, 1876-12-16

ton in our opinion is clearer than that
the board was mistaken a. to its powers
and that it had nothing whatever to do
with the electoral vote. The election
law of 1872, and amendments under
which the returning board is created
and acts. makes no provision as to the
manner of appointing electors of Presi
dent and Vice President, whether by
the legislature or by vote of the peo-
pie. nor whether by the State at large or
by Congressional districts, nor docs it
contain any provisions as to the qualifi.
cation of electors, the place whore they
are to meet, nor for filling vacancies.
After quoting the State law covering
the returning board. they say it is imma-
terial SO far as affects the jurisdiction of
the returning board whether the act of
1870 relating to the appointment of
Presidential electors is in force. If not
repealed, then the canvass of returns
for such electors must be made by the
Governor in presence of tho Secretary
Of the State, Attorney General, a Judge
of the district in which the seat of gov
ernment may be established, or any two
of them, as required by the act of 1870.
and in making such canvass they would
be confined to an ascertainment of the
persons elected according to the returns.
In no event can the returning board
have jurisdiction over the returns OF
electors of President and Vice President
and their canvass of the same is there
fore nullity and entitled to respect
from no one.
The murders and outrages which have
been brought to our notice are frequent-
ly committed by persons of the same
race upon each other, and in large ma
jority of cases have no political sig gnif>
cance. The assumption of the RepuoIi.
cans that all the colored people in the
State are necessarily Republicans is by
no means true. 1t is certain that thous-
ands OF colored persons voted squarely,
and actively supported the Democratic
ticket. With the law and such facts be-
fore US as have been disclosed by the
action of the returning board, we do
not hesitate to declare that its proceed
ings as witnessed by Us were partial and
unfair, and that tho result il has an
nounced is arbitrary. illegal and entitled
to no respect whatever.
Fifteen years ago. when Fort Sumpter
was fired upon by men who sought q
disruption of the Uuion.a million patri-
OTIS. without regard to party affiliations,
sprang to its defense. Will the same
patriotic citizens now sit by idly and see
representa- government overthrown
by usurpation and fraud2 Shall the will
of 10000. 600 of people. constitution
ally expressed, be thwarted by the cor
rupt, arbitrary and illegal action Of all
illegally constituted returning board in
Louisiana. whose wrongful action here
tofore in all respects similar to its
present action, has been condemned by
all parties:2 1t is An admitted fact that
Mr. Iilden received a majority of a
quarter of million of the votes at the
recent election. This majority is ready
and willing to submit to the minority
when constitulionally entitled to de-
mand such submission; but is it willing
that, by an arbitrary and false declara-
ton of the voters in Louisiana. the mi-
nority shall usurp power? These are
dark days for the American people, when
such questions are forced upon their
consideration. If it we're true, as some
insist, that neither the white nor the
colored voters have in all instances been
afforded an opportunity to give free ex-
preston to their will at the ballot box
shall, we, by sustaining fraudulent
and illegal declaration of tie votes cast
stitle the voices of millions of voters
who have freely expressed their choice,
and thus seek to correct great wrong
by committing another immeasurably
greater wrong? Can We sanction such
action of the Louisiana returning board
and thereby form precedent under the
authority of which party now in power
may forever perpetuate its rule and end
constitutional liberty? Shall such be
the fate Of this republic at the beginn-
ing of the second century of its exls-
tence? Are the momentous questions
now presented for the determination of
the American people. (SignedD
JNO. M. PALMER,
LYMAN TRUMBULL,
WILLIAM BIGLER,
GEO. B. SMITH,
GEORGE W. JULIAN,
FIJI. WATTERSON.
ST. Louis, (Mo) Dec. 12th.-Ars.
Julia Barrieras, we'll known in art cir-
oles as portrait painter, fell from the
roof of her house through the skylight.
this morning. and was instantly killed.
New YORK, Dec. 1.-THE Isibmne's
Columbia special says full particu-