The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-11-24
THE PRESIDENCY.

The veIcd Presidential question has not
jet been solved. We had hoped that before
this, the votes of the whole number of states
would have been counted and the result as
certAined beyond controversy.
The present condition of Affairs is as fol-
lows. In South Carolina the Democrats have
elected Governor and Lieut.. Governor have
gained seven State Senators and thirty-one
Representatives, which gives a majority in the
Legislature and secures the return of Dem
cr,t to the United States Senate; have gained
two Congressman and elected Comptroller
General. The vote for President has not been
canvsssed. In Florida, the returns from all
the counties have not been received and grave
suspicious have been aroused that they have
been held back for manipulation. NJ. l..
Stesrns, the Republican Governor, of the
State coolly proposed few days since to
count the vote of the State himself, on the
ground that the Returning Board had no
power to count the votes for electors This
sublime piece of impertinencs was put an end
10 by Judge White of the United States Cir
emit Court who issued an injunction restrain
ing the Governor from tho proposed action
The Judge has also issued mandamus COM
msnding the Returning Board to proceed
with the count There is but little doubt that
the State has gone Democratic. Judge Wes-
colt Of the Supreme Court. prominent Re-
publican who at first claimed the State for
Hayes now comedies the election of Tilden
and publishes letter to that effect The eyi-
dent aim Of the Returning Board is to take
advantage Of State law giving them thirty
five days in which to make their returns. This
would carry them to December 18th, whilst
the Governor is required by law to sign the
certificates of election by December 9th. OF
course IT there were no returns from the
Board the Governor could give the certificates
70 whom he pleased. 1t is probable that this
little scheme will fall through.
In Louisians the counting of the vote pro-
crosses slowly y,only few parishes having been
disposed Of The Returning Board have mod
i6ed materially their first decision to hold
secret sessions and have admitted five Re
publicans and five Democrats of the North
ern Commissioners. The parishes thus far
counted have been those in which there were
no protests offered as to illegal voting, intimi-
dation and the like.
TheDemocratic majority in theSta,e is about
1000 on the electoral ticket, except in the
case of five electors on the Republican ticket
whs fell behind more than 2,OOO-thus giving
the Democrats over 5000 majority. 1t is of
course impossible to foretel what action ths
Board may take as to disputed parishes, but
as matters now stand it looks as if the Dem
ocrats would have over 5000 majority if the
Board throws out the FIVE disputed parishes.
The eyes of the whole country are upon the
Board, and the plainly expressed opinions of
leading men and papers in the North, to the
effect that there must be an honest count,
will have some effect in restraining the Board.
We trust and believe that the electoral vote
Of the State will be given for Tiden and that
Florida will be given to him also.