Ellsworth American., 1876-11-23
Especial tn Boston Journal
WASHING roS. Nov. -. 1876
TIE PROSPECTS N FLORIDA.

Florida still continues To be considered
by Republicans who have the best sources
OF information the most doubtful OF the
two doubtful States. The assurances OF
the Democrats that they have carried the
State aud theurgency with which they Insist
upon sn immediate couut OF the rsturs be-
tore all have been received from the back
counties conyinces tie Republicans that
the attempts ofthe Democrats to corrupt
the county canvas~ers may have proved
successful. The Republicans In Florida
no not propose Ia allow the Democrats to
press the counts until afler careful cx
animation OF the returns has been possible,
and until some at least of the numerous
charges OF fraud have been thoroughly in.
vestigated. There Is still difference OF
opinion ~ t. the time within which the
law requires the electoral vote 10 be COan-
ed. The latest law says that this mnst be
done within thirty tive days after the cleo
ton, but this law appears not 10 apply TO
electors. An older law applicable To cleo
ors dXes the lnal count at tweuty-.ix days.
The ;hirty-five day Law would bring the
count beyond the day b December
when the Federal Constitution requires
the electors to meet at their respective
State capitals and 10 canvass the vote.
The older law provides that the count
fore the time Of the meeting Of electors.
IL 1. not anticipated that the count will be
delayed until siter the 9Th Of December,
aud thus raise another serious que. ton
with regard TO the electoral collage.
IL j. matter OF surprise here that there
was so much scratching done upon the
State ticke, In South Carolina. a. shown
by the returns OF the State Board OF Can
vassers. The Republicans maintain thst
IL will be necessary 70 purg the returns a.
they have been lsbulated for presentation
to the Supreme Court, aud that notwith-
standing the order of the Court, the State
Board OF Canvassers has not been vet
decided TO surrender its Judicial functions
The electoral vote officially cAnvassrd
gives the State TO Hayes and Whcclei
without requiring the Democratic fraud,
and intimidation. The lowest majority
for Hayes electors IS two hundred aud
thirty and the hish.s, will be about fifteen
hundred. The scratching Of the electoral
ticket was one of the tricks prscticed on
colored voters who could not read, and
WAS one ofthe deceptions used 20 carry
the State for rilden. Tne result for Gov
ernor has not yet been fully canvass, The
official vote, however, must decide. aud
even this. 1t matter NOT in whose favor il
il. will be CONTESTED before the Supreme
Court. a. counsel for both ,.des have pre-
sented exceptions 10 be filed. Ia any
event the Legislature Is the court OF iinsl
resort for canvassing the votes for Cover
nor and Lieutenant Governor ia case
either party chooses TO carry the contest
there.
THE POINTS To DIX ERASED To CONTEST GOV
ERSoR HAYEs's ELECTION,
Some suggestive hints as 10 the Demo
cratic programme, with respect 10 con-
testing the election il the two doubtful
States shall be returned for Hayes, are
contained in the following extract from a
lett-r which has been sent from this city
bv prominent Democrat to = Northern
Democrat ia New Orleans:
First. Colorado has not vet been fully ad-
mltted = State. Her constitution has not
been approved by Congress and perhaps may
never be. Certainly IL will not be approved BY
. Democratic House, provided other states are
faudulently counted in for Hayes.
Second. Three Electors have been chosen on
the Republican ticket who are ineligible, one in
Vermont, one in Rhode Island and one in Ore
gon. II fraud De- practiced elsewhere to such
an extent as 10 count in Hayes, The Governor |
OF Oregon 81 least will refuse 10 give his lame !
Elector u certificate. and this will throw the
election into the House.
Third. The Office of President in the very
nature OF our institutions, may be contested As
well as that OF Congressman, and Of course
Congress is the tribunal.
Fourth. The Office Of Elector may also be
contested before Congress, and that body deci-
ded over twenty five years ago that il had au-
thOrity to 60 behind the States in like inyesti-
cations.