The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1877-01-12
COUNTING IN,

olna, rlorlua ana Louisiana, VIII be accep-
table to the great body of the American
people. On the face of the returns as sent
in from the polling places in each of these
three States, the Tilden electors and tho
Democratic State officers had majority,
and, unless the votes could be set aside.
were legally chosen. The method by which
this apparent majority has been totally re-
vcrsed will not command general confidence.
In South Carolina the manipulation of the
returns which has produced such a result
was made not only by extreme partsans, all
Of one side, but by candidates apparently
f|de4eststfs Fscs polls, wh6 counted thesns
selves in without much dexterity and in
the face of an order of the Supreme Court
of their own State, every Judge in which
was appointed by the Republicans. In
Florida single mcmbe. of the board was
n Democrat, but the other members, who
out voted him, were of the party now coun-
ted as in the majority. In Louisiana the
board was composed wholly of partisans
whose previous character was notoriously
bad, 0hc Republicans themselves being
JudS1s,) and who years ago had been caught
in acts of great dishonesty in situation
almost precisely like the present. There
could bo, from elements like these, no rca.
sonable expectation of fairness, and few
will be disappointed at the conclusion.
We DO not see how the most expert lead
crs of the dominant party can make even
plausible defense of the course that has
been pursued If the national government
had been in the hands Of the present oppo-
sition; if the State authorities had likewise
been wholly Democratic, with sheriffs, con-
stables, registrars, poll clerks, marshals all
of that political faith ; if the Republicans
had been in n feeble minority, with the
whole power of the State and Federal gov
ernmcpt, the militia with its arscnals, the
army with its veteran leaders and accumu
lation of warlike stores, thus against them,
there might be reasonable assumption that
their adherents had been terrified and fair
vote prevented.
But reverse all the attendant circumstan
ces, and the claim appears wholly prepos-
ferrous With Governor and Legislature.
ths military authority, and the machinery
OF election all in their hands, and backed
by willing President and the whole pow
OF the Federal government, a,party, repre.
senting, as it .slSipRs q lareS majority Of Tho
able. bodied ;yose ), q QUILT fo!haye an cceaded
rvsiis N ~ ins;@.asi| w s1llrtln .
Of the want Of = IL ~ = y e w. ||s.yg;..h
attending influences tw5 "a Certainty, come
with most plausibility from the opposi-
t'on' Iaboring under so many disabilities,
and not from the dominant party, clothed
as as 1t was with supreme authority, ard not
disposed to be overscrupulos in the use of
III the party represented as in minority
had suddenly taken violent posscssi N of tho
polls, and by force Of arms driven awav
the surprised adherents of the other side
ms would of. course be publicly known,
md ln such locality there might be a fair
claim for redress at the hands of the Re-
urninI Board. But we have already heard
rom every part of the South the election
vas to all outward appearances perfectly
luet and peaceful, and no persons offerinr
o vote anywhere in the disputed States
we're driven away or pcvcnted from the cx.
rcisc of their lawful rights.
he magnitude of the changes nrono.cd
Louisiana must be startling to eyery nm.
'reJudlced mind. 1t equals nearly fonr-
cen thousand votes in the case Of tho lead.
ng Tilden elector. Who can believe tbot
y ones' occasion to reverse a
opular majority after this fashion Thus.
'1r INSCRIPTIONS partisans, openly convic-
~ ny their own party of similar fraud
oietoiore' nave against the face of the re-
..ns, aa.au e9untSd In their candidates for the
,a,a a conese' the Legislature and all ,
,"'' "a on'ceS' ana Tor the Congress at Wash ,
u" ,,
Mo rishtmlndcd man, as it seems to us, 9
'"eVcr stronS his political preference, can +
ona no''on sucn proceedings. We are far n
nna;a. Aous tus 'nat the people at large should l.