The New York herald., 1876-12-15

tho votes had not been tanpcred with The acts were
practically admitted by Attorney General Little, Of
Ohio. Contradictory testimony was taken regarding
tho sdiournnen, of tho canvass. and some aadavils
showed that the republicans carried Key West by
small majority tho Calculation beng based, however,
on the CANVASS during the iirst session.
Tne vote of this county lMonroel on the returns
was-Demoeratic Loaf; republican $50; democratic
majority. J5.
As corrected by throwing out this poll, it
Democratic. 1i6 republican, 9.l republican major
ny, 2,3
In 1872 II was-Democra,c, 6ss; republican, $50;
democratic majority, 3o2
N 1914 tConefessionai election only II was-Demo-
BY the census Of 1875 the voting population was
Blacks '60; whites. 2.s0d
l. rs proper to say that Is largo body OF Gu
bans al Key West. who are said 10 frequently change
their party IN large masses. How they generally
voted at this election ain not informed.
MANArEk COUNTY.
The republicans attacked The county OF Manatee
which, the returns, the ol lowing Dem
ocrutic .u2 republican, 20: democratic majority, 236.
Here the County Clerk appointed by the Governor
20 fi vacancy did not qualify. consequently there
County Clerk Deputy to register or certify
10 registry iists the Directs General Barlow
goes describe the muddlo caused by this OF
things especially because there polling paccs
designated.
But on either Wednesday or Thursday November
~ or SO the republican allegations against the county
brought this point to their notice. ana am told that
there stiil time by elegraphinG To Fort Mead
get proof back before Monday, December u but can
not speak certainly on this poui. Furthermore, Two
credible republicans thar they tried 10 get down
TO this county TO learn the truth Of the but
stopped by certain democrats on tho way and
pecc 10 turn back unless they produced credentials
from the Democratic State Committee. or went
under democratic guard. fhis believe 10 be true,
and am satisfied that the republicans made every
effort TO get into the county.
The vote this year was Democratic 2oa repub-
lican, %; democratic majority 236. In l512-Demo.
cratic, 20l republican, 81; democratic majority l2o.
In 1871 Democratic 2i9 republican, u; democratic
majority, l72 Tho rcpub lean thus fe OH some
thirty y-tour per cont from ls74. while the democratic
vote increased, and this whio tho increase of both
sides Throughout; the State was very large.
BY the census OF 1878 the voting population was:-
Blacks, IL; whites, 497. Total, 6l2.
Inc republican argument beside the point that thero
registry liss At the polls (Which, 1t said,
vital to election under syscm OF rcgistraton)
Was that there could not possibly be any valid election
II no polling places were appointed, and that Is no
answer to say that voters could did TO the last
years places II claimed that this, at least,
Of tho substance ana that the Board could not dsre
Tho Board threw out the county, Mr. Cooke dis
scnting
JEYTERsox COUNTY.
Tho democrats attacked the county of Jefferson,
which gave large republican majority. In argu-
ment submitted 10 the Board went over the attack
ing aihdavits with as impartial scrutiny as could
give to ,nem on toir iaco (without reference 10
the republican denals), made deduction Of some
sixty votes the republican majority, which, and
which only, the Board allowed.
Among the grounds OF attack were an over vote
compared with the last census the election officers
being canvasscrs at the polls
That being an inspector OF elections disqualified the
County Judge from The merely ministerial duty Of
adding up the lgurcs in the county canvass, seemed
TO mo 70 be an absurd proposition. In my own State
the just elected Governor at present Comptroller,
OF his own votcs-but as it is purely a ministerial
duty, no oae has ever thought OF objectng.
No correction made In this county, except tho
sixty above mentioned, and my opinion, that
was perfectly right decision upon the evidence as It
then appeared.
DUvAL COUNTY.
Duval county, largely republican. was attacked py
the democrats on the ground that the county
signed by tho County Clerk and justice only,
County Judge being present. though protesting. l
satisfied that upon tho facts which appear the return
was entirely legal, though this is upnportant as tho
prccnc returns were produced and the canvass made
from them, as IN the case OF Baker county. Attorney
General Cooke objected to this to the last as appears
Various individual votes were objected to, but tho
proof In my opinion. failed to justify the rejection Of
more than two
POLL Is, LEON COUNTY.
Here tho democratic objections were that the polls
opened before tho legal hour for tho purpoae Of
cutting OF tho democratic Inspector. II was also
charged that small ballots cast By republicans
with their regular tickets, TO swell the
General Barlow says
very slmple explanation relieved this part Of tho
case OF Difficulty Bowos and the County Clerk showed
that the OF the poli list not numbered
fastened together when returned and that In making
tho certified copy the aters Office an interior sheet
bad been put first instead OF the which Bowcs
appeared the twelfth voter And this explained tho
tact that eighteen names appeared on the certified
copy after Dortsch, the third voter from the end.
Fcmng's ignorance OF these names did not necessarily
prove that they were nctious because voters oftQn
come from distance, and might well in blocks
masses Tor protection at an excited election Some
other points were made in respect 10 this poll but
tho democratic member OF ths Board, VINO knew Mr.
Bowes WELL docs not object to this poll in his protest.
do not think It worth while 10 notice IL further At
one timc thought the attacking testimony strong;
but, ON further consideration, am satisfied that
ono can complain that the poll was retained on the
proofs.
HAMILTON COUNTY.
Ono precinct in Hamilton county seems to have been
rejected and 1t stated at the time that the demo-
cratic member concurrcd IN this, but this must be
mistake, as he condemns It IN his protest The facts
OF this case am not familiar with. II, MS Mr. Cocko
says (sce his protest annexcd II was tho ground
that s.two republican inspectors absented themselves
from tho polls several times during tho day It's
cluson certainly cannot bo justified, but presume u
Tor some other
Not single vote was thrown out on the ground OF
Intimidation. In certain other precincts than those
above mentioned votes were thrown out for various
lcan and twenty.sx democratic, and tho republicans
gained tour the vote as originally declared by
their majority In Dadc county, which came In late.
As TO expressing my own opinion IN the premises
have hcsitatcd long, because The facts being before
tho public, every man is capable OF forming his own
judgment upon them and one mans conclusions arc
much emitted TO respect as anothcr's.
should have reduced the vote IN Archer precinct
No by dcducting 2l9 votes from the republican
majority. though upon the conflict OF evidence think
that one might with perfect fairness aud honesty
The Congressional COMMITTEES, by proper examina.
tion can demonstrate almost 70 certainly which sdo
is right in this controversy
Having IN this corrected tho return against the
positive denias Of the election officers, should throw
out Friendship Church precinct, in Jackson county.
although tho frauds were denied there. think tho
weight OF evidence shows frauds on the part OF tho
democratic inspectors and there Is means OF giving
relief short OF rejecting the whole poll.
As 10 tho Campbell precinct cannot say.
II the Archer precinct returns were sustained upon
the ground that the burden OF proof u upon those
sailing Il, and every presumption is TO be made n
favor Of an official return and the acts OF election ON
GERS and hence that great prcponderance OF evidence
should be required to reject Il. thcn IN my Judgment
Friendship Church precinct should stand upon the
same principle
should not have rejected tho Key West precinct
In Monroe county. Courts are reluctant to reject
whole polls, thereby disiranchsing the innocent with
the guilty. and should be done except upon
very clear proof that Is impossible place any
lance the return.
i should not have been willing to throw out tho
county OF Hanatcc The absence OF certified copies Of
the registration lists at the polls would not, my
opinion justify the exclusion vi The county without
proof that those who voted wcrc la point OF fact,