River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-12-07
HAYES ELECTORS.
ors, as disclosed on the face of the returns
opened 10y the returning board, is:


turning board corresponds precisely with the
certified copies OF the statements OF the COM
missioners of elections furnishes US. The
most material charges arose from the failure
of the supervisors of East Baton Rouge, Tau
gaphen, and OF the Orleans parish to forward
the statement OF votes from all the voting
places in their respective parishes. In 35 out
of the SO States in the Union these figures
would be conclusive, no one would claim that
Tilden and Hendricks were not entitled to the
electoral vote the State, but in Louisiana a
tribunal has been set up which on former oc
casions has OverthrOwn the will of the people
as expressed at the polls, and for which the
power is now claimed in its discretion, to
change the result of the popular vote at the
recent election. In view, however of the re
turns and the facts which should control the
returning boards, with which we have made
ourselves familiar, we have no hesitation in
saying that the result shown by the votes &C
tually cast cannot be changed without a pal
pable abuse of the letter and spirit OF the law
governing the returning board, and mani
fest perversion of the facts before it. Iuegu-
laritics have been committed IL some instances
by officers conducting elections and making
returns, but they are about as much on one
side as on the other, and as to intimidation
and violence or other illegal acts preventing a
free and fair election, there is evidence on
both sides, but not of such a chaTacTer as to
affect the general result. In most instances
the acts of violence proceeded from lawless-
ness, as in the case of Henry and Eliza Pinks
ton, and had no connection with politics. 1t
is a significant fact that in the parish where it
is alleged that voters were kept from the polls
by intimidation the total vote OF such parish
es was as large as at any time heretofore, and
in the whole State is 500 above any vote
heretofore cast. An honest and fair canvass
of the returns, even under the Louisiana law
cannot materially reduce Tilden's majority as
shown on the face OF the returns.
Signed LYMAN TRUMBULL,
JONI NJ. PALMER,
VIM BIGLER,
GEO. b. SMITH,
GEO. w. JULIAN,
p ii. Watson
The Republican committee of Northern men
lett New Orleans on Saturday, but the Demo-
cratic committee remained and attended the
meeting of the canvassing board. The only
Development OF special interest was the fact
that the Ouachita parish returns had been
opened and the Eliza Pinksten affidavit in
serted. When the package was opened the
affidavit was foand filed with the returns.
There was also found the following letter
showing that the affidavit was sent in after
the returns:
New Orleans, Nov. %, 1s76.-To c. S. Abel,
Esq, Secretary Returning Board: SIR-En
closed please find affidavit of Eliza Pinkston,
which received too late to file with my re-
turns. Please see that it is brought in with
other affidavits filed with my returns.
Respectfully,
NJ. J. GRADY,
Supervisor of Ouachita.
The matter was referred to the Board for
the clerks proceeded to compile the returns
preparatory to making the official announce
ment of the result.
Florida.
Pending the proceedings in the Court TO
compel the Board of Canvassers to meet, the
Secretary of State issued a call summoning
the Board together.
The first session o. the 9th, was devoted
simply TO the adopt n of rules Tor the govern
ment OF the Board in making the canvass.
At the session ON the 2Sth, the second day
of the meeting, returns from all the counties
were opened and on the face OF them they
gave the highest Hayes elector !, AGO and the
highest 1ilden elector 7,4ls, majority of ~
TOR the highest Hayes electOr. The Democrats
were astonished when the return from Baker
county was read, giving Al republican ma
iOrity. The original return gave % Dem
Ocratic majority and the Democrats did not
know OF the new return. At the evening ses-
sion the first return showing 50 Democratic
majority was produced and read. Ii this re-
turn was admitted it would give Tilden lis
majority in the State. II both returns are
rejected, two 1ilden electors have five major
ity and one Tilden electOr three majority, and
one Hayes elector one msiOrity. The Repub:
nCa0S nave gwen lQliCe OF contest IN 10 cOuiI
ties, and the Democrats eontest9.
On the 10Th, the Board was occupied in
hearing afiidavits alleging that, in the town o.
Archer, 3l9 votes were cast, while 53S were
returned. Af1idavits were also read showine
the original returEs of Baker county gave 90
Democratic majority.
The Cd inst, was the last day allowed by
the Florida Board for the introduction of ties,
/ timony, and both sides introduced larg'
amount
There was only one new CT notable pOln
/ raised. This was in the county of Monatee
I The clerk of this county, by being the regis
/ tering officer, resigned a week or so befor
election. The Governor accepted his resigna