The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1876-11-29
The so".r. c.ro.tna compllcanoa.


cognized the jurisdiction of the Su
Preme Court, made report, as the en-
tire reading public are aware, stating
the per -ons who had received the
highest number of votes for the offices
for which they were candidates. APP
pended to the report of results was
memorandum of the Board, stating that
IN their opinion certain irregularities
which affected some of the Republican
candidates should be corrected, and also
that the vote of Laurens and Edge6eld
counties which gave large Democratic
majorities, should be excluded on ac-
count of frauds and intimidation. The
same charge had been made as to other
| counties which had returned large Re
publican majorities and was substantial
ted by undoubted testimony. The
Court passed an order commanding the
/ board TO issue certificates of election to
all persons who were shown by the report
OF the board to have received the high
est number of votes for members of the
Legislature, including the counties of
Edgetield and Laurens. The court also
took up the case Of the electors
and issued a rule on the board to show
cause why they should not correct the
statements Of the co-canvassers by the
precinct returns in their possession.
Pending these proceedings of the court,
and notwithstanding their own resolu-
ton that they would take no action I'M
til their powers and duties had been de-
fined by the court, the board held SEES
sion without the knowledge of any of the
parties on the Democratic side, and is
sued certificates to all the members of
the Legislature, except for Laurens and
Edgefield counties, thus securing ma
Jorlty of the Legislature to the Repub-
hcan side, and the defeat of Hampton
and the election of Chamberlain and
also, issued certificates Of election to the
Hayes and Wheeler electors, and to all
the Republican State ticket, correcting
the errors which defeated their own car
didates, and ignoring all errors of the
| same character which would have elect
ed the Democrats, The board then adj
jCurned sine die on pretense that the
| time prescribed by law for their session
had expired, but really to escape the di-
rection and avoid the judgment of the
court. 1t should be borne in mind that
four of the five members Of the board
were candidates for State offices and
were deciding upon their own cases.
This defiance of the authority of the
court and refusal to obey it's mandate,
induced that tribunal to vindicate its dig
nifty by ruling the members of the board
for contempt. It sentenced them to pay
a fine of 81 800 and to Imprisonment un-
til released by order of the court.
Meantime the Democratic electors Of
South Carolina have brought actions
against those to whom the canvassing
board here gave certificates to determine
their rights and enioin them from acting
until their rights are determined, not
doubling their ability to show that the
real vote, both as returned by the pre-
cinct managers who counted the vote,
and as found by the judgment sought
from the court, would give portion at
least of the electoral vote of South Car
dina to Mr.. TiIden. They are relying
entirely upon the justice of their cause,
the law AM the testimony, and will be
content to abide the decision of the Su-
preme Court of the State, which, by the
way, is composed OF Il pu1licans entirely.