The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1876-11-18
Tilden or Hayes 7

week, the Indications were that the
Democratic candidate for the Presiden, ~
of the United States had been elected.
We at that time had not the least doubt
Of the result as there stated. Events
afterwards presented then selves, which
did not fully verify us Ia our aunoun.
cement OF Mr.. Tilden's election. which
have been increased by the varying re.
ports, until the people have reached fe.
verishness more agitated than it has been
at any time since the close of the civil
war. The returns from all the States
but three were brought by the telegraph
with sufficient detiniteness to make il
evident that out Of the 800 ELECTORAL
votes, 1874 had been cast for Mr.. I'll
den, leaving him one vote short of a
majority ; while Mr.. Hayes had 1866
votes and three States-South Caro-
lima, Florida and Louisiana were in
doubt the vote of any one of them
would elect Mr.. Tildeu the votes of all
three were necessary to the election of
Mr.. Hayes. The popular feeling in all
the great cities Of the land and through.
out the country was intense. Crowds
remained all day and late into the night
at the telegraph Offices, watching for
the successive announcements. The
destinies of party, perhaps of the cOun-.
try, were suspended upon the issue in
these three States, and in fact upon the
issue in any one of them. But the
good order and calmness of the people,
under the exciting circumstances, were
marked and commendable.
Would there be fair return by the
officers appointed to count the votes &?
Each party was suspicious of the other.
1t was freely declared that this, that
and the other board would count in
their candidate, whatever the people had
voted. Threats of violence were heard.
1t was evident that the worst was sus.
pected of the other by each party. The
President Of the United States ordered
troops sent TO Florida to protect the
board of canvassers. In the meantime
the most contradictory estimates and
reports were received from each of these
States,
This state of things, says the N. Y.
Observers a severe test OF the strength
and wisdom OF our form of government
and of constitutions. provisions for the
election of President. The system is
good one with good men to administer
it. But when It comes not only possi-
Bile, but positively fact that the vote
of the smallest State in the UniOn,-
that board OF cnnyassers in Oregon, or
Delaware, in Nevada or Colorado, in
Rhode Island or Florida, may decide
the election, and determine the political
course of forty millions of people for
four years at least, the strain is some.
thing fearfni, and one may well ask if
such harness is safe when the roads are
so bad, and the load so heavy and pre-.
cious The returns from the several
election districts are made to the coun-
ty board of canvassers, and this board
reports to the State board, and this
board clothes each eector chosen with
authority to vote for President. The
electors thus commissioned meet at the
capital OF their respective States on the
first " ednesday of December following
their election, and cast their vote. The
State ELECTORAL vote is then sent by a
special messenger deputed for the pur-
pose, and depiicate is sent by mail to
the city of Washington, directed to the
President of the U. S. Senate. The
electors, meeting at the ca pital of their
several States, may cast their votes for
such persons RS each electOr may pre-
fer, provided he does not vote for a
President and Vice President both from
his own State. But as the electors are
chosen by one or another political party,
they are supposed to be of one mind,
and bound in honor to cast their vote
for the party candidate. II, as it has
sometimes happened, parts of two cleo
tOral tickets are carried in the same
State. divided vote will be given
part for one candidate and part for ap-
other.
When the electoral votes of the sew
eral States are counted in the presence
of Congress, and no one has majority
of tbs whole nnmber, the House OF
Representatives Immediately proceeds
to the election Of President from the
three highest on the list voted for by
the electoral colleges. In this case, the
vote is by States. each State casting one
vote only, and a majority of all the
States being necessary TO "A choice. IL
no chnice of Vice. President is made
by the electoral colleges, the Senate
shall choose Que from the two highest