The New York herald., 1876-11-18
The Political Situation.

The news this morning is of considerable
interest In South Carolina the Supreme
Court has ordered the Returning Board
to 60 on with the canvass of the
votes as merely ministerial body
for the present; the Court reserving its
decision upon the question whether the
Board has any other than ministerial func-
tions. The Board at once began work, and
has admitted five representatives Of each
party to witness it's count Senator Ran
dolph and other Northern democrats have
returned home. report comes that at
Lawtonville some colored republicans set
upon and beat q colored democrat, and being
arrested were rescued from the constable's
hands. Also a rumor that two thousand
negroes had gathered in arms near the same
place. This is probably untrue but we
trust the federal officers who command in
South Corolina will promptly and sternly
crush any lawlessness by either side.
From Louisiana an important discovery is
reported, and apparently on good authority.
In fvestrongly republican parishes the elec-
toral ticket is found to contain the names
only of two electors at large and the elec-
tor from the District, thus emitting the
names of five electors. 1t is said that the
republican leaders discovered this error
some days ago, but kept it secret. The
event has, of course, caused considerable
excitement and discussion in New Orleans.
Senator Sherman told our correspondent
that he did not know whether the report was
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omission, he thought tho people voted not
for President and Vice President but for
electors md if they did not vote for an
elector he could not be chosen. This seems
a sound view. If the reported error shall
prove to have been made it may have o
decisive result upon tho election.
The Northern democrats in New Orleans
have replied to the republican refusal to
meet them in conference. They say, very
effectively, that the language to which the
republicans objected was precisely that used
by the President in his order to General
Sherman and then loudly commended by
the republicans and disclaim oil intention
or desire to claim votes illegally cast. or to
interfere in any manner with State laws or
the legal duty Of the Returning Board; they
desire only to carry out in good faith
the Presidents suggestion that Northern
men Of repu.e shall unite to see
fair count and give the country the assur-
ance it needs. The ungracious refusal of
the republicans caused much disappoint.
ment in the North this reply of the demo-
Gratis, by its liberal and temperate tone, will.
win them credit in the country. 1t is
pity Mr.. Evarts and General Dix arc
not in New Orleans to take the lead on the
republican side. The persons in charge
there seem to be Of the small attorney order,
and not aware Of the importance of absolute
fair play in this case. They ought to re-
member that the country really cares little
who is to be President, but cares very much
to be entirely satisfied that the count is
honest.
The fact that the South Carolina Return
ing Board has been ordered to count the
vote seems to have been misunderstood in
New Orleans as final decision that the
Board has only ministerial powers; and
this has caused great excitement and given
rise to q foolish notion among the democrats
that the Louisiana Board would be
ruled by the South Carolina decision.
The action of the South Carolina Board in
admitting witnesses to its proceedings has
had a good effect in Louisiana, as Wells,
President of the Louisiana Board, last even
ing formally invited fvo members of each
party to be present at the proceedings of the
Board. General George A. Sheridan, a
prominent Louisiana republican politician,
remarked last evening at New Orleans that if
South Carolina should go for Tiden in his
opinion the Louisiana Returning Board
would give the State to Tilden and Nichols.
The remark is unimportant except so far rs
it shows that leading republican politician
takes IT for granted that whether Louisiana
goes for Hayes or Tildcn depends not on the
vote Of the State bat on the will of the Re-
turning Board.
From Florida the only important news is
that the Returning Board delays to begin
the canvass of the votes This naturally,
and we think properly, causes suspicion Of
foul play or of an intention to manipulate
the vote. At Tallahassee, as at New Or
leans, the democrats misunderstood tho de-
cision of the South Carolina Supreme Court
The Electoral System.
One markedly interesting feature Of the