The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1877-02-24
The Electoral Com.
mission.

When the vote tor President
of the United States bad been
cast on Nov. Z, 1876, disputes
arose as to the result OF the cleo
ton in South Carolina, Florida
and Louisiana. In the two former
the contest wa undoubtedly very
close, giving foundation to dis
pute, but in the latter no one
denied that a majority of about
5000 votes were cast for the Demo
cratic Ticket. Then a cry OF fraud
and intimidation arose from the
defeated %partisans, occaslonlng
visiting and congressional com-
mittees of both parties to he sent
in those three States, to endeavor
to ascertain the true result, or to
find means by which the true
result could be overturned, fraud
be enabled to crush out truth,
| and a minority be maintained in
possession of power, that legally
and rightfully appertalned to the
majority.
Fortunately for the conspira
tors, tools and machinery We're at
hand tor this infamous purpose
in Louisiana, there has never,
since the formation of this world,
been found two more apt and
ready villains for dirty work,
than Mat. Wells and Tom Ander
son, who controlled the Returns
ing Board in this State. 1t was
therefore plain sailing to ride
over the vote in this State, aud
upset IA majority of 5000 for Til
den and Hendricks. and make it
appear 5000 for Hayes aud Vince
Ter.
The question Of settling these
disputed points satisfactorily, or
, at least Justly and fairly become
, prominent, and the manner OF
effecting snch settlement occu
pied the attention of everybody
feeling an interest in the pros
perity of the country.
The Electoral Board was form.
t ed. The Democratic party, salts
2 fed that the Republican men
bers of that Board would stant
by their party through every
!, step, whether right or wrong
still believed that the five men
= bers of the Supreme Bench of til.
!, United States, occupying posi-
:, tons that could not - effected
in any manner BY the result
would certainly rise above parti-
= sanism, and adjudged these di.
puted points according to ~jnstic'
and equity, and DESTROYS 0
nothing more than an impartia
l. decision of the question On il
merits, willingly gave the decl:
) ration of tue results of the cleo.
ton to that high body.
u The Board met and OF ganized
: The first step was taking the su1
y joined oath
II solemnly swear that | vii
impartialiy examine and consitl
er AL questions submitted to tn
Is Commission, of which | am
II member, and . true judgmen
give thereon agreeably to til
e Constitution and the laws. S
IS help me God"
70 Every one OF the fifteen mem
&c bers swore that he would "im
partially examine and conside
. all questions" and ia trne iudg
d meAt give" yet when the frs
question OF Importance came b
tore that body for action, it wa
"Ordered that 10 evidence vii
ee be received or considered by tb
Commission which was not sub
&c mitted TO the joint convention @
the two Houses by the Presiden
of the Senate with the diferen
% c%er,itcates.A
Now how that body intende
>. to give a fair, impartial decisio
IN upon any question when no evi
IN deuce would be received is a my
rs terry that an honest man will flu
II, some difficulty in solving.
so The eight men who took tn
ed above oath and sustained tn
go above order have simply comm.
ted perjury. and although the,
il not much sin in swearin
falsely since that is a feature !,
= culiarly Republican in this age ,
81 the world and prima facie evide
"A &c of a mans loyalty to his pal
- ty. there will probably a da
~, come when history will place Ii
u names of the eight men who too
40 the above oath and voted tor IL
a above order along with those
~ Jeffrles and others OF that c,as
-, who fora temporary lease
,1 power have bartered their hone
~ anu sent their names down II
,e stream of Time to be damned b
y every generation.
SC Hal thn D,,l -.