The New York herald., 1876-11-15
THE ELECTORAL PROBLEM
GEORGE r1cKson CURTIS Views.

second street. last evening when he gave expression
to some opinions OF law bearing the Southern dii-
culties, which arc here even:--
"Do you think, Mr.. Curtis" asked the reporter,
'thst the wishing OF the souher, States BY the rep
rescntaive gentlemen OF both parties will insure fan
counting OF the votes doubtful S,atcsr
1.-The situation IL one OF great danger" began Nc
Curtis. .'Tho temptation IN Louisiana for instance,
commit fraud 10. OF course, very great. What
the gentlemen do who have gone there TO prevent
any wrongdoing cannot exactly see OF course they
can have legal right to interfere with the oj
the Returning Board. At the time tneu
presence there may to satisfy those per
sons that tho public attention Of the whole
country Is upon them, and possibly. also,
they may be able TO make some suggestions
TO those who allowed to appear before tho Board
as counsel for the respective parties II any such
course is taken. But 10 my feeling II is most humil
atng circumstance that the people OF the United
statss-ior that seems to DO the atttude-nust got
down their knees as IL werc 10 the Official persom
in those States and beg them not to commit fraud
that will plunge tho whole country into the peril OF
disputed claim to the Presidency"
"How do you suppose those boards will proceeds ?"
"According 10 my understanding OF their legal duty
their authority should be limited to the actual
of the votes certified TO them by the return.
ing officers who have had charge OF the polls can
conceive they have any authority TO re.
modify those returns by hearing evidence
jf what is called intimidation that used 70
keep away certain class OF voters tho day OF tho
election or to inquire into any matters oi fact which
do not appear tho face OF the certificates
that up them. Still there may be, for aughi
Know statutory provisions IN those states which VIII
authorize those officials 10 behind the local ccrtn-
Gates and try TO determine facts that are not ap-
the certificates. II such is The II comes
simply to tnsthat It is in tho power of these boards
TO make the returns just what they please, while
or Dissemination which wlIl furnish any
safe aud reliable means OF nscertainng the
r q .Ss q m na ssas Whose
and certify the election OF the electors Of
President and Vice President In me same manner pro-
scrbed by law with relation 10 the election Of state
oncera The method Of proceeding is Tor the Board u
take certified copies oistatcnenss made by the Board o
County CanvasscYs and from these make
up statement Of the whole number OF votes given fol
each ocer voted for. They then TO determine and
arithmeticaI process. This rcsult they transmit
10 tnc Secretary Of State. | am not aware
the election Of Prssdon.isi electors. or IN
regard the election OF any State officers, TO 90
behiud the certified statements furnished to them by
tho county canvassers Try any question with
gard tho legality regularity OF the popular vote,
deter vosora There i clear distinction which ought
to be preserved, under institutions between lhe
mode Of ascertalnng and certlyiIg who has been
chosen any ONCE and the method that 10 res0rted
to In legislative bodies 20 dssermne IN tho case OF
contestant scat whether the sitslng member Is enii.
tied to hold IL A legislative body, under all ous
Institutions has power 10 judge Of and thcreiorc power
try tho elections Of It's members The electors
the people IL hnal They cannot themselves body,
seat or unssat their own mcmbcrs and. therefore.
| there should rightfuy be nowhere any authority y
| try such questions have been sugeeslsd d
the pubc prints as likely 10 arise IN regard 70 The
votes OF districts In the three doubtful Slas<s"
..Do you 10 say that there is no iaw IN Louis-
ana, for instance, which will authorize the Returning
70 ns a1 s
| mo; do not moan TO say that, because am noe
personally informed OF the precise condition of inc
local law. read In morning paper that, under ~
act passed In 1872. tho Returning Board has powss
30 throw out the votes Of any polling plsce
/ or Registry or Commissioner OF Election, ain.
davit OF three citizens OF any riot, tumuit,
acts OF violence, intimidation. armed disturbance
bribery or corrupt influences which prevented o
tended prevent fair free and peaceablc vote Of all
qualified electors entitled to vote st such poll polling
place. It is further stated that the returns q
| any disputed poll shall remain uneountcd till
seurnns usnSI osrs shall Ss Alleged a.urS
ances or corrupt practces ana Y ines ara seai*aea
that the evidences y SUD 'i'se tsy ~ ga
| the dlsputod v0ieA II IN e111NEs ase.a+ Il
the Law Of LOUISIANA, whom sof 81 g be .a-tssts-
with the law OF almost every Nts ssH!t 4. NJ .gtso
IL Will mpress tho people OF ~ tsa Al4fc. s'ts
| painful sense OF the manner In AZ ieNts ~ br-e
concentrated IN an olgarcAy q ya sa'fEsr lfittt4
| Stale. Tho existing governmeIt ot Nnclslsns :
government that has been kept In FNsc ~ tA4 upi1-
ful and unconstitutional in.srfsr.ece II FssAaens
Grant Its election laws, II the FORE ntt yai et ~
thom IL correct framed 20 =,
consisting OF State officers, 70 rejecs returns
place at tho polls which had tendency
10 prevent fair free and psaceabe voto Of all the
Of being used SO a. 10 produce any result winch the
persons who exercise u are determined 70 produce.
The people Of the United States have boon less attcn-
tive and less sensitive than they should have been
what has been going on IN Louisiana for several years
past They are now brough. acs 70 face with this con-
| or possibly exists there, framed with express
purpose Of enabling State Board OF Canvassers TO do
what utterly unknown Ia other States OF this Union,
| viz TO exercise absolute power the popular
vote for Presidential any other stand
occurrences At The polls TO prevent full and irss OK
precision Of tho popular wil In such state OF The
may expect from this Returning Board rather,
do know what we may nationally expect and ths.
that results declared which could not possibly
be reached In any other state in the Unlon whcn
sound and sensible method OF proceeding,
eSs ma, Of -
Hayes or Mr. Tdsn s TO BE- tho next President Of The
Suppose Il the gentlemen OF tho democratic deIegs-
who have gone from other States 10 be ~
the counting OF the votes OF the disputed States diss
materially with republican delegation in their
port on tho counting OF the votes what do you think
would bc the effect on the peoplef"
1t must be borne In mind that the people 0f the
country large will be most interested in two thngs:
FIRST what rs tho actual state OF the local law and
| to do; and, secondly, what tho facts which
that local law has been applied. In regard 70
any difference in The statements between The
democrats and republicans who havo gone
South In regard to tho facts TO whlch tbo local
has been applied whether u has been honestly and
correctly applied, there may be great dlerence Of
opinion; but can scarcely happen bat that The roai
OF tho popular vote those States, apart from
any official slatements, can be truly ascertained, -
that, morally speaking the people Of tho country q
| large will accept tho of1ctal declaration
| as satisfactory, " II appeaTs 10 be plainly
| and paIpsbly inconsistent with tho real state
OF the popular In event. however, the
tion is one 81 extreme misiortune, and one cannot
help thinking to be manly attributed to the
that has been taken TO produce the impression in
South ameng the negrocs that their personal safety
tho safety Of shsr constitutional rights was IN
volvcd IN this election"
"what do you think OF President Grants sending
troops INTO these states TO DO present s the counting
OF tho votes ~ tt
~ do what authority the President has 10
Interfere the matter beyond any other citizen of the
United states l do not understand that any State
authority has officially, and 10 constitutional aud
lhox4o