The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-14
The g ally Argus.
ROCK NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
(Conciuded from second pare. J

Upon this statute we are all clearly OF opinion
that the returning board has no right TO do any
which were lawfully made to them by local officers
except In cases where they are accompanied by
the certificates Of the supervisor or commissioner
provided in the third section. In such cases the
last sentence of that section shows that it was ex
pected that they would ordinarily exercise the grave
and delicate duty of Investigating charges of riot
tumuit bribery. or corruption, hearing of the
parties interetted In the Office It never could
have been meant that this board OF its own notion
sitting In New Orleans, at distance from the
place OF voting, and without notice. could decide
the right of persons claiming to be elected. =
There is no more dangerous form of self-6elusion
than that which induces men In high places of
public trust to violate law to redress or prevent
what they deem public wrongs. Tr
These references to the report of the
congressional committee upon the action
OF this same returning board in 1874, and
its construction Of the statute, are made
that the ublic may know how this board
and its rulings were regarded BY prominent
gentlemen, ne of them candidate for vice
president at the recent election. at a time
when its decision did not affect presi-
Dental election.
WE REGARD IT AS INDIspUTABLE
that the returning board has no jurisdic-
ton to inquire into and reject the returns
from any voting place in the state on
account of intimidation, acts of violence
other cause mentioned in the statute, ur-
less he foundation for such inquiry ard
rejection is a e &c the line and in tie
u amer provid ed by the statute.
In no case did the supervisor of regis
tratlon deliver the clerk of the court of
his parish, as required by section 26. a
duplicate statement made and sworn to
by the commissioners of eleetion, aud
cerroborated by three citizens, of any riot,
| tumult, acts OF violence. intimidation and
disturbance, bribery or corrupt influences,
and OF the facts relating thereto, occurring
on the day OF election, nor any like state.
ment OF his own that any such acts &C.
| CURED during the time of registration
or the revision of registration. When
the returns were opened by the
returning board such statements were
found among the papers in a few instances.
out not in relation to the parishes of
Ouachlta. Morehouse. East Baton Rouge.
/ East or West Feliciana. and such we're the
manifest efforts on the part OF the officers
of election to conceal their acts and con.
fuse and mislead persons interested in a
| proper investigation of the facts relating
W tito 6ieCtlOu tIldt II was ltDp0SSiDle TO
determine whether any such statements
had been made by the commissioners OF
election or the supervisor of registration
and attached to the returns of the super
visor in any parish in the state at the tine
and 10 the manner required by sections &c
nj 43.
This fact leaves the returning board
without jurisdiction to inquire into acts OF
violence, etc, at the election or during
registration, aud with no other duty to
| perform except to canvass and compile the
votes returned. as the returning officers of
any other state would do, and as the re
turns opened by them show majority for
the Tilden electors, it ought to be an end
OF all controversy on the subject. But as
the board. in the face of these facts, has
| come to
THE EXTRAORDINARY CONCLUSION.
to declare that the Hayes electors have a
majority. it is proper to look further into
its action.
fGonludad to- n1arrov