The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1876-11-24


the action of this board, and that such
distrust has this foundation, mt least,
that the constitution of the board has
not been changed since its returns We're
set aside by Il Congressional commit
tee Of which the Republican candi-
date tor the Vice Presidency was q
member. -fa..s...,.t. ,... .-;.,..
And this Clistrust is not unnatural in
view Of the fact that, AS we understand,
one OF the members of the Returning
Board is q candidate voted for at the re-
cent election; another, the holder OF an
Office Of profit and trust by appoint
ment Of the present Executive of the
National Government, while all the
members of the board are believed to
be in affiliation with but one of the
parties to the present political con-
test.
= In view Of all this it is hardly neces-
sary to add that the terms of our letter
were not designed to prejudge the ques-
tion whether the functions of the Re
turning Board was sjudicial or ministe-
rial, or both, but simply to in vite you
to see, with us, that, whatever may be
the character of these functions, they
are openly, fairly and honestly dis
charged. And while we thus refrained
| from any attempt at stating or constru-
ing the laws of Louisiana, we deemed
it equally irrelevant to the subject of
our correspondence with you, to altude
to the duties devolviug upon offices
other than the constituents Of the Lou
,siana Returning Board under the laws
and Constitution of the United States.
Whether, AS you observe by way Of
| illustration, under the Constitution, the
Presidcnt of the Senate both counts and
declares the votes of the electors of tho
several States, his duty being purely
ministerial, and not subject to the con-
troll of Congress; or whether, as has
been the practice for more than eighty
years-.a practice inauguruted by men,
some of whom had been among the
trainers of the Constitution--the votes
are to be counted by Il committee APP
pointed by the Senate and House o;
| Representatives, and thus under the
control of the two branches of our Ma
tionai Legislature, is II question upon
the discussion of which we deem it no
J part Of our duty to enter.
In conclusion, premit us to say that,
Notwithstanding your refusal to co-ope-
rate, we still cherish the hope that the
Returning Board, warned by the his
tory of the past and conscious that
its actions are being observed by the
whole nation, will discharge its delicate
duties with such circumspection, fair
ness and impartiality as will give salts
faction to tho American people. II,
this end we shall continue to labor
I Should a different result follow TIN
action of the board, we shall have tn
satisfaction of knowing that, while yo
have taken the responsibility of dcclin
ing to act with us, we have done nll il
our power to avert the consequence
which may follow.
Very respectfully,
! JNo. NJ. PALMEl:, LYMAN TRUAi
. BULL, WM. II. MORRISON, Illinois.
! SAMUEL }. RANDALL, A. q. CURTIN
Z WM. BIGT.EE, Pennsylvania.
j. X. DOOLrTrLE, GEO. IL. SMITH
l Wisconsin.
a J. I. McDONALD, GEO. w. JULIAN
D M. ID. MANSON, JOHN LOVE, Indiana
HENRY WATTEHsON, J. w. STF
: vENsoN, HENrT~i u. McHENHv, Ken
y lucky.
. OSWALD OTTENnoRFEE, New York
J. B. STALLO, Ohio. .-......
. LEWIS V. BOGT, JAS. o. BROAI
IIEAD,C. GIBSON, Missouri.
II JOHN LEE CARROLL, WM. ~. HAN,
- lLToN, Maryland.
III w. Y. SUMNER, Connecticut.
IS p. II. WATSON, Ohio
l. +. II. CoNDEliT, Now York.
Il "BULLDOZE."