The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-11-24
The Count In the Southern States.

The plot to " count out " the vote of South
Carolina, Florida and Louisiana is being rap
idly developed, and the fears expressed that
the people of those States would be grossly
cheated of their rights are being realized,
In South Carolina, in obedience to the
order of the Supreme Court, the Board of
Canvassers began last week canvassing the
vote for Presidential Electors, five gentlemen
of each side being present as witnesses, The
vote was taken by counties, and thus no eX-
animation could be made into tie fraudulent
character of the aggregate returns. In some
cases the persons upon whom devolvcd the
duty of conveying the election returns to the
State canvassers, kept out of the way until
the very last moment thus preventing the
Democrats from seeing the character of the
returns made. In Barnwell county poll
was opened in the woods, after 400 ballots
had been taken at the regular polling place,
and the irregular box was stuffed full of Re-
publican tickets. This box was received by
the secretary of the canvassers and counted
1917 for Hayes and not one for Tiden The
box from the regular polling place was also
received and counted. By such methods as
these it was made to appear that the Hayes
electors had n majority of the votes in South
Carolina, and the canVasscrs therefore de-
clared them elected.
The Supreme Court of South Carolina de-
cided that the canvassers had authority 10
canvass the votes for congressman and legis-
lators, but not the vote for Governor. Hamp.
con will therefore, in all probability, be per-
United to take his seat.
In Florida the Democratic managers have
obtained temporary injunction from the Cir
cult Court at Tallahassee, restraining the
Governor from canvassing the returns of the
electoral vote or issuing his certificate TO any
elector unless by order of the board of can
vassers, and mandamus commanding the
board to show cause why they do not pro-
coed at once with the count. The cases were
to be finally heard yesterday.
In Louisiana the Returning Board was
disposed to take things with q high hand.
A petition from the Democratic committee
that the Board sit with open doors, was de-
MED. The Board, however, finally adm tilted
x.GovemorWicklfe one of the Democratic
electors-at-large, who demanded it as right
Subsequently the board turned out Gov.
Wickliffe, alleging that their clerk had made
mistake. They do not intend any one
shall witness the manner in which they per-
petrate their frauds.
In five parishes in Louisiana only three of
the Republican electors were voted for,
through mistake in printing the tickets,
and the other five upon the general ticket
are consequently from 1000 to 1000 behind
the rest The impudent claim is set up that
the name Of Hayes and Wheeler being upon
the tickets is prima .facie evidence of the vot,
ers intent, and that therefore they must be
counted for the full Republican electoral
ticket. In other words the voters intention
may be construed by The canvassers and re-
corded as they think it ought to be, not as it
actually was. 1t is thought the Supreme
Court of the State will deliver n opinion in
conformity with these absurd Republican
views.