St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-12-01

the election of Hampton, and through .
him "A Democratic Legislature the cleo
toral vote of the State for Tilden.
1t is Il wholly mistaken view to I'M
apiue that Tilden has been lost sight OF,
but the State can only he secured for
Tilden through Hampton. One part OF
the plan was to keep the Board of Can
vassers in session until after the meet
ing of the Legislature and the inauSu-
ration of Hampton. Then new Board
of Canvassers, all Democrats, would
take up and complete the work left un-
done bv the old Board. To accomplish
this the Court gravely limited that what
ever time was occupied by the Court Ill
reaching its conclusions would not count
in the ten DAYS allowed the Board by
the statute in which to complete their
work-a suggestion repugnant to every
legal mind.
if this plan had succeeded the result
is clear; but, thanks to the Board OF
Canvassers and their advisers, the plot
failed. Ten days only are allowed the
board. There is no dispute about this.
Ten days would expire, excluding sun
dav, on Wednesday, the I'D instant.
While, however, the Court WAS NOV
ing leiSurely along to the contamination
of the plot, the Board of CanvaSsers
had their eyes on the Court, and fully
OWNED its purpose. The Board did
not propose to allow the vote of the
State to be decided by any tribunal eX-
cept itself, especially not by Court so
manifestly active in the sole interest of
the Democratic shotgun leaders here
and in New York.
On Wednesday, the 22d inst, there
fore, they proceeded in the exercise of
their proper power to declare the result
of the election according to law and
according to the evidence before them.
In Edgefield and Laurens counties they
found such widespread and prevailing
violence and fraud they refused to de-
clare the candidates of either party
elected.
Having discharged their full duty in
all respects, the Board of Canvassers
adjourned sine die. Here it should he
remembered that no order of the Court
requiring them to certify the election of
all members of the Legislature, includ-
| ing Edgeticld and Laurrns counties,
WAS served on them, but they had adj
| journcd and were .tunctns OticiO. The
cunning of the Court should he noticed
| in granting this last named order.
| BY it they knew they could compel,
| if the order Was obeycd, the seating III
| the House of Representatives of il ma
| joritv of Democrats. The House would,
of course. choose Il Democratic Speaker.
who would on the face of the returns
declare Hampton elected. Governor
/ Chamberlain would then be forced To
apply to the Legislature for the right to
contest Hampton election.
This question of entertaining Cham
berlain's contest would he decided 10y Il
concurrent resolution of both Houses
The Democrats of the House would Ie-
fuse to concur in the resolution. and
then Chambcrlain'S rights would have
been finally furcclosed and Hampton
would remain Governor. with no chance
of disputing his election. After this
the plot would he carried forward with
ease.
The new Board of CanvasSerS would
have undone as far as possible the work
of the former Board. would have elect
ed United States senator, given new
certificates To the Tilden electors, and
thus, in every point. achieved perfect
success for the shotgun Democracy.
The rage of the Court. their Demo
cratic advisers and their whole band OF
con>pir;itors at the rction of the Board
of CanvaSScIS know no bounds. In
private interviews, the Judges >tormed
and raved. They talked, not like judi
cial officers, but like the political con
spirators that they are. Yesterday
when the Court convened stormy
scene was witnessed.
Attachments for contempt were ISSUED
against the members of the Board oi
| CanvaSsers, returnablc ut 1 z. NJ. and
what is most ludicrouS of all. the Dem
ocratic lawyers insisted on and obtained
AN attachment against Hon. ID. ;. Cor
hin, the chief legal adviser of the Boart
and they actually asked for IL similar
attachment against Hon. \. +. Herman
! who had two days before left here tol
his home III Georgia
Ut ! T.. VI. the court rrconvcned aud
proceeded To instruct their Democratic
attorneys to draw up orders of commit
mrnt against the Board. but waived al
action against Mr.. Corhin. Judge vii
lard, unable to preserve even the APP
pearance of judicial drcorum. delivered
from the bench the most inceudiary and
PARTISAN harangue Vet heard during al
these exciting times. 1t WAS Il pitItu
sight to see this man. holding such /;
position, livid with rage. pouring ont
his furious and incohcIent malice. hut
we are being used to all sorts of indie
ccncies i'll this desperate game of over
whelming Il lawful Republican majority
OF 2J.OOO i'll this State.
1t Is apparent to all candid lega
minds that the orders and actions al
the court are intended, under the false
gul>c of Il mindamus, which is Il viii
we'll known only To issue directing /;
public officer to de what the law re.
quire> him to do. without the exerciS,
of discretion or judgment. to fully iii
rect and control the Board of Can
vassers, in which the laws of the Stat,
gave them the sole power to act ol
with Judgment and determination. ant
thus for the Court to act as if it hat
appellate jurisdiction of election return.
and of the acts of the board. and itsel
adjudicate and decide the election il
hagrant nSurpation of power.
Florida.
THE RETI"RNS All N