Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1877-01-10
Tho Presidential Controversy.


The Presidential Controversy.
The last week has added to rather than
taken from the interest attaching to the
coming solution of the dispute about the
presidency. The two committees are yet
working separately upon their study of the
constitutional question of how TO count
the votes. The Senate committee Is be-
loved to be making some progress and
the general belief appears to be that the
right of Congress to have hand in the
counting will be sustained by majority
of the committee But this does not clear
up the difficulty, as there still remains the
question whether it takes two houses to
count or two to reject.
The latest irrcgularity appears in the
Arkansas returns where the six lllden
votes are without necessary certificates
thus putting that state at MS much technIc-
nj disadvantage as Oregon Iabors under
The Oregon investigation shows that Gro
min Mt first thought he wouldn't act as an
elector but argument and the receipt OF
three thousand dollars to pay his expenses
changed the mind of this patriot, and he
proceeded to Washington with the vote
and rubicund nose of his organization.
There was an $4,000 check drawn in New
York for Oregon parties and there is II
strange hesiancy on the part of those who
know about it TO tell who sent the money.
The Oregon affair throws bad light on
reform " and reveals the true character
of such reforms rs we may expect if the
democrats come into power
The democratic governor Drew has been
quietly inaugurated in Florida, and there
are various reports as TO what the COM
mitlee sent down there will report rs to
the presidential vote. One rumor is that
republicans on the committee are satisfied
the state went for Tilden, but this dis
patch may be set down as Of doubtful
authenticity.
Monday two governors were Inaugural
ted in Louisiana, Packard, republican and
Nichols, democrat The republicans oc-
cupied the State House. Kellogg the day
before asked President Grant for troops,
but the president refused them saying they
would he used only to keep the peace and
not to sustain either governor as he WAS
then advised, Yesterday large bodies of
southern troops were under arms in New
Orleans and IN outbreak was imminent.
Nichols became alarmed and issued
proclamation calling upon his friends to
commit no hostilities. The secretary of
war telegrapEed that any outbreak would
necessitate the intervention of government
troops to prevent bloodshed. The inn
portant question seems to be whether
Nichols can curb his warlike adherents.
Meantime starving out process is applied
to the republican State officers and leg
islature in the State House rs the APP
proaehes IRE guarded and provisions kept
away by the police in the Nichols inter
est.
The Louisiana committees are still at
work but will no doubt soon follow the en-
ample of the South Carolina and Florida
committees and return to Washington.
They will come loaded down with testi-
mony on both sides, and II sharp debate
may be expected in Congress on the con-
flicting stories that are so literally sworn
to.
The democratic meetings on the Sh
were not so largely attended as we ex-
pected. The weather was TOO cold for
great demonstrations. The most outspoken |
lot of all were the Ohio folks who say
they will fight unless Congress counts the
votes; and they want a national democrat
ic convention to be held in Washington on
the 18th of february.
We may expect soon to hear what the
two committees conclude as to the meth
cd of counting and until they are heard
from there will be little more change in
the situation, unless the Louisiana crowd |
should 60 to fighting.