The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-11-22
THE POLITICAL CONUNDRUM.

| Inere ls llttle that IS new 10 chronicle
concerning the situation in the three
Southern States. There is more hope.
full feeling that the Returning Board
of Louisiana will, by the pressure of pub
lie opinion, be :.bull-dozed' into
making lair count, yet in the face
of their record and character 1t
would seem almost impossible. RED
FIELD, in his dispatch to the Cincinnati
Commercial says: both parties are
favorsbly impressed by the surface indi.
cations" He further telegraphs:
"a dozen colored men from one of the
disputed parishes called upon the North.
ern Democrats tonight. These men de-
clare that they voted the Democratic
ticket because of the miserable, inetti-
cent, no account, corrupt State govern
ment with which louisiana is cursed,
and that they did so freely without con-
straint. They say they wanted change,
being of the opinion that matters could
get no worse.
"On the other hand. at the custom
house a large number of blacks came in
to-day, and made oath that they were
either compelled to vote the Democratic
ticket or they would not be allowed to
vote. All these from the disputed
parishes, and the number of aftidavits
which each party will have by the time
this thing is over, will fill cart"
The Cincinnati Eaquirers special
speaks of the manouverlng of the Board
in this wise:
"The Returning Board met ut noon
to-day and, contrary to general expecta-
ton, at once proceeded to business with
out filling the vabancy on the board by
electlng the fifth member. The rules of
procedure adopted last Saturday in secret
session were read for the information of
the members of the Northern Demo-
cratic and Republican Committees
present. These rules are arbitrary i'll
the extreme. All arguments Of
counsel are to be made in writ
ing, and all questions to be put to
witnesses must be in writing. and flied
with the clerk of the Board twenty-four
hours in advance of their being asked.
Five members of each political commit
tee Of notables now here will be permit
ted to be present and witness the exam
iDation of the returns, with their secre.
taries and short hand reporters, but no
one but members of the Board will be
admitted TO its secret sessions. All the
real business of the Board, it Is almost
needless to say, will be transacted in Sc
cret session.
In South Carolina the canvsssers are
very dllatory in their action. A special
from Columbia to the Cincinnati En-
ynirer reads thus:
Contrary to the expectation of every
body, the Board of Canvassers were not
ready to report to-day or TO make their
contemplated protest, the reason of which
nobody outside of the Radical concave
which met yesterday can tell, except that
they are dissatisfied with their defeat and
wish certain Democratic counties thrown
out. The Chief Justice, in very posi-
tive manner, orders them to be ready
with the report tomorrow Tuesday, us
the question to be decided is one OF the
greatest Importance.
"The summing up of the vote for
county officers, solicitors and members OF
Congress was completed tonight, and
there will be no excuse for further delay
when the court meets tomorrow morn
ing. Senator Gordon, OF Georgia, still
remains with the counsel of the Demo.
Gratis, and is regarded rs great assist.
ance to them in their labor.."
In Florida where the outlook appeared
more favorable to the Democrats than in
either OF the other two States, because of
the honorable composition Of the Re-
turning Board, new phase in the situa-
tion is apparent. The following from
Tallahassee dated the 10th, explains the
the situation there:
Take it all in all it is the worst case of
political potpourri with which the
country was ever cursed.
Within the last twenty hours it has
become apparent that the Republican sd-
ylsors controlling here have suggested
that the Board OF Canvassers be wholly
ignored, and that Governor Stearns,
candidate for reelection, certify to his
own absolute election, a result false in
fact, so that Republican electors may be
foisted upon this State, thereby giving
HAYES and Wheeler prtma facie title,
which, it is contended, the two Houses
of Congress can't go behind or
sgree to question. In order to give
this contemplated exercise OF unauthor-
lied power, semblance of fairness,
the Chairman of the Democratic State
Committee was, on Sunday, served with
a request signed BY Governor Stearns,
which is now before metor any written
suggestions or question whether the Gov
ernor should not ascertain the result OF
the vote tor Presidential Electors, as no
statute or adjudication since the war has
been shown TO confer any such power.
This request is merely the thin cover de-
y,sed to mask an infamous scheme that is
here in Florida now cOntriving to detrsud
her people ,f their choice for Governor
and the people of the United States OF their
choice Tor fTeSluenl. uEtutI W SoE-
roborate this evidence of the scheme now
ON foot, 1t should be known throughout
the country, as is well known here, that
the Governor has declined to confer with
his Attorney General, who has main
tanned. not merely that the power Is III
the Board to can aSs for Governor, but
that it is the dsty Of the Board to enter
upon their work at once, the time being
already too narrow. 1t should be known
too. that Governor Stesrns is consulting
daily with those who have given him
the hint, and are fetching him tiimsy
legal opinions, and preparing his defense
for the deceiving of the people Of the
United States When this rascslity Is
contaminated, it should be known that
w. f. Chandler, who has published the
falsehood that all the counties not yet re
ported are under Democratic control,
when, IN fact, not one county in Florida
is under anything but absolute and ex-
elusive Republican control, has here