Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-11-23

SNPN N1S DNSASNA
The Times Columbia dispatch says:
THE court has adjourned till Friday to
hear TIE argument for and against the
new maudamus prayed for by the Demo-
cratic eounselin reference to the returns
for P egidentisl electors. Meantime
the Board of Canvassers, who held their
session at the other end Of the capitol,
had taken action which will greatly sim.
pity, if it does not render unnecessary,
any ur her proceedings before the court
in reference to their powers and duties"
The law Of South Carolina, as inter.
preted by the Board, and always acted
upon heretofore, requires the Board TO
complete their work as State Canvassers
within ten days from the time they com
mence ii cir sessions, Sundays excepted.
The time expired at noon today. There
is a difference Of opinion among law
yers as to the true Interpretation of the
statutes, but at all events there is no law
and has been no order Of court requir-
iag hem to sit longer than ten days,
the tins they have been accustomed to
sit. TIE Board therefore completed its
work and adjourned cine die at the ex-
piration Of that time, and is no longer in
existeucs.
The Board gives as reasons for its ad-
journment sine die--6rst, hat the stat
uts, as they interpret it, required them
to do so; and second, that il they had
not done it the Democrats might here.
after claim that they have no power to
issue certificates because the time for
them to do it has expired. In other
words, it was done to prevent the posi-.
bility Of the DeuAcrats getting any ad.
vantage hereafter on a pretense that the
Board had not complied with the law.
Attorney. General Cooke, Of Florida,
telegraphs to the Herald, in answer to
an inquiry respecting the powers ard
duties Of the State Board Of C~anvassers
of Florida; also, respecting the claims
Of Governor Stearns TO canvass the votes
Of the people of the State for Presiden-
tial electors; and Alsa respecting the de
lay to begin the csnvassing of the vote
OF the State, as followsi
First: Governor stearns has no au.
thority, under the laws Of Florida, to
canvass the vote for Presidential cleo
tors,
Second: A State Board Of CaRyassers
is constituted by tho laws Of Florida,
act Of February 9th, 1872, consisting of
the Secretary of State, the Comptroller
ana Attorney General, The same act
requires the votes to be first named by a
member Of the Board, to,wit: The Score.
tary Of State; aud also requires him to
! notify the other two members of the
Boacd to assemble and proceed to can.
yass the county returns.
Third. The Secretary of State is to
notify his associate members in the
State Board of C%anvassers to assemble
and proceed with the canvass of returns
which be has received and has been pub.
/. liply protested against by electors voted
+. for at the last eleetion. Moreover, mem.
. bers Of the Board have each Of them
been commanded by a competent court
: oil this State 10 show cause why they
F ahould not 90 on with their duty. A
t continuance Of such delay on the part
IOf the Secretary Of. State would have the
misfortune Of preventing proofs of al
legged frauds from bsirg exhibited before
+ the Board as ground foT pagging the re.
v turns OF The misfortune possibly OF pre-
n venting the vote OF Presidential Eleetor.
Of Florida from being cast in conformity
d to the will Of the people.
The Worlds correspondent at Colum
J. bia interviewed Governor Chamberlain
yesterday upon tho action Of the BOARD
of Canyassers and Supreme Court. The
Governor susiains the action Of th,
n Board and says that under the law
which is mandatory, it could do notbin.
else but adjourn. Tho law says i
shall sit ten days. The Board organized
on Friday, the 10th, at IL m and omit
= ing Sundays, the ten days had expired a
Y n. to-day, the Governor says tina
) the board did only It's duty by certifying
the election Of Hayes aud Wh..i.. &c
r tors and IN throwing out the copRiisS Q
r. Rdeeield and AaqreEs. Yhs Governor
does not admit the power Of the Supreml