The New York herald., 1876-11-19
FLORIDA.

STARTLING PROPOSITION OF GOVERNOR
sTEARSs-HR CLAIMS THE POWER TO CAM
vAss THE VOTE ToR ELECToRs-coNsTEBNA
TIoN OF DEMoCIATs-THE LAW OF THE
CAsE-PRoTEsrs AND ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD.
[BY rELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
TALLAHASSEE, Nov. 49, 1876.
There is great excitement hero to-day over tho dis
covcry OF daring coup d'ftat which the Governor
discussing the policy of executing. On last Tuesday
Judge Emmons, rcpurted the shrewdcst lawyer
In the the republican side. reached the city,
and was at closetcd with the Governor They
manned In close consultation for several days. This
morning IL ascertancd that Governor Stearns was
thinking OF denying to the State Board OF Can
vsssers tho right to the returns for
the electoral ticket. and taking that power
together with all questions pertaining TO
that canvass, TO himself 1t further asceraincd
that Judge Emmons was preparing elaborate opinion
sustaining him in this position Tho democrats, who
were beginning to hope that they could make such
strong before the board that they could sustain
Tldcns majority, OF astonishcd and out
ragged at proposed gross usurpaon. They at once
waited upon Governor Stearns, through their cxecu-
tive committee and desired TO know whether he con.
templaod taking such step. He replied that he
then considering to whether II not his duty
under the Law to y
miNsELY CANVASS THE PRESIDENTIAL VOTE,
and electoral certificates upon his Interpretation
OF that He further stated that Judge Emmons
was then engaged In preparing opinion upon that
question The committee then offered It's formal pro-
test TO tho Governor taking such step, and asked
II they would bo allowed to no counter opinion TO
that OF Judge Emmons and protest against tho
usurpation Tho Governor replied that they could
do II they considered 1t necessary. The CON-
mit,ce then desired to know H. after hc had deter
mined to canvass tae vote himself. aud all motions
to restrain MN from doing had failed, they
would be allowed TO como before him
defence of their own majoritics they should bc
tackled. and in exposure OF the frauds by which
certain counties given to the republicans Tho
Governor replied that II he should decide canvass
tho state himself he would give tho committee iu
hearing upon al questions Involving the integrity OF
the vote
GOVERNOR srEARSs DKSoUxcEn
The indignation Of tho democrats a. tho proposed
step oil the Governor knows bounds The North
gentemon here are even more outspokcn In their
denunciaton OF IL than the local politicians, who
naireiy remark that they used TO that sort OF
thing. Mr. Marble. when The suspicion that the Gov
crnor would take such first aroused, Ut.
tery discredod It and opposed the policy OF tho dem
ocratic committee gong to him under what hc
thought insane suppostion. He is very much
astonished TO ind that the Governor Is seriously
entertaining such n scheme.
GOVERNORS POSITION.
To understand the technically upon which the Gov.
ernor his possible right to the electoral
vote necessary to go back step In 1858 the
act establishing the Returning Board passed This
act provided that the board should tho votes
for State officers Congressman, legislators eloc-
tors In 1s71 Bloxham (dcm) ran against Day trcp.)
Tor Lieutenant Governor. In making the canvass Of
the votes the board excluded several democratic
ties and gave the place to Day. The democrats tLea