The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-01-04


II aeny that there is evidence to justify belief
that any great number OF men, heretofore republicans
in Louisiana, freely voted Tor Governor Tlden rather
than Tor Governor Hayes In the hope Of remedy.
The wise AMI prudent aud patriotic words oi our
Presidential candidate were familiar throughout
Louisiana, and no wiser, more prudent and more
patriotic have been spoken written about the
Southern troubles which have resulted from the mrs
takes OF reconstruction the control Of federal
appointments by ambitious and INSCRIPTIONS re-
publican leaders to whom President Grant unior-
.tunateiy surrendered the dictation Of them"
THE SOUTH CAROLINA COMMITTEE.
HAS TO SAY OF THE POLITICAL SITUATION
DOWN THERE.
From the Boston Post
Hon Josiah G. Abbott, one OF the Congressional
Committee sent to South Carolina to Investigate and
report upon the actual result oil the
that State, reached Boston late Saturday night and
was interviewed by Post reporter. After learning
the object OF the VISIT Judge Abbott by request OF tho
reporter, made general statement OF what the
mttee found in South Carolina ana the conclusions
they arrived at, as ioows:-
The object and purpose OF the con- mttec find
how the III South Carolina had actually been
We examined as carefully We could, but we found II
very difficult; everyt was kept som what loosely
and very well arranged In the Inherent
State Offices We founu al absence oil great many
OF the precinct returns, MS they called and
utterly unable TO supply them. The law IN south
Carolina provides in the first place that each county
shall be divided INTO quite number OF precincts
less, according 10 the Size OF tho county; and
three 'managers are appointed for each preclnu,
are obliged TO count the
polls closed and make their before
tifty separate to The people ard TO board Of three
persons called the County Canvassers. Then the
County Canvassers required to aggregate the
turns from the precinct returns, and make return Of
II, with the returns OF The precinct managers together
with the papers IN the case TO the State Canvas sers
Douy made up OF State officers generaIy-- think hvc
State officers, three OF whom IN this cand
dates Tor reelection IN TINS very election And
caimed-out that seems to be a disputed question
that the State Canvassers nave the power decide
all questions that may arise as TO the validity OF tue
| doubt whether .uli construction would give
them power as lar as that, bu; at any rate that
their claim. But neither the precinct nor the county
managers. think, nave any authority more than to
exercise Il ministerial power. We obtained, as lar
could the returns Of the precinct managers which
seemed TO be the most reliable testimony as to the
vote. But we iounu that there were great many
turns which mad not been made; or II they ever had
they were the possess State
al the Office OF the secretary OF STATE. The COM
mittee have been at work very carefully
supplying the places Of the precinct man
ayers returns, so AS 10 get at the vote AS
II was We had to send 10 every part OF tho
State, and it was difficult undertaking, but think
fnally succeeded in supplying the piaces rather
getting at the result in each precinct, although many
the returns were wanting, and never have sup
Piled TO us.
The following conversation then ensued -
Z. How many precinct returns were missing? A.
There absence at the beginning, should think,
from thirty precincts, but some Of tnem were sup
Piled; were found from time to time, but the
returns OF quite number OF precincts were never
supplied and were Obliged TO get at the managers
or the clerks oil the managers the facts
from them; We always found a record or memo
randum OF how the In those precincts
where there return; so have no doubt got
substantially at the vote as II was cast the different
precincts from every part OF The State where there
an absence OF returns.
