Middletown transcript., 1876-11-18
raE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The political situation remains as ]
was st the close of last week, and ths
people are still in suspense as to who
will receive the electoral vote Of Louis.
lana, Florida and South Carolina.
There no longer exists any doubt as te
the popular vote Of the two former Of
those States. but it is conceded BY all
fair men that BY fer large majority Of
the popular vote cast in those States
was given to the Democratic candidates.
In Louisiana returns have been received
from the judges Of tho elections in all
the parishes and election districts Of the
State, which show Democratic major
ity Of over 1000 votes. This even the
most radical Republicans do not at
tempt to deny, but still claim in face Of
it all. that they have carried the State
and that her electoral vote will be given
to Hayes and Wheeler. The only
grounds on which they base their claim
is the .'old, old story told again" that
frauds and intimidations" were prae-
ticed by tho Democrats in some Of the
parishes Of the State. These charges
are backed BY no proof and no evidence
Is produced to sustain them, but, on
the contrary. the Republican leaders
refuse 70 submit to an investigation into
the truth Of falsity Of their charges. but
rest satisfied With making them and
claim for the Returning Board the right
to bs the sole judges in the case /; and
on such frivolous pretexts they threaten
to throw out the votes Of whole parishes
and thereby defeat the will Of the peo-
pie Of Louisiana. and with them that o:
the people Of the whole country, and
will do it unless restrained BY fear Of
Northern sentiment.
The prominent Democratic gentlemen
who went to New Orleans, last week.
on the invitation Of the President to be t
present at the canvassing Of the votes
by the Returning Board, addressed
Communication to the prominent Repub-
licans, there from the North on the
same invitation. requesting ! confer
snce aud proposing that . COMMITTEE
composed Of some reliable men Of each
party should attend the sittings Of that
Board and~ watch the counting Of the
votes. that sach party might be satis-
fed Of its fairness. This proposition
was positively declined BY the Repub-
lisans. who preferred to leave the mat
tsr in the hands Of the Board, ss thoy
doubtless thought that such proceeding
would be the safest for the success Of
their ticket. This il as the matter now
stands in Losisisns. The Returning
Board met on Thursday, but no report
Of it, proceedings is as yet made public.
Returns from all the counties Of Flor
ids, except one, give net majority for
Drew, democratic candidate for Gov
srnor, Of 927. Tilden runs some 800
votes behind Drew. but still has ma
jority of over 900. The county not
heard from is small. sparsely settled
one'and has never polled quite huns
dred votes. Two years ago it voted
almost unanimously democratic. and
will not this year give less than 80 ma
jority for that ticket. Yet, as in Lou
isisna 90 10 Florida, the republicans
slain the electoral vote, and expect it
20 be counted for their candidates
through the same disreputable means.
Semi-oficial returns from nearly all
he counties Of South Carolina indicate
he election Of Gen. Wade Hampton.
ior Governor. BY about 100 majority,
but it is claimed that the electoral vote
bas been given to Hayes and Wheeler.
This claim has more semblance Of truth
d il than it has in either Of the other
States. and may possibly be true.