The New York herald., 1876-11-23
THE rRxrKxr

o'clock to-day II 10 clear that though tho Law may
require the canvass to bc completed in days. 1t
does not intend tho Court to be limited as the legal
Illegal conduct the Board II is contrary to the
first principles Of law and fair dealing, that when
Board is thus being Investigated by court that
IL can end the investigation by adjourn
ing. 1t is considered by leading Democgats
that this action by the Board has been the result OF
the ato consultations at the State House, at which
the leaders present Some people surmiscd that
dictated from Washington and brought hero by
Judge Bond who has had sevesal close conferences
with Governor Chamberlain. United States District
Attorney Corbin, and Attorney General Akerman.
The SUPPOSED PURPOSE
OF this political coup detat is to muddle and confuse
the status OF tho Legislature 70 assemble hero
Legislature may be repeated and republican majority
may be primed in che Legislature OF South Carolina
BY the bayone,s Of General Ruger Colonel Black.
FEELING OF THE DEMOCRATS.
The greatest Indignation exists here .. this outrage,
a it is considered The democrats. by proper and
legal remedies wore taking their before the
proper tribunal They had won the control OF tho
Legislature and had the majority the primo tacie
returns.
THE MINUTES THE BOARD.
have seen the minutes OF to-day, and fnd that the
Board was sottled and certificates issued to
Presidential electors and State Congressional circ ut
and county officers. On the question as to whether
the statement Of the County Canvassers of Laurens
mont and determination Of the Board, the
vote was yeas-2 nays Those voting
the negative were tho Ad6utant and Inspector
General Comptroller General and State Treasurer, the
tho affirmative were the Secretary Of State and
Attorney General the former q candidase for
election. On the same question as TO the county Of
Edgened all of the members OF the Board voted for
its exclusion except the Secretary OF State. That
official then submitted the following and asked that it
be entered on the minutes:-
vote yes on the question Of including Edgeheld
and Laurens counties in tho certificates and deter
mnation Of the Board, for the that the test
mony before the Board to their irregularities In tho
conauct Of the election in those counties is entirely
parte. Z. esB-a HAYNE, Secretary OF State
On motion Of the Attorney General the Board then
adjourned sine die The hour Of adjournment was
about one o'clock NJ which time the Board claim
their session expired by limitation Legal authorities
limited, but they adjourn for as long period as
ton days from time to time until their dutios are
ended.
EYyEcr OF THE ACTION.
Under the circumstances the adjournment Of tho
Board is considered clearly in contempt the pro-
ceedinrs and status Of the Board the Supreme
Court which construes and intorrrets the law
for them. BY this bold stroke and by absolutely de-
Gliding upon the elections Of the members Of the Legs
lature from Edgened and Laurens without testimony,
the Board has secured . majority Of its own party in
each branch OF the Legislature the election of Cham
berain Governor and the return Of all the republic
can State officials They have destroyed and reversed
the majority that their own report Of Monday had
cured TO the democrats and upon which the Court to-
day issued its order as above. Tho coun-
democratic counties, ; and this Board has
arbitrarily rejected the returns from them defiance
of the Supreme Court, which explicitly ordered
them act in judicial capacity, but to act in
ministerial capacity only The Board last week passed
an order enterod on it's minutes, that it would do
nothing except act in q purely ministerial capacity
until the Court had decided the question Of s powers
II now declares itself jfsncfus o6lcio
WHAT THE MEMBERS SAT-
As soon tho matter had become publicly known
sought the members OF the Board and asked upon
what authority their action was bascds They all
agreed that their torn had expired by limitation but
further than this would say nothing.
JUDGE WILLARD on THE SITUATION.
eiae Justice Willard OF the Supreme Court and asked
his viows relative tho adjournment OF she Board.
The Justice had Just hoard OF It and he declined
express himself fully OF the responsibility OF
Board. He said, however,
ar that action OF the Board was done after judg-
OF the court IL was most utter disregard of the
authority OF the court. No action taken by those
executive officers" meaning the Board, s.can defeat
the end OF justice involved in the cases before the
court"
OPINION OF SENATOR GORDON
Senator Gordon, OF Georgia said TO me :-"The ques
tion now whether the Supreme Court OF South Caro-
lima can enforce It's own mandates or whether the
state Board Of canvasscrs the law into their
own hands disregard Of the highest court of
tho state The fight is now between tho court and
the State Doard" Tho Senator feels sure that tho
American people will not countcnancc such a revo-
lulionary procedure, ana ho Is also coandent the
court will permit Itself to DO defeated by set OF
desperadocs "what they tried to do In louisiana"