New-York tribune., 1876-11-21
FLORIDA.
A DISPATCH FROM w. f. CHANDLER
WHY 1T Is IMPRUDEST TO SHOW FlGuREs-REPEIi-
TIoN OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRAUDS OF lsI2
FrARED-sHAIL GOV. sTERNs COUNT THE ELECT

WHY 1T Is IMPRUDEST TO SHOW FIGURES -KEPEil-
IIoN OF THE DEMOCRATIC FRAUDS OF lo'Z
FFARED-sIIALL GOV. sTERNs COUNT THE ELECT
ORAL voTEf
BY TELEGRAPH THE TTIBUSE.l
TALLAHASSEE. Fla Nov. 2O.-The communication
by Gen. Francis G. Barlow and others. sent from tins
city tonight states the reason why more accurate
figures of tine result in Florida cannot be given. The
Republican majorties all in the counties where
there is a large colored vote, and the Democratic
maiorites came from 20 other counties. The results
in the Republican counties are known, have been
long since announced, and could not be changed if
there were any disposition on the part OF the
Republicans to change them. The morning after
the election it was conceded that the State
had gone Republican; but when II was
known that the Presidential result depended
on Florida an immediate change took place. IL
was at once claimed that the remote Democratic
counties would make the State Democratic. un-
founded claims of knowledge IA to the result IN
them were set up, and those claims have been per
sisted in except 50 far and fast the actual re-
turns have disproved the claims. To what extent
tbe Democratic returns received have been fraudn-
lenty raised cannot be ascertained except by send
ing into the counties to obtain copies OF the pre-
cinct returns. Meantime IT has become evident
that the State is close and that the actual majority
either VIII Dc so slNal llldl "h'i''i
il necessary to determine the actual result.
Under these circumstances the Republicans nat
uraly feel suspicious that the Democratic alterations
of returns m 1872 may be repeated Dec. 7. 1872,
when the State Canvassing Board met, it was found
that the returns from Jackson County had been
altered as follows: Bloxham received 939 votes,
but the returns were made to show that he had re-
ceived 339 Bullock received the same and the
retans were altered similarly Hart received lOo
but the returns made to show that he got only
700 Sterns received l,109, and the returns were
altered likewise. The vote for electors was left u-
altered. Then came the members of Congress.
Niblack received 939 votes, but the record
was altered so az to show that he had
received 939. Jones received the same vote, ana
the returns were similarly altered. walls received
l. 1OS votes but he only got credit for 1sO Purman
received ,1O5 votes, but he was creditedwith only
105 The alteration Of the returns was effected as
follows: In the case of the members of Congress
cipher was taken from the figures of the Republican
candidates and added to the figures of the Demo
cratic candidates. while where the words were
spelled out IL was obiterated and ! written in its
place and 10 added to ., thus making difference oi
/, 800 votes A similar process was pursued as to
the others.
After this experience the Republicans of tins
State may be forgiven for dstrusting their oppo-
nents and for preferrng not to help them in close
election to any information as to how much 1t is
necessary for the returns from the counties kept
back to be altered TO count the majority for Hayes
into majority for Tden. The county Of Polk has
given about $50 votes for Tilden and about II for
Hayes. 1t has not yet been returned, and we can
learn nothing about it, If the Democrats could
change the record from 43S majority to G3S major
ity for Tiden, and thereby change the State from
Hayes to Tilden it would be impossible to procure
evidence of the fraud before Dec. g. 1t is terrible
temptation to the authors of the Tweed-TIlden cir
cular Of 1868. Ought they to be encouraged by
telling them exactly how much to raise Polk
County in order TO count Tiden inf
The question has arisen and upon it the Demo-
Gratis have desired to submit to lGov. Stems
pument whether the Governor or the State Board
Is to count and declare the Presidential result, and
doubtful and difficult one it is. Ii depends upon
whether the law of Jan. @, 1s47, that of Febru-
ary, 1872, governs the subject. Under the law of
1s47 the Secretary Of State required TO open
and record the Presidential returns, and the Gov
ernor was required forthwith to make out certiii-
Gates for the persons having the greatest number of
votes and transmit them to the electors. Several
sections of this law are undoubtedly in force,
especiay those relating to the meeting of
the electors and the filling Of vacancies.
The only question is whether the
method of counting and declaring the Presidential
vote is changed. The law of 1872 provides that on
the thirty-ffth day after the holding of any election
for any State officer, member Of the Legislature OF
representative IN Congress, sooner if the county
returns are received the Canvassing Board consist
ing of the Secretary of State, Controller, and At
torney General shall proceed to canvass the returns
of the election and determine and declare who shall
have been elected to any such Office or as such mem