The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-27
Plain Facts for Honest Mon.

Pnlladelphla times, Ina.
In the confusion oil partisan tongues
on the political situation, and the Jealous
disputation Us TO the wrongs and rights
OF Hayes and Ti!den in the objective
States of South Carolina, Louisiana and
Florida, there are some plain, common
sense, undisputed facts which honest men
should know and calmly consider.
In South Carolina the Republicans con-
troll the election boards in every town
ship, ward or precinct of the State. No
vote can be received or rejected unless
by majority vote of Republican cleo
ton board. The vote as thus received
by the Republican boards is computed by
them, and returned TO the county re-
turn boards, which compute and certify
the vote of each county. The county re-
turn board are Republicans in every
county in the State. They are not
chosen by the people, but selected by
the Republican administration. The
returns frem the several counties
as computed and certified by the Re-
publican boards, are finally canvassed by
state board, consisting OF five State
officers, all Of whom are
Republicans, and three of whom
were candidates for reelection
on the 7th inst. The returns of South
Carolina, therefore, we're originally made
up OF such votes in the various pre-
cincts rs Republican election boards
chose to certify; of such county returns
as Republican county boards chose to sp-
prove, and thus they came TO
the Republican State Board, three
fitths of whom were to certify
TO their own election or defeat. In
no instance, either in precinct or county
authority, could the Democrats control a
vote or modify Q return. To these facts
must be added the undisputed truth that
Governor Chamberlain had practically
absolute command of the State colored
militia and of the Federal troops, and
posted them wherever ne believed in
timidstion of colored voters possible.
The Republicans, therefore, had all the
power to protect their voters and all pos
sible machinery to have the votes re-
turned rs they desired. These
returns defeated Governor Chamber
lain and part OF his associates
on the State ticket, and elected Demo-
cratic legislature. The State Returning
Board was bound IN all fairness TO accept
the returns of their own friends, in which
their enemies have been absolutely voice.
less beyond casting such Of their votes as
the Republican Boards chose to accept;
but the State Board would not bow to
their own partisan machinery even
when it had been welded to the
utmost in their own behalf. They pro
pose to count themselves in, in defiance
of their own returns; but appeal was
made to the Supreme Court, cor
sisting of three Republicans and no
Democrats. The Court decided the law
AS the law is, and entered its solemn
Judgment directing the State Board TO
compute and return the vote as it had
been received. This mandate of the
highest Tribunal of the State was inso-
lently defed BY the Return Board, and
they proceeded in revolutionary contempt
of the law and its supreme judgment, to
reject votes certified by their own party
associates, and declare themselves and
their State, Congressional and Legisls-
tive tickets elected. Comment to honest
men, whether Republicans or Democrats,
ia needless