The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-12-01
IL pEMocRArIc RrJo1NpER.

The following is the substance OF the
Democratic rejoinder 10 the above, pub
lished on the Eth:
We sincerely regret this failure ofour at
tempt 10 secure the corporation n the cit
izens from other States In furtherance oS
the purpose which. a. we supposed. had
brought them hither az this iuuCture. We
regret II all the more because your refusal
10 confer and cooperate with u- appears 10
be based upona serious Misrepresentation Of
the language. no less than the spirit. OF our
communication. II can hardly have es.
capped your notice that our statement OF the
result 20 be attained by the cooperative ac-
ton, which We sought 70 bring
shout was simple reproduction
or the language OF President
Grant, al whose request wonderland YOU
are here. .....We beg leave 10 say, there
fore, that you are mistaken in the belief
that We sought unduly 20 narrow the basi.
on which we invited your cooperative gc-
uoh, Snd you are no less in error Ia sttrih-
uung 10 us purpose 10 interfere with the
legal authorities OF the State ia the dis
charge OF their duties, 70 claim rights. and
srrogate To ourselves powers v hich We DO
not possess. In writing our letter we were
fully aware that both the organization snd
action, whether Judicial or ministerial. of
the Returning Board Of Louisiana were
beyond any authoritative control
liNAl Nllhhhtf anu Aual IT NnAIN De the
height " arrogance and folly 10 attempt To
alter the Laws ~ state OF which we are not
citizens, or 10 Obtrude our INTERPRETATION 81
these laws upon those whose duty IL L. 10
administer them, but We had suppo-ed.
nevertheless, that there was At influence
which might be rightfully exertei even by
citizens % this Republic who are strangers
IN his state, snd We had taken IN for grant
ed that your presence here, In response 10
the suggestion OF the President
wa- recognition Of this fact....
without undertaking 10 question the sin
certify Of the belief which YOU are st pains
10 express, that you know Of no reason 10
doubt that the Louisiana Returning Board
viii make perfectly honest aud iU.t decla-
ration of the results of the recent election
IN Louisiana, We deem II not improper 20
remind YOU that the presence IN thi. city ~
30 many citizens from an psrts - the Union
at th.- moment seems 10 be evidence of
widck prevalent disirust Of the action %
THIS Board, and that such disfr,tsf
has this foundation. At least.
that the cOntitution Of the
Board has not been changed since H. re-
turns were yet aside bva Congressional
committee, ~ which the Republican cardi.
date FOR the Nice-P Presidency Wa. a mem.
Der. And this distrust l. not unnatural. In
view 81 the fhct that, A. we understand,
one or the members 81 the Returning BOARD
wa- a candidate voted for ~ the recent
election; another the holder ~ an office M
profit and trust by appointment 81 the pres
ent Executive OF the National Government.
while All the members Of the Board are be-
lieyed ~ be- In stliliatiOn with bar one Of the
parties TO the present political coutest......
While we thus RETAINED from any attempt
al stating or constituting the laws OF Louisi-
ana, we deemed 10 equslly irrelevant 90 the
subject on our core p0ndenco with you 90
aIlude 10 the duties devoving upon officers
other than the constituents 81 the Louisiana
Returning Board under the law and Consti-
tuition ~ the United states. Whether. as
you observe by way ~ illustration, under
the Constitution, the President Of the Sem
ate both counts and declares the votes ~
the Electors Of the several States, his
duty being purely ministerial and
not subject 10 the control OF Congress. or
whether, as has been the practice FOR more
than eighty years practice insugurlted
by men, some Of whom had been among
the trainers 81 the Constitution-fhe votes
are 10 be counted under the direction and
control 81 the House of Representative and
Senate, Is q question upon the discussion of
which we deem II no part OF our duty o.
enter. In conclusion, permit US 10 ssy that.
Notwithstanding your refusal 10 corporate,
we still cherish the hope that the Return.
ing Board, warned by the history of
the past, and conscious that IL actions
are being observed 10y the whole Nation,
viii di-Charga It's delicate duty with eurh