The New York herald., 1876-11-16
THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE.
VIEWS or Mr.. PRIEST. or sr. LOUIS.


Missouri. is at the Fifth Avenue notel HIS views, As
given yesterday, the present situation marked
| by great moderation and candor While many prom
democrats have already virtually thrown up tho
sponge and declared that although den rghtiully
elected the republican returning boards would undoubi
cdly count Hayes, Mr. Priest firmly ndheres to tho
opinion that Tdcn only elected but also that his
election will yct be conceded by the returning boards
and tho republican party at large II bcsvc. sad he,
'that SIR Tdcn has been elected by lair majority OF
the Electoral College and that the people will TO It
that their will and choice respected"
"But arc tho returning boar DIS not CERTAIN ~ count
him out. - ne asked.
''why, no." Mr.. Priest replied 81 do not assume
thai men, because they republicans Will do wrong,
just as do not assume that men who are democrats
will do right. They cannot count Mr. Tildcn out. He
has undoubtedly received majority In all the three
doubtful States, and most assmrcdy in LOUISIANA and
Florida Now, TO preposterous for repub-
licans claim States simply on the dispatches
OF the Governors OF those States, men who have been
rcpudiaeu discredcd by the respectable repubii
cans tnctselves Just look at it the democrats have
/ while the republicans sin ply send general dispatches
claiming mnjorcs and the lying character Of these Is
sufficiently Indicated by The fact that their figures arc
rcruccd iroin day To day
..Mr ui,endorlcr, one OF the New York delegates OF
| the National Democratic Committee. has scnta de-
spatch which hs expresses his CONVICTION that whc
Tildcn has carried Lou by over 1000 the Re-
turning Board IS determined To count Hayes in"
II 40 not believe they can do H. am aware that
the preexs which They mean 10 use for throwing out
the o certain dcmocrati: parishes iptiini
dation and fraud. but thai IS
wIIcu BorH
| am convinced that moro democrats have been in
! Inundated than have republicans. Everybody kno xs
how negro, II he becomes democrat Is prosecuted
by the republican whites Now II tho republicans can
show fraud Intimidation on the part o the demo
Gratis BY means OF bogus alldavts, the democrats
| certainly procure genuine Statements proving both
| Intimidation and traui>by The republicans and then
the Returning Board throws out democratic parishes
must /, not also reject republican parishesr Aud
SO, how can they overcome ridcns honest majority
vi SCOOP
.Nauy people hero believe that they not only
| but Will do iln
LAS they may take your pocketbook or course, but
is there no law no redress for such crimesY And II u
done, what the liberties OF tho American people
WORTH Oi what further Is Il then to hold another
Presdentxl election four years hence, the debcr
atey and clearly expressed Will OF tho people can thus
be nuIiicd BY unmsiakabIe barciaced lrauds No,
| sir tho American pcop.o have not yot come TO that
polnt when they will tolerate such proceedings. l
know many distinguished republicans in ST. Louis who
| have come 10 mo alter the election ana sald:--
i berevc Mr. rildcn n.s carried these
doubtful States, and II an honest, fair
count Of the votes shows that he has, want to
him auguratcd!' believe that tho majority Of the
decent republicans OF the country when they the
true state OF affairs IN LOUISIANA developed by the
count when they see that SIR. Tden undoubt.
edly received majority OF tho votes cast not by fraud
or intimidation, nut fairly and honestly, will not
councnancc the counting in process coItepl plated by
some OF Hayes unscrupulous election managers and
will insiJ upon Tilden's Inauguration. bsneve in
"De you believe TIM. any redress could bo had by
action OF Congress the returning boards act from
partisan motivesY'
.Undoubtedly do believe there arc enough honest
and iair men IN the Senate to consent 10 Mr. Tidens
II the proof Is laid before them that hc
lawfully elected Ot course, men oil the stripe OF
Logan and Morton. whose sense OF right and duty 10
completely sunk IN bitter partisan zeal, Will not take
such u course but there arc enough far-mndcd aud
conscientious republicans III tho senate to decat the
project Of counting IN Mr. Hayes by force and iraud.
