Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1876-11-18
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The political situation is substantial
unchanged as we go to press from wha
it has been during the last three or fou
days. The election is claimed in tn
three disputed states by the democrat
on duplicate RETURN of the supervisors
certainly in Florida and Louisiana, an,
confidently in South Carolina.
The South Carolina returning boar
me. on last Thursday morning tor organi
cation, and the supreme court of the stat
met to hear arguments OF the question
whether. under the constitution of South
Carolina, duties of the returning boare
are merely ministerial, and confined tt
certifying the returns made by the coun
ty canrassers, or whether it may heal
evidence concerning frauds. and throw
cut votes where, according to its judg
ment, fraud is proven. The democrats
are confident that the cour will decide
that the board has no judicial powers,
and that its duties are strictly confined
to certifying the votes. If this should
be the case, there can be no doubt OF
democratic success in the state.
In Louisiana the returning board met
yesterday. There is no question as to
its powers. 1t has the power not only
to count the vote, but to throw out
precincts and entire parishes, if neces-
sary, as will be seen by the reply Of the
prominent republicans in New Orleans,
to the letter addressed them by the dem
ocrats. The latter gentlemen asked that
some means be taken, jointly, to insure
a fair count of the vote; the republicans
reply that they are there unoficially,
and can therefore take no steps to inter-
fere with the workings of the political
state machinery, which they claim is
adequate to do justice in the matter.
When it is considered hat this returning
board is the same one which foisted
upon the people Of Louisiana a state
government which they had not elected,
and a United States senator who was re-
fused his seat, it will be seen how much
confidence the people of the country
may place in it, especially as Governor
Wells, n of its members insists that
it shall sit with closed doors, the only
concession that he is willing to make.
being that in cases of contested polls,
the representatives of the democratic
and republican committees shall be no.
titled, and that arguments may be heard.
The board is surrounded with a Gordon
OF soldiers, and Gen. Sheridan, the man
who desired to declare the citizens of
Louisiana banditti, that he might shoot
them, is there to see that everything is
done quietly and in order. Gen. De-
Trobriand. the gentleman who dispersed
the legislature. it is said, is also to be
there, so with Kellogg and Packard on
hand an accommodating returning board
composed of all republicans, and little
Phil. Sheridan and Beforehand to give
them all backbone, it seems very likely
that Louisiana, in spite of her demo-
cratic majority Of about 5000. will be
counted for Hayes. We hope it may not
be So. but can expect nothing better
from the surroundings.
The latest news from Florida is con-
tanned in a dispatch to Gov. Carroll, of
Maryland; to the effect that the republic
cans concede the state to Tilden by 1 1000
majority /; this is offset by a dispatch to
the New York Times, (Rep.,) from
prominent republicans, claiming the
state for Hayes. To supplement these
we have the opinion of the New York
Herald of the 10th inst, to the effect that
it will not be noU5b' or Tilden's below
400. As the Herald is an independent
paper, with better means for collating
news than any other paper in the coun-
try, we give this item with some degree
of confidence. Is
10 sum up, the presidential election
has by the voice of the people zone for
Hidden. His popular majority is undls-
puted. The votes properly counted will
give him a majority in the electoral col
lege; in other words, Tilden is elected.
there is in the way of the declara-
ton that he is elected, three radical re- ,
turning boards, with the army at their t
elbows to protect them in any measures l
they may see fit to take. We can but
hope that the strong sentiment which
perVades all sections of the country that
there shall be a fair count, will prevail, r
Ind that the strong disposition to fraud :
may be overcome. If it IS not. and
Hayes is counted in by evidently corrupt
means, there will be as a dernier resort
he powers of congress in counting and
declaring the electoral vote. We cannot T
discuss this question in this article, but d
may say to our republican friends c
they have set precedents in the .
counting and rejection of the votes of .
states which may in this case, return to '
plague them. Whatever is done we p
counsel moderation. Let no hastv IL
lctlon be taken, but let every citizen !"
earnestly watch the result and lend his r,
dice and influence to apeaceful solution v
I what is undoubtedly revolutionary q !,
cton tending to subvert the liberties =,
1 The people. If actual revolution II
mould grow out of it, we c~onjure our hi
outhern friends to let it come from the
orth. where it cannot be misconstrued
nto the outbreak of another rebellion.
ut will be recognized by all the world l.,
be the spontaneous uprising OF a great M Il
eople in defense OF rights, dearer than ar
fe itself. FIR
The radical lies did not hurt Phelps w
luch, as his majority shows. Who was pl
that said Finkelnburg would be the II
governor He was a prophet. e.
The latest returns from Illinois show til
le Legislature to stand thus: Senate
or1rNnrofn . a