The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-11-18

in utilization with but one of the parties to the
present political contest.
In view of all this it is hardly necessary to
add that the terms of our letter were not de-
signed to prejudice the question whether the
functions of the returning board were judicial
or ministerial or both, but simply to invite you
to see with us that whatever may be the char
acter of these functions they are openly, fairly
and honestly discharged. and while we thus
refrained from any attempt at stating or con-
STRUNG the laws of louisiana we sdeemed it
equally irrelevant to the subject of our cores
pondence with you to allude to the duties de.
volvlng upon officers other than the con stitu-
ents OF the Louisiana returning board under
the laws and constitution of the United States.
whether, as you observe by way of illustrator,
under the constitution the President of the
Senate both counts and declares the votes of
the electors of the several states, his duty be-
ing merely ministerial and not subject
to the control of Congress, or whether it has
been the practice for more than eighty years,
"a practice inaugurated by men, some of whom
mad been among the trainers of the consttu-
tionl that the votes are to be counted under
the direction and control OF the Senate and
House OF Representatives, is question upon
the discussion of which we deem it no part of
our duty to enter
In conclusion, permit US to say that notwith.
STANDING your refusal to cooperate we still cher
lsh the hope that the returning board warned
by the history of the past and conscious that
its actions are being observed by the whole ma
ton, will discharge its delicate duties with such
clrcumspectlOn, fairness and impartialty as
will satisfy the American people, To this end
we Will continue to labor. Should a different
result follow the action of the board we shall
have the satisfaction of knowing that while
you have taken the responsibility Of declining
to act with us we have done all in our power to
avert the consequences which may follow
Very respectfully,
(Signed. John M. Palmer Lyman Trumbull
and VIM. r. Morrison Of IllinniS. Samua1
J. Randall, A. g. Curtin and VINO. Bigler of
Pennsylvania j. r. Doolttle and Geo b.
Smith of Wisconsin; j. E. Mcdonald, Geo.
w. Julian and John Love of Indiana Henry
Watterson, j. W. Stevenson and Henry d.
McHenry of Kentucky Oswold Ottendoffer
of New York; j. A. Stallo of Ohio; Lewis
V. Bogy, JAS. o. Brodhead and g. Gibson of
Missouri; John Lee Carol. and VIM. G.
Hamilton of Maryland; w. G. Sumner of
Connecticut; z. II. Watson of Ohio; f. K.
Condst of New York.
Afidavifs and Counter Afidavits.
The Democratic committee have received sew
eral hundred affidavits from the negroes and
| some from Republicans in Ouachita and other
bull-dozed parishes, showing peaceable and
| quiet election; also intimidation of negroes
who desired to vote the Democratic ticket but
| did not do so for fear of violence from the Re
| publicans of their own color.
| The Republican officials have counter affida
| Wits, in many cases showing violence and in
| timidation where the Democrats have sworn
| that nothing of the kind existed.
1t is stated tonight on good authority that the
returning board. when it meets tomorrow, will
reply to the application of the Democratic com
| mittee allowing five members from each party
to be present. during the canvassing of the re-
turns.
Disqualified Electors.
The Evening Democrat says two of the Re-
| publican electors in Louisiana held offices oil
| profit and trust under the United States at the
| time they were voted for and are, therefore, in
| eligible. o. I'll. Brewster was u S. Surveyor
General for Louisiana, and official document:
| signed by him during the canvass are in exist
ences The day after the election be sent on his
resignation. Judge A. B. Lenisee, another
Hayes elector, is an U. S. Commissioner, az
Office of profit and trust and he is therefore in
| eligible.
Republican Electors Who Ran behind
Five of the Republican electors will run
further behind the state ticket in the 14th sena.
torial district than was at first expected. Al
| most all the tickets of the Wakefield faction
were printed with names of only three electors
the two at large, Kellogg and Burch, and the
| elector for the district. The consequence is
that the other five electors are behind 695 in
| West Baton Rouge 400 in Aberville, and con-
| siderably behind also in ST. Martin and Iberia
1t is impossible to say just now how great this
| deficiency is, but certainly over 1000, and may
| be as great as 2000