The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-09

THE NATIONAL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES THE
ELECTORAL. VoTE-BULLDoZING THE DOUBT
FUL-PENSsYLvANIAP RECEDEESTs.-W Wash
ington, January THE present uncertainty
and doubt surrounding. the result OF the
presidential election of 1876 has no parallel
in the past history Of the country, and it is
to be hoped that nothing approXimating 1t
may ever occur in its future history. There
has been not only the case OF the three dis
puted States OF South Carolina, Florida,
and Louisiana, but the controversies
which have arisen over the Oregon
vote, the alleged ineligibility Of electors
in Vermont, New jersey, Virginia, Mis-
souri,, Tennessee, and North Carolina,
the claim that the whole electoral vote Of
Kentucky was null, and more recently the
allegation that the Arkansas electoral vote
is irregular because the electors failed
to certify that the package delivered by their
messenger to the president OF the Senate
contained their vote, and also failed to ap-
point the messenger in writing as required
by law. Then there was the fear and trem-
bling which possessed the Republicans for
several days before the meeting of the cleo
toral colleges over the well-defned rumor
that James Russell Lowell, Massachusetts
elector, was inclined to cast his vote for
Bristow, which would have had the effect,
under any circumstances, to defeat Hayes.
Within Il day or two it has TRANSFERRED that
there was imminent danger that the de.
lection of a Republican elector in Penn
syslyania would have solved the pro-
blem which has kept the whole
nation in q condition OF unquiet since
the Sth OF November. Prominent Pennsyi-
vania Republicans now here, since the
danger is over, give the particulars OF the
affair which disturbed them so much at the
time. The statement is that O'Neill, of the
Pittsburgh Dispatch, one OF the Republic
can electors, arrived in Harrisburg on the
day before the meeting of the Electoral Col
lege, and on going TO the hotel Immediately
sent for number Of Democratic politicians.
He consulted with these for several hours,
and in the mean time refused to see any CT
his Republican friends. This conduct
excited the suspicious Of the Republi-
can managers, and committee waited
on him and demanded an explanation
OF his conduct. He stated that he was in
doubt what he should do-whether not to
vote at all or to vote for Tilden-because OF
what he considered to be the duty of all
patriotic citizens to respect the will OF the
majority, and be believed the Louisiana Re
turning Board had disregarded the will OF
the people of that State in their findings for
the Hayes electors. The greatest excite
ment prevailed among the Republicans in
Harrisburg in consequence OF this. Every
one OF the other twenty-siX Republican
electors called on O'Neill and insisted that
that there was no alternative but for him to
vote for Hayes. 1t was also conveyed to
him very distinctly, it is said, from outside
parties. tina if he did not vote for Hayes
he should never leave Harrisburg alive.
The result was that when the Electoral Col
lege met and O'Neill's name was called he
voted for Hayes and relieved the terrible
suspense OF his associates.-Speciat dis
patch to the Baltimore San.