The New York herald., 1876-11-17
produced . great impression upon all who we're
present Most Of the negroes from the city. but
mad made speeches in country parishes
The following letter was handed to you. correspond

States, and Of General Francis 7. Nichols for Gov
ernor OF Louisiana We zach and every one Of
voted the straight democratic tcket State and
tionaL
JOSEPH A. CRAIG. barber, Isl Common street
r. P0INDExrER. ex-ssals Senator
sTANEY JONES.
JOSEPH LEWIS, lsl Common street
ADoLPHUS REID, carpenter
GEORGE BRINSTORFK, cooper
THOMAS BROWN, Baptist minister.
A. NALASCo, steward
LEWIS HENDERSON, labor agent
REPLY OF rnx REPUBLICAN TO DKxo-
CRATIC PROPOSITION
Tho republicans who are here by Invitation from
President Grant, after two days elaboration, have
North to secure fair count They pretend to have
made only pleasure trip to Louisiana and deprecate
attempts influence interfere with local AFFAIRS
Their letter is a. iolows:-
NEW ORLEAxs, Nov. l6, 1870.
GEsrLEnks-The majority OF tho undersigned, to
whom your note OF the l4th inst addressed,
only arrived in city yesterday evening We have
therefore been unable reply until this morning, and
only regret that your communication should nave
been gwen the press Immediately upon It's delivery,
and without the possibility Of answer accompany
ingt
You remark that you are informed that we came At
tho request Of the President that the Board OF
Canvassers mako tar count OF the votes
actually cast. and ask that we meet
and confer, in order that such influence
we possess may excrtsd behalf Of such
vass OF the actually by its fairness and
impartlalty shall command tho respect and acqui-
nj tho A Ayno II If all
We join heartily with you in counscls OF peace and
in the expression Of desire for perfectly
honest and declaration Of the results Of the recent
election in LOUISIANA by it's lawfully constituted au
thor!tics and may add that we know OF no reason
doubt that such declaration will be made; but VIC
do not see tho propriety or utility Of q
conference the basis and subject 10 the
limitations you propose, Tor we have no such duty
imposed upon and as suggested by tho clause OF
note nrst quoted are ut most requested 70 be
witnesses OF what shall In the Of the
votes, without power legal influence over the result
or over the BY which, under the laws OF Lousi-
ana the result 10 to be dolermined. We cannot doubt
that in this you, upon reflection will concur with
We are here private czens with official powers;
we therefore, cannot supercede or modify any laws Of
that State, have we any right 10 con-
troll influence any Of its officers as TO the
in which they shall perform ministerial
or judicial duties imposed upon them by It's laws and
should we, being strangers and without Official func-
tions, attempt this, we should be condemned By the
people Of every State in the Union for improper In
reference with local administration.
The following extract from the laws OF Louisiana
shows that tho Canvassing Board expressly required
In certain exercise judicial well muis-
ierial functions
SECTION 3-That in such canvass and compilation tho
returning officers shall observe tho following order
The shall compile, rst tho statements from all polls
voting places at which there shall have been tar
Tree AMI peaceabe registration and election Wheu-
ever IRON any poll or voting place there shall DO re-
s,ateent OF supervisor OF registration
or commissioner of election ia iorm, as required by
section ~ of ths act, on the affidavit OF three
citizens Of any RIOT tumult acts OF Violence inlim
dation, armed disturbance, bribery corrupt innu-
ence which prevented or tended TO prevent u
lair, and p0acsablc OF all quaded electors
entitled to vote ~ such polls or voting places; such
returning officers shall canvass, count compile
the statements from such poll or voting place until tho
have been canvassed and compiled. the returning
officers shall then proceed 10 the statements
disturbance bribery corrupt influences any such
poll voting place. and ~ from the evidence Of such
statement they shall be convinced that sucn riot, tu-
mutt, OF violence, Intimidation, armed disturb.
ance bribery or corrupt Influences Did not materially
interfere with the purity and freedom OF
place, or did not prevent . sunicsns
number OF qualified voters thereat from registering
voting TO materially change result Of the election,
them and not otherwise SAID returning snail
canvass ana compile the vote OF such poll or voting
place with those previously canvassed and complied;
ishcd thereof II shall be their duty 10 examine further
testimony IN regard thereto, and to this end
they shall have power to send for persons and
papers II examination the said returning
officers shall be convinced that SAID riot, sumul
OF Violence Intimidation, armed disturbance, bribery
or corrupt influences DID materially interfere with the
purity and freedom 0i the election at such poll vot
ing place. or did prevent sufficient number OF the
qualified electors thercat registering voting
materially change the result OF the election, then
said returning officers shall not canvass or CON-
pile the statement of the votes Of such poll
or voting place, but shall exclude Il from their
returns; PROVIDED that any person Interested
in said election by OF being a candidate tor
Office shall be allowed hearing before said returning
officers upon making application within the time
allowed Tor the forwarding OF the returns OF said
election.
Hence II there are any facts requiring the Judgment
OF the Board upon the validity OF any election
turns affected by such frauds violence would
be manifest interference with State rights and local
self-government for persons like ourselves, without
official rights, TO attempt 10 influence control It's
judicial action Had corresponding board In the State
o. New York In 1868 been authorized pass upon tho
fraudulent return OF votes OF tho city New York
that year, and delegation Of citizens Of Louisiana,
however respectable attempted influence judicial
action upon tho facts presented IL under tho laws
OF that State, such attempt would have bcen unvcr
sally condemned. II the duties OF the Canvassng
Board Of Louisiana merely ministerial clerical
as in the OF any olcer charged by tho law with
duty verifying and declaring the result OF any
election investigation with discretion, when
the President of tho and declares the
Of tho electors OF the several States the cleo
OF President and Vice President under the
sttution tho United States different would bo
presented
1t lis, in our Judgment vital to the preservation Of
constitutional liberty that tho habit OF obedience TO
tho forms OF law should be scdulously nculcated and
cultivated and that the constitutional
modes of redress for grievances should
avoided and condemned as revolutionary, disorgan-