Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1877-01-03
DEMOCRATIC STA TIE COMMIT.
TEE MEETING.
GOVERNOR BIcLrn's ADDRESS,

Adams--Daniel Criselman.
Ailegheuy--F. NJ Iiutchinson, J. u. Guthrie
Col p. n. duthris. James Barr, r. o'Lsary,
John Coyle aud Wm. McCleiland.
Bediord--E. 4. Kerr.
lcrks--S. y. Ancona and II. VI. Kelm.
Bair-R. W Guthrie, Colonel J. c. Evsrhart
George stroop aud I. Bropby. Fr
Bucks-w H. II. Davis.
Centre--P. Gray Meek
Chester-R. f. Monaghan.
Clearfeld--wm. Bigier aud NJ. u. McGrsth.
Crawford--H. J. Ilumes.
| Cumberiand--k. J. Haldeman, J. II. Bratton
D. K. Goodyear and NJ. Williams.
Dauphn-E. ID. Cobaugh. II. l.. Musncs, A. =
Lusk, B. 4. Meyers, W. Q. Morgan, John II. FIJI
ler and John W. Brown.
Erie--John W. Walker.
Greene-J. =. Temple aud wm. ]. BayAri.
Huntingdon--J. Simpson Africa.
! Jeaerson-ke Kennedy L. Blosd.
Junista-Amos q. Bonsali and I. p. Garman
Lsneastsr--Ii, NJ. North, A. J. stsinman, W
n. Gr'sr aud W. U. Hensei.
Lehigh-s. A. Bridges.
Luferne-C. l.. Lamberton and NJ A. Dufy.
Kycoming-H. II. Cumlnin.
Mercer--p. J. Pierce.
Mifain-A. Reed.
Montgomery--J. u. Hickinson.
Northampton-J. d. Hess.
ferry-J. a. Magee
Philsdelphia--wm. N. Reilly, George W. Bid
die, Daniel n. Fox. A. Sidney Biddle, u. r. Wor.
rsll, John CAD walader, Jr., s. q. Thompson. Sam
usl Dickson. John r. Read, DR.. h. Morwitz
Richard vaux and Gen. 81. Clair A. Mulholland
schuylkill-M. Beard.
Tioga--J.L Sexton. Jr.
Vepango---J. NJ CsIlister. M
Weptmorefand-John Lafta anI Q. r Worden
York-N. N. wanner and John D. Gibson.
Below we publish in full the report oil ex-Gov
Blglsr on the state Of affairs 10 Louisiana;
TO fhe Democraiie State Committee Captain Wa.
NJ cisiiand Chairman.
I considered myself greatly honored 10 being
selected, with Others to 90 to Louisiana to coun-
eel peace and q fair and honest return Of the
vote, cast at the late election in that State and
think that can safely say that never entered
upon any public trust with q more sincere desire
to promote the welfare Of my country.
The first remarkable institution that attracted
our attention was the famous returning board.
We found II constituted on principles at variance
with our notions Of Republican simplicity. It's
members had been selected by the State Senate,
not during good behavior, or the pleasure of that
or any other body, but for life. They were, in
addition, clothed with authority to fll all vacsn-
ciss that might occur from time to time, so that
the board itself might have IN unlimited exist
epcc.
The next most alarming thing brough, to our
attention was the extent to which the State Ad-
ministration can supervise and eostrel the cleo
tions. From the highest to the lowest the election
oticers arc responsible TO the administration
The supervisors Of registraiion, whose duty 1t is
to register the voters Of the several parishes are
appointed annually by the Governor. They Sc
eci their own assistants, and appoint three com
missioners to hoid the elections In each district.
These commissioners should be from both poliii-
cal parties. But there seems to be never less
than two and often three Republicans in the same
district. The supervisors are clothed with an-
hority to fx the places VI holding the elections
in the several parishes, and change them al pleas
ure. This extraordinary power, II Ia alleged, Il
often abused in the interests Of the Republican
party.
