The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-12-29

A New COUNT IN FLoRIDA-The
Supreme Court of Florida has sustained the
demurrer of the Democrats to the answer
of the canvassing board, and has peremptori-
ly ordered the board to recanvass from the
face Of the returns. This will elect Drew,
the Democratic candidate for Governor
members Of the Legislature and members of
Congress. 1t will also show that Tilden UNI
doubtedly carried the State, and furnish adj
ditional encouragement to the friends Of
! Filden and Hendricks to insis; upon their
| rights. Governor Drew will enter upon his
duties on the Cd of January
The action of the Supreme Court IN Florida
is likely to create much stir and add an un-
| looked for feature to the Presidential ques-
lion. The Republicans contend that the
electors having been appointed, and their
votes having been cast for Hayes, the matter
is fixed. The Democrats in Florida, on the
other hand, insist that the decision carries
everything before it, and affects the electoral
vote as well as the vote for the State officers.
Prominent Democrats at Washington and
elsewhere incline to the view that no new
electoral college can be created but that the
electoral vote of Florida must be thrown
out on the 14th of February. 1t is stated
that Congressman Tarbox of Massachusetts,
takes this view
He says in addition, however, that the
Supreme Court of Florida has il within its
province to determine whether or not the
returning board did an illegal act in giving
the Hayes electors certificates of election
If they decide the board thus did an illegal
act, that the action of the electors is nulliiy,
and there being no way now to make n legal
electoral college for the State, that the vote
Of the State must be entirely thruwn ont of
The college by Congress in jo t convention.
The sequence TO this action on the part of
Congress would be to reduce the college from
800 TO 365 votes, and Tilden and Hendricks
having 1871 votes undisputed, one more than
II majority, they are elected.
Alexander IL Stephens also thin ks that
the action of the Supreme Court will throw
out the electoral vote OF Florida He con-
sruos the decision 10 mean tina no legal
electoral college met in the State on the day
appointed by law, and hence no electoral
vote was legally cast. He does not think
that Congress can now either count the vote
Oh inc llIueh OF !''yeS PiectoFS or l"Im
new election.
The two Radical members of the Florida
canvassing board, who, with the Governor,
had accepted the situation and were about to
obey formally the mandate of the court to
rccanvass the vote, on Wednesday changed
their minds and decided to file q motion TO
Yacate the rule and set aside the mandnmus
Attorney General Cooke, the Democratic
member of the board, proceeded to canvass
the vote alone and footed up n majority on
the honest count for both Drew and Tildtn.
The reculcitrant members f the board final
Iy decided t. unite in a recount, and the votes
were again Canyassed and after throwing
out portion the State was given to the
Democrats on the State ticket and the Re
publCans on the electoral ticket, Attorney
General Cooke prot, sting. The comt WIS
to review he co. III YESTERDAY