New-York tribune., 1876-11-21
STATEMENT BY THE REPUBLICANS
GEN. BARLOW AND OTHERS GIVE THE REASONS
FOR NOT PUBLISHING EXACT FIGURES.

FOR NOT PUBLISHING EXACT FIGURES.
TALLAHASSEE Fla, Nov. 20 1876.
10 the Hon. ZACHARIAH CHANDLER, Chairman 10
publican National Committee Washington. ID. c.:
We have been frequently asked to give the figures
of the electoral vote of the sta claimed by the
Republicans. We have declined to do so for the
following reasons solely: Official returns have been
received from 32 counties ont of tie 80, and until
all are IN we are unwilling and think it mwse to
give understanding of the figures, because of the
possibility of the figures in the Democratic counties
still behind being sufficiently changed to alter the
result We do not necessarily imputc TO any
design to commit fraud, but il is enough that such
thing is possible and not unknown here elsewhere
as in the case of the election frauGs in the City of
Ncw-York at the Presidential election of 1865, and
the wcl-known Tweed circular in furtherance
thereof. In 1872, in this State, the raising
of the county returns in favor of the
Democratic State ticket nearly 1000 votes
was discovered at the last moment, and
only countcractcd by the extraordinary efforts
which were made to obtain the original precinct re-
turns We feel entirely justified in refusing to give
any information which shall, even in the remotest
degree, render any such fraud possible or desirable.
The delay in beginning the arises iIom three
causes:
First: An uncertainty IA to whether the Governor
alone the General Board of State Canyassers are
the legal canyassng officers of the Presidential vote.
The Democrats have asked 70 be heari on this ques-
ton, and it is now under consideration.
Second All the returns are not in. which, it is
claimed by many is q legal prerequisite TO the be-
ginning OF the canvass and Il il were otherwise, yet
for the reasons above stated it would be unwise 10
begin it until tho returns received. Not unfre-
uuently the returns from rcmoter counties do not
reach Tallahassee for three four weeks, and the
law allows the General Board of State Canyassers
10 wait thirty five days for them In some counties
the county even is not required to be made
until twenty days from election.
Third Frauds or irregularities in certain pre-
cncts are charged by each side against the other.
aud it is desirable and propeE if it shall appear that
such questions are to be gone into that both parties
should have ample time, If they desire it, to procure
proofs.
By the law the General Canvassng Board is
clothed with full powers to correct fraud AID rregu
larites in the several pollsa provision OF law emf
ncntly wise and needful in thinly settled country,
whore elections are sometimes not conducted
with that order and regularity 50 generally OBJ
served in older communities. In 1877 the vote Oh
this State would have been given to the Democratic
state ticket had not the general Board of Canvass
crs under its judicial powers corrected the fraud by
show Democratic vote of some 100 more than was
shown by the original precinct returns. Thomas
Bloxham, the Democratic candidate for Governor,
received $50 votes but the returns were made To
show that he had received $3.50, while the vote o.
Hart. his opponent was reduced from ,lO9 to 7O9.
Walls Republican candidate for Congress. received
LOS votes which was altered to 1Os. This is tho
county in which Republican majority of 33o at
the last election is claimed to be converted INTO
Democratic majority of 0S this year.
In view of this Democratic fraud, so lately at
tempted and so nearly successful, and OF wel-known
frauds elsewhere by that party, we think that tho
Democratic assertions that fraud is contemplated by
the Republican members Of the State Board oil Cah-
vassors or the Governor should he be legally tho
canyassing oficer-being made as they arc without
the slightest proof, and in respect to men OF hohor
able and untarnished character-are wantOh, anu
made with no fair or honest purpose; anu they
should have no weight with just ana rea'
sonablo men. The power OF this Doard 10
correct frauds and wrongs lis undlspnted
by any one. They will act openly, and VIII DC Sud-
ect TO the scrutiny of the whole country and no one
can ask ANYTHING but that their decision siall DO
based upon such facts rs will carry conviction 10
impartial men and upon the well settled rules OF
law and evidence applicable to such cases; ana such'
we believe, will be the action of the canVaSSeiS'
FRANCIs C.. BARLOW of New-fork.
J. VI. TnoRNBURGH of Philadelphia.
We. CuAypLEg of New-Hanpshire.
EDWARD 7. MOVES of Ohio.
W. H. ROBERTSON Of New-iork
d. G.. ROLLINS of New-fork.
j. p. G.. EMMoSs of Florida
LEW WALLACE of Indiana.