Registration Is primary qualification for the
elector. No man need approach the polls with
out his certificate Of registration. The commis-
sioners preside over the election. They reccis e
the votes and at the close Of the election count
them It s also their duty to make out duplicate
lists Of tho votes east and the names OF the per-
sons for whom cast aud deliver one Of them
sealed up, TO the district court and the
other to tho supervisor Of registration, whose
duty 1t Is to forward the same 10 the returni n z
board by mail. Under these forms the late eIoc-
ton was held. Republican officers hrst decided
who should vote. They received and counted the
vote cast, and when the returns wers opened and
counted II turned out that this party, Who Gid
everything In i;s own way, had been enphatically
defeated. The highest Tildcn elector over the
lowest Hayes cleetor had s,957 majority The
total vote Of the State was ieo,ooo. An equal
percentage on the total vote Of Penusylvania
would exceed 10000 and on that Of New Yvrk
10000. Had this majority been for Hayes, or
had be received 500 instead of 5000 or the one
tenth Of one hundred. bis right to the electoral
vote Of the Stale would have been promptly con.
oeded. II was too obvious for dispute that this
result was n ssrious disappointment to the admin
strAtion, hence the straits to which tho return,n
board was put to reverse the decision Of the peo-
pie. We have shown you that there could be no
reasonable presumption sgainft the vets oatt BY
the Conservative party, and, indeed, there was no
testimony impeaehipg the legality Of the votes
wards 10 the city OF New Orleans, and a. to these
The CONTEXT was finally abandoned, 30 that II was
sgrsed on all sides, that the 100000 votes had
been cast BY citizens having legal right to vote
As anticipated by those who had witnessed the
proceedings OF the returning board ut former
elections, IL reversed the decision nade BY The
vote actually cast and declared the State for Gov.
Hayes by over $500 majority. Il was dificult
10 witness tho cousunma,ion Of such o wrong
without calling for the interposi,on VI some pow
or to avert its effects but We were told that the
judiciary Of the State would not interrosc, aud
that The decisions Of the returning board mu,t be
accepted, like the laws oi the Medes and persiaus
as unchangeable. We have shown you that II
was conceded on ali sides that the total yote "a
was legal, and yet the board to bring about the
resul, II has announced had TO disfranchlse over
1900 Of these legal yoterf, notwithstanding tb.
letter Of the C,p,titutiop Of the tinIt,d sass IA
ths contrary. Ju,tiacation for this action Of ,bs
board Is sought for In allegations Of riots. tumult,
and other acts Of violence. producing sucb meas.
ures Of intimidation a, deferred an equal or a
larger number Of Republicans from attending the
election. The first great fact in tho vay ~ ,hs
res.onabeness Of thl. conclusion Il that ,bs
vote Of the State was is OuO larger Than tba, "a
A, ary former election. and ths nsx, /. H., IN.
Aggregate vote in tbe tripc,paI d;s,,ic,s srJ ,a.
M, tbr.vp ont by The rr,ufuIng bos "a ~s. ~,
,usllv large.
With regard 10 naturalization. a, 1. ,.i.,.l :.
conclude that the riots. tunult and o,he, ac,s as
violence amounting TO iptimidatIon. 10 bavs a,v
legal effect under the law, must occur on ,he dsy
Of The election, was under hi. impre,.ion m =.
self but u these acts occur at any time amer the
commepoeue mi of tho revistratio, in Aag.., ,hs
n,nsl,v i, Iii ,bs ,sme' II, i s,.a an .ssa, %
conclude that acts Of y,olepoe. sLnorlsags n,
which may come 10 the board. no matter in sbsi
form or what lime viii iu.tifv a In r.l.c,;n,
votes. On tbi, nom, ,hs law /. var, ols., ~
ali parties are agreed n, IN n. ma,n,o, Ii,,sss
N, oum,s,ions, of .,ee,,on i, hs .,,,,s,v,.a
resign atop nj the lime of N In. an, ,ba rs,a,n.
attach thereto Statements. unds, oath. selling
iorth that there have been q rio,, ,umult,, ac,s
Of violence, intimidatiou. bribsrs or oorrup, in.
luences preveptitx or tending 10 n,eyep, . s.i,
free, peaceful and fuIl yo,s az All ,be ausHssd
electors, and bsve tbe ,ame eor,obo,a,ed sv ,hrss
citizen, Of such di.,rie, under o.,b
hen and ln ,ucb cases the returning boa,d ,a,,.,
canvass and count tbe vo,s 4, /, cam,s ~ ,h.n
without these prelimipsry ,,en. n cannot asdna,
|. single vote and 10 The end Thai our R,pnhlIs.n
eirhbors may sec that hi, opipiop /. ma, p.cnI,.
10 myself / offer the opinion Of ,he sf N, Renal
iean Congressional COMMITTEES OF 1874, composed
" the Names of Messrs. Uoar. w. A. Wbeslsr
Frye, Foster and others. They expressed them.
'elves ~ follows, to wit,
ave are all clearly Of the opioiou that the r.,
turning beard had no right to do anything eseept
a ..,.... - ......te - 80 1922