Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-12-01
The Situation.

As briefly stated in our last issue the
board Of canvassers OF S Juth Carolina sud
denly closed their labrrs on Wednesday Of
last week by issuin- certificates to the
Hayes electors, 10 II c Republican members
of the Legislature, ant to all the Republi-
can candidates for Slac officers, throwing
on 'be vote Of Edgetield and Laurens
counties on tho ground of fraud and intim-
ida:ion. Having donc this tho board adj
jouined Without day. When This action
was taken "a tder from the Supreme Court
of the State was pending commanding the
board 10 certify 10 the election of the menu
bers of The Legislature as appeared from
the face of the returns, without exercising
the judicial functions of revision or rejec-
tion of disputed votes which belonged TO
them-a course which would have given
the Democrats the legislature, all the State
o flicers, and the United States Senator.
Tue order also called on The Board to show
cause why they should not revise the ag-
gregalions of votes for Presidential electors
which were founded on The reports Of the
county canvassefs-by comparing them
with the precinct returns also in their pos
session. This was calculated to give the
Democrats hopes OF reaching result favor
able 10 their calculations.
This action Of the court WAS clearly an as
sumption ofauIhority on its part which did
not belong to il, and an unwnrranted at
tempt 10 interfere with the judicial function
which the law vests in the canvassing board.
For this reason the board quietly completed
their work and adjourned as stated. Judges
Moses ard Willard, however, construed
their action as contempt of court, and the
members of the board were arrested on
Saturday, by order of The court, fined $3.50
each and lodged in Jail. On Monday they
were released from Jail and pli ced in Gus
tody Of the United States MaTsh'l. Tho ac-
ti'n of the Supreme Court was partisan in
the extreme, but it cannot prevent the
counting of the Slate for Hayes.
in Louisiana, the returning board is
steadily at work, and has thus far canvass
ed the votes OF nineteen par ishes, which give
a majority fov Hayes OF 9,27i, an increase
over the Democratic estimates of nearly
1000. These embrace all the uncontested
parishes. The returns from a number of
the contested parishes were opened by the
returning board NJ onday, and laid over.
Testimony in contest. | cases will be taken
by Commissioners, tie board being deter
mined 10 close Its laboys this week.
In Florida, the Board of Canvassers be-
gan work Monday, all the returns being IL
except those of one county. The board
adopted rules for its guidance, and resolved
TO admit a number of gentlemen of both
political parties TO its sessions-as many, in
fact, as the Secretary Of States office, in
which tho canvass must by law be made,
will comfortably accommodate. The latest
dispatches from the State indicate that The
face Of the returns will show a small major
ity for Mr.. Hayes. The court proceedings
have entirely fallen through.
From all the Indications of the week it
seems probable that the vote of both Louis
lana and Florida will be declared for Mr..
Hayes. This is the expectation of both par
ties in the South, and throughout the coun-
try, as is shown by The tone of The press,
the expressions of prominent men, the
drift of poltlca! talk, and the conduct of the
administration, and of Gov. Tllden himself.
We see no reason as yet to change tho con-
viction, which we have already expressed,
that Gov. Hayes will receive 1856 electoral
votes, and be declared elected President.