New-York tribune., 1876-12-12
ABSTRACT OF THE REPORT.

Hewitt Chairman of the National Democratic Com
mittee and makes pamphlet of IL pages. 1t be-
gins as follows:
The Returning Board of Louisiana having this day
promulgated result OF the recent election IN tha
that tho hayes and Wheeler candidates for eecios
watched the roceedngs Of tho board IN opening and
cauyassng the rsturns till II went into secret sessso1
faets connected tn the election and the returns as Si
think. clearly show that the aoion OF tue
is arbitrary unfai and without warrant Of law ana wo
ad0pt ~ applicable this the anguaso OF re
poTs th Uted States House of Yves
Ia 1878 by T. Hosr, w. wheeler aud Wi +. srys
IN regard u tbs canvass Of 1s7? IN which tney
Tho socalled made by tho Returning Bopa pa
In tho interest Of kellogg seems to us 70 nave NO uo
validity and IL enrted 70 no respect whatever, mo
also adopt the angua 80 OF this sane report UPON 'o
coalition OF Loui-i, IA in 1875: M.
"In the state OF louisiana there Is Governor IN oog
who owes his seat the interference OF the Natfonh
power which has recognized hts titlo TO oce nos Dy
of any ascertain me9t Of the isSsr py % ~
In the same sst eeSrs s DEiy fron s
sams order the other being nzed BY majority who
have established IN power " another
ia title not from any legal scertainment OF tho iae
but from the certificates VI seturng board whieh nus
misconceived and exceeded its legal anthoriy'
NO JURISDICTION
Tho committee disputes tho jurisdiction OF the
Returning Board over the votes for electors, holding
that the law of 1872 under which it was created,
omits all reference to Presidential electors, while
the act of 1870 expressly provides for computing
and certifying such votes by the Governor, Secre-
tary of State, Attorney-General. and Distrlcs
JsGge. The law of 1870 was, however. repealed by
the later one of 1872, that there Is now no pro
vision of law on the subject of counting the electoral
vote. The committee say
1t Ia mmser. far as affects the jurisdiction OF to
Retaining Board whether tho act OF 1870, relating 10
tho appointment OF Presidential electors repeated or
II repealed there Is no law IN n ,oI .@e
10 the the returns for such electors mus. 90
pado by the G9y,nSr IN nI iadeS OF the dsrc II
which the Of Governments may DO esi1Dnsneu oI
s,st;ps such canvass tney would DO confined to
corment of persons elected according 70 the re
cs Ro Retu ming Board have OF the returns
of she Of President aud Vc-resident ana then
canvass OF the Is therefore nusy and ented 70
otbcr obeotons were made TO the Jurisdiction OF the
Hotrrning board That 10 anti Republican, that IL
SITS conflict with the Constitution o the state IN na'
II undertook to exercise judicial tnclohs anu l mat
wit, only four members 10 not legally constituted
Tho Election law declares: That I'VE pcrsOhA 70 -
DO rtring officers for all elections in tho state. m
jorty OF whom shall constitute quorum anu nav
ar vacancy by death, resignation OF otherwise, y
etbcr OF the board then tho vacancy saH 10 nuen ny
tLs r,sidue OF tho Board of Returning Ohicsrs
Inc present board consists OF only four inembers. 70
vii J. Madison Wells, T. g Anderson, o. CasaaNe, anu
csadata for the state Senate at tho rcosnt election
.se Republican ticket Ali members of tho RepnOu,
tss Fstrnns Board in 1874 and canyassSd tho election
rst OF that year, and OF whom oomnttes OF Ins
posi OF Messrs. Hoar. Wheeler Frye Foster Phelps,
Marshall and Potter after careful ~ ss, 81 ,Ss mo
action the Returning Bo1rd On ina wnole, Was aFpT
U.yy, unjust, aud Ia our opinion Illegal
TLs vacancy In the board. Occasoned by tho rehignS
oa OF OsOF Arroyo IN Deeanbor 1871 has never peos
acd although repeated applications by tho represont
uyes Of tho DemOcrstcCon paFJ OF Ihs Ssah
and its have beon mads to tho board 70 MI tAs
,taycs commenting the failure OF tho board . III
ts~ vacancy IA lS74. when It occurred said; fo,s
We. not aSlne edpeS ,S Win II tSi. View 10
us bsaTa Is constituted as 10 have au,horiy 70
aI ID all The entire clerical force appointed by tbs
aozrd AZ lts present session compile tho votes cast 10
also Il EPnbiean and ths board eil.oa an no or
ps p to 20 e tnS IL States
Election under the aot ofCongress.
