The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-13
A CONGRESSIONAL CONTEST.
THE FAOST.METCALFE CONTEST IN
THE THIRD MISSOURI DISTRICT.
River Interests-The Proposed steams shin
Line to BrazIl-What Com. Garrt-
son Has to say About 1t.

The contest for the seat in Congress from
THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OF THIS
is once more brought before the people and is
| attracting large share of attention among
those who interest themselves in politics. AS
, the question involved is the seating of a sound
Democrat or violent Radical, some facts in con.
nection with It will no doubt prove interesting
to the r aders of the DEMOCRAT. The contest has
up to the present hingei upon the return of the
vote in Precinct No. ST. When the tally sheets
first reached the county clerks office hasty
abstract of the vote was ready for the benefit OF
the press. BY this count l.. s. Metcalfe. the Re-
publican candidate. had nineteen majority.
When the canvassers met, in O day or two to
cast up the vote. the total gave r. G. Frost. the
Democratic candidate
ONE MAJORITY.
An examination showed that the difference was
created by the count of the vote In precinct No.
81, The first abstract made gave Mr.. Frost 272
votes, whereas the figures as they appeared to
the canvassers were 300. The county clerk
Democrat claimed that the figure had been
altered to Q after the tally sheet were receiv-
cd in his Office. Many persons examined the
figure with microscope, and some contended
that the change was apparent, while others
NoaO aS Sohiu1ht thut VIC hSutb were just us
returned by the judges of election, and that no
alteration had been made. The question was
carried before the courts. and the Circuit Court.
Court Of Appeals and Supreme Court in sue
cession, decided that the figure had been alter.
ed and the canvassers were ordered to count
Frosts vote as 272.
THE DECISION OF THE SUPREME COURT
was Just reached the other day, and so on last
Tuesday the canvassers reassembled and
counted the vote as directed by the court, Civ
ing Me calfe majority of nineteen votes The
canvassers, against the protest of Mr.. Frosts
attorneys. altered the figures in the return sheet
from 400 to 272. rather they erased the 2e2 and
inserted 272 in red ink just below. The can
vassers made out q certificate in favor of Met
calfe. explaining the facts In the case and the
process by which this result was reached MOTT
wtthstanding the decision of the Supreme Court
and the action of the canvassers, Mr.. Metcalfe's
legal difficulties are not all removed.
THE LAW
requires that the Secretary of State shall, within
ninety days after the election, issue q esrtif-
cate to the candidate receiving the highest
number of votes. this certificate to be based
upon q true abstract of the vote forwarded to
The Secretary. The legal steps taken prevented
The canvassers from completing their count
ind the final casting up has been delayed be-
yond the time prescribed for issuing the certH-
'ate. Now. the Secretary of State takes the po-
,ition that as the ninety days have expired
here is no law requiring him to issue the GER
ifcate beyond that time. and he declines to do
10. But
The CONTEST MUST FINALLY BE DECIDED IN
CONGRESS-
whittier Mr. Frost has carried It, and there is
very reason to to believe he will win. The
:entleman who was county clerk at the time of
he election, informs me that he ha s personal
knowledge OF error In the returns from two |
precincts that will increase Mr. Frost's vote "a. |
hus giving him a majority of five votes. The |
ucges from one precinct applied to the clerk |
within two days to correct an error that de- /
rauded Mr.. Frost out of nine votes, but as he |
eturns had been certified to, the figures could |
ot be changed. although the error was as plain
9 daylight. In another precinct. an error
'hich defrauded Mr. Frost out of Is votes was
but the judges made no attempt to
orrect it.
The fact is the Republicans spent great deal
no question but that some of these mistakes
y which Mr. Frost was defrau ded we're the re-
ult OF bargains in which the Judges of the
lection were bribed. Itcan readily be pro we'd
nat at least $4,000 were spent to secure the
lection oflMetcalfe. Zach Chandler contributed
5000 for the Republican committee. a purse of
5000 was raised among the Republicans and
letcalfe himself gave $4,000. Voters were
ctually bribed at the polls and agents of Met
alfe traversed the district On election day W th
oils of greenbacks in their hands. Congress
lone has the power to revise the tally she cts.
orrect the errors and open the allot. boxes
nd as Mr.. Frost intends to press his claim |
lis course will no doubt be pursued.
Each week your correspondent makes
AToUR AMONG RIVER MEN,
men and capitalists. in the hope of
caring something of an encouraging nature to
'ade with foreign countries by way of New
rleans, OF late the newspapers of st. Louis
ave evinced some interest in this important
'rial articles had aroused some interest on the
ubject. | to-day interviewed several of our
fading citizens. But candor compels me to
tate that
THE OUTLOOK Is NOT AT ALL HOPEFUL.
here is no movement in that direction in pro-
ress nor even contemplated. Reasons for de-
" seem as plentiful as when the subject was
zeal from st. Louis all the benefits destined to
ccrue from the establishment of this enter
Com. c. K. Garrison. of New York now in this
ty, has manifested considerable interest in the
of
LINE OF STEAMSHIPS FROM NEW ORLEANS TO
BRAZIL.
our correspondent visited the Commodore at
is rooms in the Lindeli HOTEL but found him
atner unwell and hence not in the mood for
liking, much. The Commodore. however,
ated that he is ready to furnish ships to ply
e Eve far New Orleans and Braa or to any
lat the ENTERPRISE will pay: He said that he
is costing him a large amount to
eep them in repair and prevent. them
ON sinking. He would very gladly join in
ny enterprise that will engage some of these ,
ssssls. with prospect of a. fair return of
ly the ships for an enterprise that promised to
zen to pay expenses. He thinks a foreign
ade can be developed, the be efts from which,
the commerce of the Mississippi Valley, are
most bey ond computation, But men of means
i'd energy must take hold of the enterprise.
9 III nks the jetties have progressed far
lough and at present afford sufficient denth
water. to warrant the Inauguration of this
eamship enterprise.
next visited
HON. THOMAS ALLEN,
resident of the Iron Mountain and Southarn !