New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-11-18
THE DEMOCRATIC REPLY.


THE PHRASE "VoTES ACTUALLY CAST" THAT OF
PR sIpENT GRANT HIMsELF-RUlEs THAT SHOULD
GOVERN THE COUNT.
NEW ORLEANS, Nov. 1.-THE Northern Democrats
in this city who have been in correspondence with
the visiting Republicans with reference to confer
ence upon the subject of the counting of the election
returns sent reply, to-day. to the Republican re-
fusa to enter into conference the basis proposed
1t is as follows:
To the Hons John Sherman, Stanley Matthews, j.
A. Garfield. W. ID. Kelley John A. Kasson f. W.
Stoughton. c. Irving Ditty J. H. Van Allen, Eu-
gene Hale. NJ S. Quay, w. S. Cumback, L. ;.
Noyes, ]. Z. Stevenson. John Coburn, Lew. Wal
lace. John NJ futile, w. A. Mctirew, J. A. Chap
man. w. r. Smith, Abner Taylor, s. K. Haven, D.
NJ Beardsley C. b. FarweN, Courtlandt Parker.
Sidney Clark and j. G. Hlson.
nGENTLEMEN: We are in receipt OF your answer to
our letter of the 14th instant in which you inform
US of your determination not to confer with us for
the purpose of exerting such influence as we NAV
possess in behalf of such canvass of the votes
actually cast at the election in Louisiana as, by Its
fairness and impartiality shall command the acqui-
escence and respect of all parties. We sincerely
regret this failure of attempt to secure the c"-
operation of the citizens from other Northern States
in furtherance of the purpose which, as VIC
supposed had brought them hither at
this iuncture. We regret it all the
more because your refusal TO confer and CO.
operate with us appears to be based upon serious
misrepresentation of the language. no less than the
spirit of our communication. IL can hardly have
escaped your notice that our statement OF the result
to be attained by the cooperative action which we
sought to bring about a simple reproduction
of the language of President Grant-at whose re-
quest. we understand, you came herein bis recent
n TI,af lauc VyQg Hpll IL
erately used, no doubt, in view of the fact-about
which, as we conceive, there c"n be no
dispute-that the first and most essential pre-
reouisite to an honest and just declaration
of the results of the recent election in Louisiana is
fair and impartial canvass of the "votes actually
cast and il seems to that you do the President
QTeat Injustice in supposng that III speaking OF the
votes actually cast he meant to include votes
ILLEGALLY cast as you certainly do us injustice By the
imputaton Of a desire to insist upon such narrow
and vicious Interpretation. In our judgment the
expression "yotes actually cast of necessity desig
mates votes legally cast, and as a consequence of
snch votes only did desire to secure a fair and
impartial canvass.
We beg leave to say, therefore, that You are mis-
taken in the belief that sought unduy to narrow
the basis on which we invited your cooperative
action and You are no less in error in atrbuting to
N s "A
of the State in the discharge of their duties, to
claim rights, and to arrogate 10 ourselves powers
which we do not possess. In writing our letter we
were fully aware that both the organization and
action whether judicial or ministerial. Of the Re-
turning Board of louisiana beyond any authori
totiye control from without and that it would be
+he higbt of arrogance and folly TO attempt to alter
the laws of State of which not citizens, or to
obtude our Interpretation Of these laws npOn those
whose duty it is to administer Them but we had
supposed. nevertheless, that there influence
which might be rightfully exerted by citizens of
tlis Republic who strangers III this State, and
m had taken il for granted that your presence here
IN roenonsc 70 the suggestion of the President was
recognition of this fact. We had supposed that it
was not improper for to remind the authorities OF
This State by our presence at least, that there
are certain rules of fairness and justice which un-
derle all consti utions and laws and upon whose OBJ
serysnce must depend the acqnescence OF the people
Of all parties IN The declared result OF the Louisiana
election-rlles such as theses That no one ought 10
he iudge i'm his own case; that the decision OF any
contest oupht not TO depend upon the arbitra-
ept of one of the parties thereto that before such
decision is made both parties ought to be fully and
foirlv heard. all questions of law ought to be de-
oidad IN conformity with the established general
,rpcinles and all questions of fact upon evidence
dulv presented and weighed under the rules which
are of universal recognition in all the States OF tins
IJnon that the trial Of all causes involving public
interests at least ought to be puDhc;
and that all the proceedings resorted 10
for the purpose of determining the issues in the
present electoral contest ought by their manifest
mpartality, to disarm the suspicion that the forms
of law have been perverted into instruments for the
violation OF its spirit In this connection we may
be permitted to observe that, while undoubtedly, as
YOU saw seduous cultivation of the habits of obe-
dence TO the forms of law is vital to the preserva
tion Of constitutional liberty il is no less important
that a refusal to yield such obedience be not pro-
yoked by using these forms as means for snbvert-
inq the very ends for which they were designed.
Without undertaking to question the sincerity OF
the belief which you are at pains to express that
Won know of no reason to doubt that the Louisiana
Returning Board will make perfectly honest and
inst declaration OF the results of the recent election
In Louisiana we deem it not improper to remind
You that the presence in tins city of 50 many citizens
from all parts of the Union at this moment seems 10
be evidence of a widely prevalent distrust OF the
action of this board and that such dstrust mas the
foundation, at least that the constitution OF the
board has not been changed since its returns were
set aside by Congressional committee, oil which