NO RIGHT TO REVISE The VOTE
The report then quotes at great length from ths
volumnous election law of the State chat of 1872
Ii gives the sections in regard to statements ana
protests by supervisors. which the law requires TO
accompany the returns 10 bo valid. aud in regard TO
Tue canvass of the voto by tho local commissioners
and then by the Returning Board. Tho committee
theu makes the point that statements OF tho super
vlsors should be made at the sef-sane time that re-
turns are made by them They say:
No ops has tho right to attack ths returns from
pol ward or parish In tho State on account OF undue
nAuono Intimidation, other acts OF violence. hIess
ts foundation therefor be first laid By tho stonent ~
tho commissioners OF election at the particular poll
In. aois occurred election day or OF the supervisor
resisiISton ~ provided IN sections 20 and ~. The
board legal authority ~ receive or sYo eueot
| siosors OF election and supervisor have spoken
Nor has tho board been Investod with tho wer ts
institute complaints against any POLL LODteo OF Oh
it, own motion. It cannot blot out or fsi TO count
solitary vote returned. unless legal iogndsson ma
hero s vote east by ono OF the OF
@tSsoH & ysnp aud connissioner~ only lay
formulation Inquiry the board by making hnd io
sns" cstemporaueously VITA their returns, and In the
very fora sc, forth by section 20 OF tho aos in question
ChIIepg gng the votes OF whols cities and pashcs BY
unpiie persons, though they are eandiaateS s
suing aud awess inovaton No oatSs RrStes' Sn Ga
tAs Rctanng Board bas 90 Jurisdiction to inquire INTO
reject the returns from any vons pns IN tno M e ots
mentioned IN no statute nnS h no % d IN
isr saSh inquiry and rsfsos y sss aa y sia AZ '0 0 4'
% In ma nSs aid tho supervisor Of regstrnan deliver TO
the crf OF the court OF parish required by section
a dnpliests statement ndo by the
m!ssioners OF Election, and coriOboIaeu ~ ti9 ct
s,d disturbance bribery corrupt Influences. and Of
the facts relating thereto occurring on tho DAY OF eeI
ou nor any liks statement OF Bis own that any such
snt daring OF registration or tho re,
VISION OF registration. When the returns wero opea
by tbs Returning Board such Btatenents were toupa
ssnoc ts papers few instances but not IN relato "
te ps OF either ouachita, Aoreh9nse East Bstoh
e1orts the part Of the officers OF eeeon 70 con
oea heir acts aud ena III a @ c2. fens to
te election that impossible 10 determine wheer
|
era Of election the supervisor OF repatriation anu az
tled ths returns Of the supervisor IN any phflsh
tina state at the and In the manner required Dy eeo
| 1ops % and 49, ,,.,, ,..,.a,o
This fac. leaves tie Returning Board wtLout lnrsao
tion 10 INQUIRE n acts violence. otc the crctloH
or dining registration. aud with no other GUY 70 perform
except and compila tho votes reluEned a.
ths tnring officers OF any other state would do an AS
The rcturns opened by them show majority Ior the III
den electors ought 10 be end Of gil controversy on
| the subject.
| A MAJORITY FOR TILDEN.
The report next treats of the vote cast at the cleo
| -. .L.;. faca Ia