Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1876-11-15
Chr fireman.
N"ONTPEIIFR Vt.
WEDNESDAY. NOVEMBER Is. 1876
The Situation.

upubt IL to the presidential contest hi
followed. Whether a majority of tn
electors chosen last week will vote 70
Hayes or Tilden is one {. the things un
known in this world.
The States Of California. Wisconsin an
Oregon which were Il week ago doubtful
have bccome well settled III the republican
column. The States of South Ca'oIlna
Florida and Louisiana from which The
frs returns were from democratic source,
AMI favorable to Iillcn have been tor ;
week cla>Scd rs doubtful. TIldcn has
been therefore sure of Isl votes, Hayes o
lGj and the ~ uc South Carolina, Florid:
add Louisiana were doubtful. If Hayes
has carried AL three Of these states lie la,
4 minority oi one in the electoral college.
The cIosrne-, of the vote has lei to al
.,rt, of claims, not only in the three states
named. but there nave been umOr Of 4
loss of one vote for Hayes in Wisconsin,
Oregon. Vermont and ollie" states, but
there is no confirmation of thu Kind OF
claim on the part of the democrats.
South Carolina j, pretty much given NJ
by the Democrat, though they still iu>i>t
that Hampton is elected governor. There
is much more doubt hanging over Florida.
both parties claiming it vocifrrously, but
AL seem to admit that the canva-,ing board
in Florida is II COOL one. Louisiana is
s%toutly disputed and it has Looked a.
of the returning board in throwing on,
the vote Of certain parishes for fraud,
though u dispatch this morning claims
the state rs republican, whether these par
isles are counted or not.
Prominent men Of both parties have
gone to New Orleans to see flair count"
but some of the democrats, like Wattcrson.
have showed that they 20 in Il spirit that
i, far from n judicial one And indeed
the manifesto signed Yesterday by the
more reasonable of them, inviting rrpub-
licAn5 to be present with them to see that
the ~canvasscrs make II fair count Of the
votes actually cast" hcgs what may be
the whole question. For the purity of the
election does not depend on the number OF
ballots actually put into a ballot box. The
voting at an election precinct may be
grossly fraudulent the btlI"- box may be
sl"llr't. lherc should he a way oi correct
ING this, for the official sanction Of Il board
OF petty precinct officers should not slnc-
THY fraud. We understand that tn" law
Oh Louisiana gives the returning hoard
just til'S power; II Is Inc iIhaI court III that
state TO decide whether votes have been
legally cast All that any spectator ear
go i |" see whether tlli> board does lis
d"!y under The law creating it. The purity
"i elections d'pends not only on Il far
count OF ballots. but ~ we'll on whether
the ballots were fairly voted.
1t Is an outrageous doctrine that Il STATE
must s" order It's law that where Il thuu-
slnI ballots are put into II ballot b,N by
one h'hd- precinct officer, may by coHnt-
lng them AMI certify ing 10 the count pul
the state without remedy into the hands OF
Il ballot box %stut1rr. But where state
hi, protected itself Iv law ariin>t such
performances by ESTABLISHING 4 rrturnin.
board with the powers of the one in Lou
isiana it is If course the duty of that holrd
to act It's L judicial BODY, and ftirIv and
inlpartially perform its duties. Meantime
1t Is but fair 10 say that it j. mootcd
question whether the Louisiana board has
by the state law the power to go back Of
the certificates of the local officers in re-
gard I" presidential electors. They have
the power undoubtedly as to state officers.
Now Is to the final count. The clec-
t'on Will very likely turn on The vote of
one state On the first "Wednesday in
december the electors VOTE certificates are
iet"rhe" 10 the PRESIDENT OF the Senate
ana on The second "edne>day of February
lit Two houses are III session and IN their
presence the President of the Senate oren,
the cortiti and tho r,t.. ...L.1I L.,
o,n.o1, 'i w
I+',
ohui Il "'Hei years ago there WIS no
special provision IL to the matter. and
when once in the casr of Missouri .,l
o,ce IN ,Lo .. W.; ''
o'J'''loii
nl'"e - counting the vote OF 4 state,
the question as to who is 10 decide on the
account was doIrrd." BIT tho l,.t Cow
counts have ho.p h,1 ,r1o.