Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-24
Lew 3ton, Nov. 81, 1876.
South Carolina.

[Spec al Despatch TO the Boston Daily Advertiser.
WASHINGTON, November -. The news which
reaches here tonight from South Carolina, that
the returning board has finally decided to ignore
the orders of the supreme court Of The State, tn e
msjority of which is composed Of men bitterly
hostile to Chamberlain, and 90 ahead and count
the votes cast as contemplated by law, occasions
very little surprise from the fac; that th. course
after very thorough examination Of the powers
OF the board and of the supreme court itself, has
been advised as the only resource left to the
board unless it desires to be wiped out of exist
ence and the purpose for wiich it was created
completely defeated. The issue now raised be
tween the returning board on one side and judge
Moses and Willard on the Other is not unexpect-
cd and will end it is thought in both Chamber
lain and Hampton claiming to be governor, with
two branches of the lower house and one Of the
senate, the latter republican. 1t will be for the
administration to decide which of the two men
shall be recognized and receive the moral supper
of the federal authorities. Attorney General
Taft, who has made an exhaustive examination of
the law bearing upon the case, says the course
pursued by the supreme court of the State is q
gross outrage upon law and order and a mockerv
to justice itself; that the court has exercised func
lions not properly within its jurisdiction or au-
thority, and that the returning board has only
done right IN refusing TO obey its mandate, and
thus test the right Of the court to deprive the
board of the legal right to count the election re-
turns in strict accordance with the letter and spir-
il of the law
Information reached here to-day that if the
legislature placed in the hands of the demo-
Gratis and Hampton could be installed as gov
ernor, he would revoke the certificates given to
the Hayes electors by Chamberlain, and direct
recount of the votes cast, with the intention of
manipulating the returns so that at least two of
the Tden electors would be declared elected
Two Of the judges of the supreme court are said
TO be party TO this plan and certain circum-
stances seem to confirm the statement. The
opinion is entertained here that the trouble, in
South Carolina are by no means ended, and tina,
the power of the general government will have
TO be manifested to settle matters.
Judge Mackey, who is reported in to-day's de-
spatches from Columbia, ). c., as declaring that
the returning board never claimed judicial powers
until 1874, appeared before the returning board in
1872, when his own election was at issue and
made an argument in favor of the board having
such judicial authority, and carried the point. He
was, however, defea ted when the votes were all
canyassed. Two years later he took the other
side of the argument in order to defeat certain
men whom he expected would be counted in and
now he again wants the board to be considered as
purely MINISTERIAL so Hampton can be made gov
ernor and not be kept out in consequence of the
enormous frauds perpetrated by his party in sew
eral counties.