O. Was this absence of precinct returns due to any
defect or loophoc in the awy A. No; the law seemed
TO provide Tor the returns being made IL was quite
specific. There seemed 10 ne an uncertainty as TO
whether they were IN the Secretary OF States Office.
lu cases the County Canvassers testified that
they sent there, and the Sec elary of state
claimed that all that were sent there were produced
IL is matter about which there some contrarcty
oil views. Some evidently had been mlsaid because
they were furnished during the exam nation From
to time they were found, quite number of them.
can only say | was satisfied, and think the sub
committee to whom 1t was REFERRED that We mad ar
rived substantially at the vote as 1t was cast.
z. What did you find to be the actual difference be-
tween the vote cast tor Hampton and that cast Tor the
Hayes electors! A. Tnat cannot state with any
acttude, because have not now the means with me,
but should think there difference OF 900 be-
tween the two tickets. should not be aDe 10 tell
you now as TO tho aggregates each ticket; only
looked at the difference between them. There was a
difference, l should think IN the ncighborhood OF
1000; only approximate It. Governor Hampton's
majority, think, was l,lO0 OF the votes cast ana
majority was quite considerable ON the her side.
The figures have not win me, and cannot recollect
them. l know there was somewhere in the ncIgnbor
q. DO you know whether the res ut which the com.
mttce arrived at Will mako any change the election
OF Congrcssmcny A. did not even Try TO ascertain
That matter for Congress to decide. The parties
IN power have gwen certificates TO two democrats and
three republicans. Certainly In two, and perhaps
three cases. the seats OF the republicans returned will
be contested
q We're you not little surprised at the result Of
the Investigations OF the committee? A. confess
was somewhat surprised at the result after what had
heard aud the claims that were made and
the other But think an election law which permits
"a nnaI Canvassing Boa I'd to be the arber decide
when they may be candidates for rc-eccion and they
were, majority OF them--thc Secretary OF State tho
Comptroller aud the Attorney General; there were
three, think, members OF the Board VINO were can
dldates for reelection; and although they went
through the iormality oil each one retiring, or at
least not undertaking TO vote upon his own particular
case. at the same time the same questions were 70 DO
decided In each ana every case. IL seemed 10 my
mind monstrous proposition, that tie Board to de-
eide upon the rest OF tho ticket should be 50 directly
and positively Interested IN IT, The election law down
there should say. ought TO be entitled "a law 10 en-
courage repeating" rather than any hing else. There
is registration, and oven though the constitution OF
their slate requires the Legislature TO provide for IL
directly, they never have provided Tor IT, Any person
u allowed To vote Ia any precinct OF the county that
he plesscs, ana the result rs that there
tcs with ility odd precincts and "a person from any
part Of the county can vote IN any precinct no
pleases II. with no reputation, any better means
could bc taken 10 encourage repeating have failed TO
see them.
U Mere these precincts established as Colonel Sal
tOnsts saa OF thoc ia Florida ali ON one side OF the
county and hone ON he othery a. did not hear any
special complaint about the arrangement 81 the pre-
enciS The counties seen to be cut up into quite
number OF precncts Ia some OF them, rs say, there
we're nifty odd voting places None oil them. should
think had css .han seven or eight, as rcco.cct H.
What Was the condition vi affairs al the capitalY
A. | can only say II was TO very sad sight The
nrst day got there went up Tor TIE purpose OF
obtaining from The secretary OF states Office the
cords OF the returns We found the state House In
possession OF the United states troops. fnoy
the lower OF first story, quite number oil tncm and
apparently remained there night ana day. There wc
the black constablcs, very many OF whom GER
tany DID not have the appearance OF being the most
Dieiiiseul officers Everybody questioned.
sumo OF our committee IA goln@ up were stopped,
but upon rs being found OUT Who they were, o course
they we're let ia.
IA "A nat do vou Thick nj Tho senatep snould
suppose, af outsider could ascertain, that the
scHasc was legal body IL Was more respectable
looking body than the House, though u hal large
namOer 0i blacks IN H. The Chamberlain House was
composed Almost entirely OF coorcu Ic0pc-I believe
there we're two three whites IN u. IL lamcd
that very large portion OF them could read
write. ana DAD hot hear u contradIctcd
DO you consider that The quiet aud order which
prevailed there owing To the TACT that the people
were nNllcsa o do onI Ihcir IgAis MaR