary nj the boara reported
that election returns from thirty-ilve
parishes had been filed with him. There
are yet returns from thiriy-six parishes
TO arrive.
The question was raised a. 10 whether
the board could begin the compilation
| aud canvass until all Of the returns had
been received. ii was determined, how
| ever TO commence on Monday, the 10Th
inst. and 10 take up the parishes either
| alphabetically or by congressional dis
| tricts.
Col. Iacharic, chairman OF the Demo
cratic committee on elections and re-
turns, requested to know whether the
presence OF counsel representing Demo-
| cratic candidates would be allowed dur.
ing the elaboration of the board.
The president replied that only in
cases where disputed points arose would
counsel for both parties be called in. He
added that counsel would be permitted
to inspect the returns when they were
opened in order to see whether they had
| been tempered with.
Col. Zacharle, Of counsel for the Dem.
ocratic candidates, filed a plea against
| the constitution of the board, and a pro-
test against certain action.
The following grounds were set forth
l. BY section 9 article "a, 1872, creating
the board OF returning officers, there is
| no term fixed for the tenure Of Office
and, by the same section, il is provided
that, in case of any vacancy by death,
| resignation, or otherwise. by either of
the board, then the vacancy shall be filled
by the residue OF the board, thus Great
ing board with the power Of perpetual.
ing itself indefinitely, and comforting
power in certain contingencies upon a
single person that said board Is author
ized 10 canvass and return AS elected
members OF the legislature, and said
members are alone authorized to parlici-
pate IN the Organization OF either branch
OF the legislature and said legislature SO
constituted under article -, title of the
constitution OF the state OF Louisiana.
shall examine and count the the votes for
governor and lieutenant governor; the
direct and immediate effect OF all OF
which Is to place power in the hands OF
nve persons, or ultimately in one person
and his appointees tor all time, to deter
NINE oil what persons shall be constituted
the executive and legislative branch OF
the state government that said act in
SAID respect is in direct conflict with the
constitution OF the United States and OF
the state OF Louisiana as creating GOV
eminent not Republican in form or char
acter.
q by the act under which said board
claims to proceed, the said board is vested
with powers judicial in their character.
ana In that respect the act is In conflic,
with article % OF the constitution OF the
state OF Louisiana.
8. That II the constitutionalItv OF the
law We're established beyond question,
We again object, and protest and except
70 tue manner In which the present act.
Ing board is constituted.
The act oS OF ls7?. section 2, provides
me' I'VE persons, to be elected by the