do not believe that all republicans rascals be-
levc that there are as many honorable, high-mindcd
and impartial gentlemen party there IN
the other, although vast amount Of dishonesty and
corruption has undoubtedly crept In among the repub
ican II returning boards prostitute
themselves to party purposes believe that their ac-
ton Will be subject OF revision by Congressional ln-
vcsga,ion, and The iac's are then laid before the
country cannot doubt that the republican party wall
demand tho inauguration OF that candidate who has
been lawfully elected"
cHAUNcEY sHAFFER's OPINIONS
The HERALD reporter who called upon Mr.. Chauncey
Shaer learn his opinion OF tho political situation
was all surprised nnd that veteran Of the Bar
engaged discussing with no little warmth The very
subject no talk about, Tor he knew tho ballot
box with It's and abuses. TO have always boon
pct theme of Mr.. ShaFcr's.
.swhat is your Of tho aspect Of affairs in the
contested StatesSn asked tho reporter.
"Therc be but one opinion about IT," said Mr..
Shaner, sand must say that both democrats and
consulting personal preferences, admit that there Is
desperate effort being made by Kellogg, Chamberlain
and Searns count Tidcn and givo their States
TO their own party. Why, tho facts oil the
patent the duest intellect and 1t Is mere tomfoolery
10 beat about the bush and cndeavor TO shirk
them We have three States which not beyond
tho bounds OF civilization, and which have. u is
sonablc to suppose somo OF the means OF conveying
news rapidly which belong TO that civilization. Now
prepostcrous to suppose that 1t has required al
this time 10 count tho votes tho different parishes
and make full returns Of them. There States In
the Union with territories expansive and with fac-
tiles OF communication perfect than those oi
Florida, Louisiana and North Carolina, which have
long since furnished with tho result OF their Cleo
tons This delay only mean that Il is shc deter
naton of the republican Governors and their satcl-
Ites count Hayes IN whether tho nation Will have
IL or not But, IL is said, these States unlike
aud have beon embroIed in political d'i-
nculties rising out OF racial differences; fraud and
iimidsilon ary supposed to be rlfs in them Now is
sccms to mo that tho papers had full and adequate
accounts the spirit In which the election
Quoted. For my part saw report OF negroes being
driven up 10 tho ballot box at the muxzlc OF the
volver nor did noar OF any rolous demonstration
the part the democrats either the way mani
uIaiing returns Otherwise manipulating republican
vo,ors Everything passed oil as quietly IN tho south
subsequently, Il was ecpubIicans and not democrats
wsro st the bottom d II, as the papers show Now:
why 40 tno Icpuo'ic1us ~
rcfcr Az power 10 the election boards There
great show Of nsImidaton, no great parade OF
fraud that would call for their interference. II Is
SIMPLY because they resolved 70 tampcr with tho
returns and invaidatc any democratic majority"
''Mr. Shallcr," asked tho reporter, .'what do you
Judge tho functions OF these boards OF canvasscrs,
they ministerial or judicial or bothY"
''Tne law distinctly scts down the powers Of can
vassing boards and duly circumscribes them Tho
canvasscr has simply ministcral functions; nonc or
Judicial nature by right and by law belong to HIM "
'Have you precodenis IN your readings bearing on
the cuse -
s.Oh, thcro numbers OF which have been
tried and passed upon III which tho question OF the
powers oi canvasscrs has been raised, and the de-
cson OF tho court has invariably been that
and cnnvasscrs have ministerial functions only. IL
returns be questioned aud II u be doomed neces
sary tho maintenance OF justice TO decide upon
certain votes and determine whether they
Intentionally by the voer tho matter must be brought
lie Court under writ OF