The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-02

canvass, a senatorial committee has investi-
gated the whole matter, and reports that |
the face of the returns show majority of |
forty-five for the Hayes electors. But they |
1t has always been construed, the canvass
ers were invested with full authority to 60 |
behind the returns and hear and determine |
contests; and that, acting under this
power, they did go behind the returns, and
that such canvass resulted In showing
majority of nine hundred and thirty for
the Hayes electors. The committee find,
and so report, that the action Of the board
was final and conclusive, and cannot be
questioned either by the courts or by con-
gress. They consider the evidence of
fraud and intimidation and find that 1t sus-
tain, the action of the board Of canvassers;
and after commenting on the change of
returns from Baker county-the county
where one return showed forty -one major
ity for the Hayes electors, and the other,
known as the county clerks return, showing
ninety-one majority the other way-they
cay: eff the face OF the returns is to rule,
it should rule in Baker county, where at
"most there was misguided zeal, as well
as in jackson where there was premedi-
tated rascality. Counting all returns on
their face and taking even the pretended
"return made by the county clerk of Ba-
"ker county, will still leave Hayes a small
majority" Throwing aside the question
of fraud and intimidation, then, the senate
committee find as a matter of fact, that the
face of the returns, including the county
clerks return from Baker county, show
majority for the Hayes electors. This is
simple sum in arithmetic, and even sena-
tors shou be able to cypher 1t out.
But another p .rty has been cyphering,
and, from "the face of the returns, fig
ures out an entire different result. A COM
| mittee of the house--a majority of them
being democrats, as majority of the
| senate committee were republicans-have
been investigating Florida, and they find
| and report as q matter Of law that the
board of state canvassers had no legal or
| constitutional right or power to go behind
| the returns, and, as a matter of fact, that
| the election was fair and fir, C, an that son
" the face of the returns" the I ilden ele T.
ors have q majority of Iinety; and ttey
append to their report q copy Of the re-
turns so, as one of the members rays, sit
twill be possible for anybody to canvass
I" the returns for himself"
| But these are not the only times that this
sum has been cyphered out. The original
board of state canvassers found majority
of forty-fve for Hayes "on the face of the
returns" but, by going into the question
of fraud, etc., increased it to over nine hun
dred. Being ordered by the supreme
court to re-canvass the votes, which they
did according to the laws of the state and
i" the Interpretation thereof by the supreme
court"-that is, ''on the face of the re-
turns"-and found that the Hayes elect
tors were appointed by small majority.
With the change of the state government,
new board of state canvassers comes in,
and under special law of the state au.
thorizing land directing it, it proceeds to
re-canvass the votes according to the laws
" of by the supreme court"-that is accord,
ing to the same laws snd the same inter-
pretation-and it finds that the Tilder
electors were chosen by majority OF
eighty seven or eighty-eight.
These different results are all stated al
facts, and found as such by men acting un
der the solemnity of an oath. Each ant
every one of these investigators and can
vassers would repel the insinuation tina
their judgments were warped by partisan
prejudice-but how else shall we explain
these irreconcilable discrepancies2 These
investigating committees were appointed
10 ascertain the facts, but who is any the
wiser now than he was before? 1t hardly
seems possible that intelligent men, re
respectable men, men acting under the sol
emnity of an oath and protesting to seel
the truth, could be so blinded by party zeal
but so it is. The mixed result shows thu
futility of political Investigations, and de
Donstrates the necessity for some such tri
bunal as the electoral commission to de-
eide upon disputed votes from such state
as Florida,