New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-11-23
THE SITUATION.
The South Carolina Supreme Court Di.
rectiug the Canvassing OHcers.

The South Carolina Supreme Court Di-
rectiug the Canvassing OR1cers.
COLUMBIA, s. c., November 22-The Su-
preme Court to-day issued peremptOry
mandamus to the Board of State Canvass
ers to issue certificates to members to the
Senate and House of RspIese entatives ap
pesring on the face of the returns to be
elected, the final contests in those houses to
he decided by the members themselves.
This gives in the Senate eighteen Republi-
cans and fifteen Democrats, and in the
House sixty Republicans and sixty-four
Democrats. Democratic maj jority on joint
ballot, one.
The Legislature counts the votes for Gov
ernor and Lieutenant Governor and elects
United States Senator.
The court has decided to consider the
other contests separately, and will hear ar
gument this afternoon as 10 counting the
electoral vote.
The Supreme Court has ordered writ of
peremptory mAndamus to issue to the Board
of Canvassers, requiring them to give GER
tifcates of election in accordance with the
report made yesterday.
This gives the Democrats, psima facic,
majority of four in the House and fifteen Of
the thirty-three Senators.
Final Action of the Canvassers-The Re.
publican Electors and State Ticket,
COLUMBIA, November % The Board of
State Csnvassers yesterday made report
to the Supreme Court stating the persons
who had received the highest number of
votes for the Offices for which they were
candidates. Appended to the report of re-
suits was memorandum of the board,
stating that in their opinion the certain ir-
regularities which affected some of the Re-
publican candidates should be corrected,
and also that the vote of Laurens and
Edgetield counties, which gave large Dem
ocratio majOrities, should be excluded on
account of frauds and intimidation.
This morning the court passed an order
commanding the board to issue certificates
of election to all the persons who were
ehown by the report of the board to have
received the highest number of votes for
members of the Legislature, including the
counties of Edgetield and Laurens. The
court also to-day took up the case of the
electors, and issued rule on the board to
show cause why they should not correo.
the statements Of the county canvassers by
the precinct returns in their posses
sion. Pending these proceedings of
the co1rt, and notwithstanding their
own resolution that they would take
no action until their powers and du-
ties had been defined by the court, the
board held session without the knowledge
side, and issued certificates to all the mem.
bers of the Legislature, except foe Laurens
and Edgefield counties, thus securing a ma
iority OF the Legislature to the Republican
side, thus securing the defeat of Hampton
and the election OF Chamberlain, and also
issued certificates Oi election to the Hayes
and Wheeler electors and to oil the Repub-
lican State ticket, correcting the errors
which defeated their own candidates and
ignoring all errors Of the same character
which would have elected the Democrats.
The board then adjourned sine die.
This action OF the board has created
much excitement, but the citizens are de-.
termined to rely upon the courts. and ex-
haust all legal means of redress. It Ia cur
rently believed that the action of the board
was taken under directions from Washing
prominent judicial official, who has recently
arrived here with being the organ Of the
authorities at Washington
An lncendlary Appeal from Hampton.
The excitement is intense. but quiet pre-
walls. The people are controlling them
selves remarkably well. General Hamp-
ton has just issued the following address:
To the people Of south Carolina:
The Board Of CAnvassers have, BY their
unprecedented action to-day. shown not
only their contempt and defiance Of the
Supreme Court OF the State. but their utter
disregard of their own official integrity,
while the grave questions determining the
result of the recent election were pending
before the Supreme Court, composed OF
three judges belonging to the Republican
party, and in direct violation of the orders
OF this tribunal.
The board has issued certificates Of elec-
ton to the Republican presidential electors
and to the Republican State officers, and
have refused to give certificates to the Dem
ocratic members of the Legislature shown
by the returns of this same board to have
been elected in the counties of Edgeaeld
and Lanrens. This high h aaded outrage is
we'll calculated to arouse the indignation of
our long suffering people, but assure them
that this daring and revolutionary act of
the board can have no legal force whatever.
appeal to you, therefore, In the fullest con.
hdence that the appeal will not be unheeded,
that yon will maintain, even under THAI
prOvocation. your character as an orderly
and law-abiaing people. During the past
exciting canvass yOu have studiouslv
avoided even the eemblance of . purpose
ooNxUUD ON H0URTH rAoni