The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-11-23
THE PRESIDENCY.
The Result slill In Doubt.

Notwithstanding the era Of railroads
ard tele6raphs the omcial result Of the Pteai-
dental election on the 7th Of November Il
still in doubt. The circle Of doubtful States
now seems to be limited to Louisiana with 8
votes and Florida with 4 Tho votes pEactical-
u settled gives Tilden 1874 and Hayes l7a. If
the two doubtful States arc both given to
Hayes he will have one majority in the Elec-
toral College. If Tilden secures either one he
will be elected. We append some account
the contests IN the disputed States: =
ssx:s.. THE South CARoLrxA CANVASS.
The Supreme Court Of South Carolina, on
the 18th, ordered the canvas9tng board In
that State to act in ministerial capacity only
and report to the court the record Of the votsS
actually cast. The court still holds thaques-
ton ofthroWing ont any votes for fraud and
the count to Be announced as il stands and
will then decide whether It shall Be o@cial1y
recorded or whether evidence shall be taken
relative to illegal voting.
The CANVASS Is ordered by the Court was
nearly completed on the 18th, and showed
majorities for the Hayes electors ranging from
2a0to 1883. On the State ticket the result is
Liza majority. The Republicans elect their
Secretary Of State and the Democrats the
Comptroller. The Attorney General and Su-
peri1tendent Of Public Instruction are still In
doubt. The Democrats have fled exceptions
TO the count on the ground Of irregularities,
errors, and omissions.
Louisiana.
The time fixed for the returning board Of
Louisiana to meet and canvass the votes WAS
on the 18th. The Northern Democrats who
went to witness the count sent commnnica-
ton to the Northern Republicans sent there by
the President, which concludes a. follows
1.-THE undersigned, in view Of the unhappy
controversies which have heretofore arisen
from the action OF the returning board of the
State, where its action could not in any event
change the result of the Presidential election,
effect should be given to the will Of the ma
jority a. lawfully expressed, respectfully ask
you, or such of you As are present, to meet and
conner with them personally or through .
committee, ~ may be deemed most wise, in
order that such influence a. We possess may
be exerted in behalf Of such canvass of the
votes actually cast, a., by its fairness and i'm
quiescence Of the American people Of all par
REPLY OF REPUBLICANS.
TO this proposition the Republicans present
in New Orleans upon invitation Of the Pfesi.
dent sent = reply declining the conference.
They say:
We come at the request of the President to
see that the board OF canvasseIs make = fair
count oftbe votes actually cast and ask that
we meet and confer in order that such indu-
ence as We possess may be exerted in behalf
Of such CANVASS of they votes actually castas by
its fairness and impartiality shall command
people Of all parties We join heartily with
you in counsels Of peace and in the express
sion OF m earnest desire for 4 perfectly hon
est and Just declaration of the results Of the
recent election in Louisiana by its lawfully con-
stituted authorities, and we may add that we
know of no reason to doubt that such dec
laration will he made, but We do not see the
basis, and subject to the limitations you pro-
pose; tor We have no such duty imposed on
us as is suggested by the clause OF your note
first quoted. We are only requested to be
witnesses Of what shall occur in the canvass
of the votes without power or legal influence
over the result or over the means by which,
under the laws of Louisiana, the result is to
You, upon reflection, will concur with us.
We are here as private citizens with no Off
cial powers"
After quoting the law governing the Return
ing Board in Louisiana the reply states that
the Board has judicial as well as ministerial
functions, and concludes as follows:
''To reduce the whole question, therefore, ia
the mere clerical duty OF counting votes actu-
ally cast, as proposed by you in distinction
from votes legally cast and returned, irres-
pective Of the question whether they are fraud
ulently or violently cast or otherwise violated,
involves a notification Of the provisions OF the
laws of Louisiana, which have already been
adjudicated AZ valid by the Supreme Court,
and would be wholly unjustifable here, al
wellas in any other State of the Union, which
have provided laws to protect the rights Of 70.
therefore, concur in your proposition for 1
conference on that basis"
! RRJoINDER OF THE DEMOCRATS.
To the above the Democrats sent reply, Of
! which the following is an extract:
ut can hardly have escaped your notice
| that our statement OF the resul: to be attained
by the cooperative action which we sought to
bring about was simple reproduction Of the
language Of President Grant, At whose request
we understand you are here. In his recent
order to General Sherman that language va.
fact about which, as we conceive there can be
no dispute, that the first and most essential
prerequisite to an honest and just declaration
Of the result of the recent election in Lousi.
ana is fair and impartial canvass of the votel
actually cast, and it seems to us that you dc
the President great injustice in supposing that
in speaking of the votes actually cast, he
meant to include votes illegally cast, Is you
certainly dous injustice by the imputation u
| desire to insist on such narrow and vicious
Interpretation. In our judgment the ex.
designates votes legally cast and a. conse
quence OF such votes only did we desire t.
secure q fair and impartial CANVASS"
l. The reiOiDder concludes: