The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1876-11-23
LOUISIANA.
The Returning Board Working Away
Democratic Protests Ignored Dem.
Ocratie Negroes TO Testify
for the Democrats


THE RETuBNlNG BOARD.
New ORLEANS. Nov. oi.-At 1855 the
doors were thrown open to the press.
About twenty persons only were in the
room. including members OF the board,
representatives OF the two committees.
stenographer>, clerks, etc.
Wells. Casanave and kenner were
already present. Anderson arrived afew
minutes after az about ll:3j. when the
board was called to order. Gov. Wells
was anxious to open the door and admit
the crowd outside. This was done, and
| tbs Democratic committee on elections
was admitted behind the bar. followed by
fifteen persons who happened to be in at
tendance, not hoping for such a conces.
sion.
DEMOCRATIC PROTEST.
Mr.. Zacharie then filed protest that
he had given notice OF on Monday. on be-
| half of Democratic candidates tor con-
gress.
| SECRET SESSION.
The board conferred some five or ten
minutes when Mr.. Wells then moved IN It
the board now 20 into executive session.
This was at once done and the hall cleared.
TIE REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE.
The committee of northern Republi-
cans to attend the sessions Of the board
has been changed since Mondays meet
ing. and now consists OF Messrs. Beardsly
OF Illinois, Eugene Hale OF Maine, Van
Allen of New York, Stoughton Of New
York, and Garfield Of Ohio.
| PROCEDURE N EXECUTIVE SESSION.
The board sits on all parish returns in
executive session. During this session
the only persons present are the two
committees Of gentlemen from the North.
The action during this executive session
Is rs follows Returns of n parish .fe
taken up, placed on the table, where the
chairman of the two committees. Demo-
cratic and Republican. are seated by the
side OF the members. These gentlemen
are then invited TO examine them and see
whether they have been disturbed or
tempered with.
The returns are then opened and the
consolidated vote OF the parishes for
each elector called of.
| The returns are then handed to the
clerks, who verify the additions made by
the commissioners Of election. II these
prove correct the members OF the board
sign and approve them.
Judge II. NJ. Spofiord, counsel for GER
tain Democratic candidates. filed a pro-
test against being excluded from the
room during the canvass Of the returns,
aud against theexecutiye and secret scs-
sions of the board.
The counsel tor the United States SUI
pervisors of election. flied a protest
against the exclusion OF supervisors dur
Ing the canvass and compilation of the
vote.
PROTEST ~ 1HE L. :. SUPERVISOR.
The following Is the ground of pro-
test:
That under the fifth section Of the
United States act of February rs, 1871 f.,
they are TO be and remain where the bal
lot boxes are kept at all times after the
polls arc open until each and every vote
east at said time and place shall be
counted, and the canvass OF all votes
pojied TO be wholly completed, and the
proper and requisite certificates or re-
turns made, whether said certificates or
returns be required under any law OF the
United States or any state, territorial or
municipal law. That unIer said law the
United State. District Attorney, j. b.
Beckwith, under date OF October 80, lS72,
gave his written official opinion for the
instruction and guidance OF persons hold
ing the Offices now held by protestants,
wherein said United States district attor-
| ney sad 1t cannot be doubted that the
duty oil the supervisors extends TO the in
| spcction of the entire election from its
| commencement until the decision OF its
results. II the United States statutes were
less explicit, there still would be no doubt
/ OF the duty and authority of the superyl.
sors 10 inspect and canvass every vote
cast Tor each and every candidate, state.
parochlal and federal, as the law OF the
state neither provides nor allows any
separation OF the election for representa-.
tives in congress, etc, from the election
Of state and parish officers. The election
is in Law a single election and the power
Of Inspection vested by law in the super
visors appointed by the court extends 10
the entire dection, a full knowledge OF
which may well become necessary TO de-
feat fraud In which opinion the a,tor.
noy'general Of the state OF Louisiana 60.