Middletown transcript., 1876-11-25
THE PRESIDENTIAL CONTEST
STILL UNDECIDED.
THE RAscALLY RETURNING BOARDS.
REPUBLICAN TRICK in SOUTH CAROLINA

REPUBLICAN TRICK in SOUTH CAROLINA
| The Courts Us. the Canvassers.
The contest between the dishonest
returning boards and the people Of the
Southern States is still undecided. The
boldest and most fragrant outrage SO
far has been committed by the Board Of
Canvassers in South Carolina. Hav-
ing been restrained by writ Of nan-
damus issued by the Supreme Court Of
the State from the exercise of judicial
powers and confined to the mere count
ing OF the votes as returned to them by
the county and precinct managers, they
performed that part Of the work and
reported the result'to the Court, show
ing the election Of the republican Elec-
tors and the democratic candidate for
Governor, Gen. Hampton, two demo-
cratic and three republican members Of
Congress and a majority Of the demo-
| craft: candidates for the Legislature.
This would have secured the election Of
democrat to the U. S. Senate, in
place Of Senator Robinson whose term
will expire next March. Satisfied that
the State had gone for TildeD and Hen
bricks, and that the Board of Canvass
ers had not done this work honestly,
the democrats applied to the Courts for
the exercise Of judicial powers to cause
another count to be made. The report
of the Board to the Supreme Court was
made on Tuesday stating the persons
who had received the highest number Of
votes for Offices for which they were
candidates. Appended to the report Of
results was memorandum Of the board
stating that in their opinion certain ir-
regularities which affected some of the
republican candidates should be correct
ed, and also that the vote Of Laurens
and Edge6eld counties, which gave
large democratic majorities, should be
excluded on account Of fraud and intim-
idation On Wednesday morning the
court made 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 |
highest number of votes for members
Of the Legislature, including the coun-
ties Of Edgefeld and Laurens. The
court also took up the case of the cleo
tors AID issued rule on the board to
show cause why they should not correct
the statements Of the county canvassers
by the precinct returns in their posses
sion. Pending these proceedings Of
the court, however, the board held
session and issued certificates to all
members Of the Legislature except for
Laurens and Edgefeld counties, thus
securing a majority Of the Legislature
to the republican side and the conse-
quent defeat Of Hampton and the elec-
ton Of Chamberlain. The board also
issued certificates Of elections to the
Hayes and Wheeler electors and to all
the republican State ticket. The board
then adjourned sine die. This action
Of the board naturally created much ex-
citement, but the citizens are determin-
ed to rely upon the courts, and exhaust
all legal means Of redress Gen. Wade
Hampton has issued an address to the
people Of South Carolina counseling
peace and forbearance, and assuring
them that the action of the board can
have no force.
The democrats are looking to the
courts for enforcement Of their orders
and for the performance Of justice
Great excitement prevails and the polit-
ical prospect is extremely gloomy.
Thus the matter now stands
LOUISIANA In Louisiana the Re-
turning Board is engaged in slowly
canvassing the votes. The vacancy in
the Board, which, it was promised,
should be filled by democrat, has not
yet been filed, and that party is with
out representative in the Board The
committees Of Northern gentlemen, Of
both parties, selected to witness the
counting Of the returns are admitted to
the rooms The democrats asked that
their counsel might be present and that
the proceedings Of the Board should be
conducted in open session, but this was
refused. Much time is spent in dis
cussing various points and the work Of
canvassing proceeds very slowly. In
the four days that the Board has been
sitting it has canvassed less than one
half Of the parishes Of the State At
this rate, especially as the parishes yet
to be counted are the contested ones, it |
is difficult to say when the work will be
completed.
FLORIDA The republican governor
Of Florida having arrogated to himself
the sole right to canvass the vote
Of the State and issue certificates
to whom he thus found elected, the
democrats appealed to the Court for an
injunction to prohibit him from doing
such manifestly improper thing. Judge
White accordingly issued writ and
summoned the Governor to show cause
why the said injunction should not be
issued. Thus contest has arisen be-
tween the executive and the judiciary
The Governor appeared BY counsel on
Thursday and the matter is being argu-
ed. In the meantime the work Of can
vassing the election is at stand STILL
the democrats urging them to com
mence and the republicans delaying as
long as possible evidently to wait the
result in Louisiana
Perhaps something definite will be
known by next Saturday, if not sooner.