The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1876-11-25
WATCHING THE COUNT.

At last Saturdays session of the
State Board of Returning Officers the
preamble and resolution following
were introduced by Hon. l. C. Ander-
son and unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, This board has learned with
satisfaction that distinguished gentlemen
OF national reputation from othel States,
some ut the request of the President of the
United States, and some at the request of
the National Executive Committee of the
Democratic party, are present Ill this city
with view to witness the proceedings of
this board in canvassing ana compiling the
returns of the recent election i'll this State
for Presidential Electors, i'll order that the
public opinion OF the country may be salts
tied as to the truth vi the result ana the
fairness Oh the means by which it MAY have
been attained; and
Whereas, This board recognizes the in
portance which may attach to the result OF
their proceedings, and that the public mind
should bc convinced of its justice by "a
knowledge of the facts on which it may be
based therefore, be it
ReSotged, That this board does hereby
cordially invite and request five gentlemen
from each of the two bodies named, to be
selected by themselves respectively, to at
tend and he present at the meetings of this
board while engaged in the discharge OF its
duties under the law i'll canvassing and COM
plling the returns, and aseertalnlng and de-
clilring the result of said election for Presi-
dental electors i'll their capacity as private
citizens of eminent reputation and high cha
racter, and as spectators and witn,sses of
the proceedings III that behalf vi this board.
IN response to this the delegation
of Republicans assembled and selected
Senator John Sherman of Ohio, E. w
Stodghton Esq, of New York, Gen. j.
A. Garfield of Ohio, c. Parker, Esq,
of New Jersey and Gen. J. Nj. futile
of Iowa, to represent them before the
Returning Board while the Demo-
Gratis chose Gen. john NJ. Palmer and
Hon Lyman Trumbull of Illinois,
ex-Gov. VIM. Bigler of Pennsy lvania,
Geo. B. Smith, Esq, Wisconsin and
Hon. P. H. Watson, of Ohio, as their
committee.
These gentlemen, or a portion of
their number and other prominent
members of the visiting delegation
are in constant, attendance at the
daily sessions of the Returning Board,
and the published minutes show that
they are maintaining an interested
supervision and close scrutiny of the
proceedings of the canvassers. We
are glad to note this fact, and to
compliment the action of the Return
ing Officers in soliciting the presence
of the distinguished visitors from the
North. Besides demonstrating that
the members of our Returning Board
are not afraid of the honest scrutiny
and investigation, and raising the
presumption that they will perform
their sworn duty faithfully and
conseientiously, it will give the ma
ton, through the representatives of
the two great political parties, a
clearer insight into the methods used
by Louisiana Democracy to influence
elections, as well as the means pro-
,ided by the laws of our State for
reversing results achieved through
fraud. force or intimidation. The
Republicans of this State have much
to gain and nothing to fear from such
an exposition of Louisiana affairs,
and we regard it rather a fortunate
thing, SO far as their interests are
concerned, that the result of the ma
tional contest appears to depend upon
Louisiana's vote,