Mexico weekly ledger., 1876-11-30
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.


The State Democratic Committee of Lou
isiana on the 10Th made application for rep
resentation on the Returning Board, and
also desired that a subcommittee be al
lowed TO attend the sittings of the Board.
In reply, Gov. Wells stated that in all cases
Of contested polls from any cause they
would be notified, and the Board would
hear argument from both sides.
PROCEEDINGS OF II RETURNING BoARc'
Nou. 20.-Board met at 1880. All the
members present. There were also present, TSi
committees from the two parties, the FOLLOWING
gentlemen: Republicans-Messrs. futile, Gar
field. Sherman. Hale and stoughton. Democrats
6. w. Julian and Watson. 1t was announced
that during the executive session all persons eX-
cept the members of the National Committees
would be excluded. Counsel will only be called in
where contests are raised-that is, where a con-
test has been filed, or accompanies returns.
Counsel will not be allowed to examine the re-
turns when opened, but merely to witness the
unsealing Of the packages. Both of the National
Committees are accompanied by phonogra-
piers, who will report all the proceedings toa
Board goes into executive session men,
bers of the press will be excluded; A
among other things that the returns from PARISH
es where no objection is made to the canvass or
compilation of votes be first taken up ana uls~
posed of that all motions by candidates or thelr
attorneys, and all arguments before the Board,
be presented in writing; that the Returning
officers, if they think it advisable, may go INTO
ment or proposition which may be presented 10
them, and that any member shall have the rlght
TO call for a secret session Tor the ABOVE purpose
that evidence for each contested poll IN any par,
iSh, when concluded, shall be laid aside until
all evidence is in from all the contested polls IN
the several parishes where there may be contest
ants. and after the evidence is all in, the Re-
turning officers will decide the several contests
in secret session; candidates or their attorneys
-. - 1---I $50 In.n< nv Hsi+f arrrI
ments, up to the time fixed for Returning officers
going into secret session. after which no addl-
tional argument is to be received, unless by spe-
Cial consent. Judge Spofford, OF counsel for
Democratic candidates, asked the adoption OF a
motion providing that all the proceedings of the
Board be held in open session, supporting his
motion with an argument. The lnotlon
was overruIed. The Democratic protest against
the legal authority of the Board was also over
ruled. A further protest was made against the
Boards proceeding to canvass the vote before
the vacancy had been filed there being no Dem
Ocrats on the Board. Col. ZaCharie made an
application for the admission Of United states
Supervisors, which was taken under advise
ment. The Board then commenced the can
vass of the votes, taking up the undisputed par
ishes in alphabetical order; Three parishes,
Ascension, Assumption and AvOyelles, were
disposed OF, giving about the same vote as shown
in the tables made heretofore from the duplicate
poll lists.
NOU. 21.-The Board was in executive
session about three hours, and examined returns
from SIX duulllOnai PARISHES, lay my IioSc aSiu
in which there We're contests or protests for ac-
ton. 1t was ascertained that there are contests
in a large majority of the parishes. Counsel
for the United States Supervisors Of Election
filed a protest against the exclusion OF super
visors during the canvass and compilation OF the
vote.
NOU. 22.-The Board examined the re-
turns from seven additional parishes. The va
cancy on the Board remained untitled. Gov.
Wicklife. Elector at Large on the Democratic
ticket, was excluded from the ROOM, and in
ftrmed that he could only be present in ease of a
contest. The Clerk reported that returns from
II parishes had not yet been received.
NOU. 23.-Judge Spofford, OF cOunse for
Democratic candidates, submitted a motion that
orders be Issued instructing all Supervisors to
file their returns Immediately, it being alleged
that many of the delayed returns had been foe
some days in New Orleans in the hands of Re
publican officers. The motion was granted. The
canvass of three additional parlshes-lberyIllc,
Union and " hitaker- was cOmpleted.