The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-01-09
,TheI Late.t from W,1a,,.l,Inrton.E

RADO-THE SITUATION REyIEWED-HOW THE
ELECTIONS IN THE SOUTHERN STATES WERE
cARRIED-cHAMBERLAIS gUKLuy BOARD
HOW MERRILL WAS PAID FOR HIS SERVICES
SENTIMENT OF THE REPUBLICAN MEMBERS
OF THE FLORIDA COMMITTEE, &C.
| from Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, january s.-South Carolina
being conceded to Hayes, there still remain
the votes of three doubtful States, with
which the National Legislature will have to
wrestle in settling the presidential contro-
.versy. And to Florida, South Carolina,
and Louisiana may be added, II necessity
requires, the electoral vote Of Alabama and
Mississippi. Agents Of the Administration
equipped with blank affidavits Of intimida-
ton and cruelty on the part of Democrats,
to be produced at the proper time, duly
signed with the cross-mark OF living or dead
| negroes or shiftless white rascals.
The reports Of the congressional commit
tees will conflict as to Florida and Louisi-
ana, but in the case Of the former the DEM
ocrats feel sure the House committees re-
port will show so plainly as to satisfy any
reasonable mind that Governor Drew
should have issued the electoral certificates
OF Florida to the Tilden electors; and in
that event, il by mere technically Of law
Florida's vote cannot now be counted for
+Iilden, they will not consent that it be
given to Hayes. EEaas
+ Non-partisan men Of both parties admit,
or do not deny, that it appears from the
evidence taken that more or less Of fraud,
intimidation, or violence, has been prac-
ticed by Republicans and Democrats in
Louisiana. Each pleads in palliation Of the
irregularities of its friends, and per-
sistenty claims the electoral vote Of the
State, and unless there be some new and
now unexpected development in the stu
alton neither party will surrender the State
to the other.
AS to Oregon, the Republicans are en-
deayoring to establish the charge that Gro
min was bribed, and attempted to bride his
Republican colleagues; and though they may
not succeed in that attempt they will at
least throw around the vote cast by Cronin
suspicion strong enough to settle the cur
rent of public opinion against receiving it.
The testimony Of Cronin himself and
of Barton Harrison and others left the
case in an unenyiabe light when the in-
curry was suspended last week, and it was
the topic OF general conversation yesterday.
a leading Democrat remarked to-day that
while he had no doubt whatever that every
thing done by Governor Grover and By
Cronin was perfectly honest, yet the indis-
Greet conduct Of the latter had placed
the Oregon affair in very nnfa-
vorable light before the country. For
one, he wouldn't have been sorry il Cronin
had gone down with the Ashtabula bridge.
That is probably what nine tenths Of the
Democrats here would wish if they were
candid enough to say so. Republicans are
elated over the apparent success Of Nor
toms committee; but when Colonel Pelton,
secretary of the National Democratic Com
mittee, comes to testify before it, all suspi-
cion OF fraud will be diSsipatcd as n morn
ing mist; so say the Democrats.
The discrepancy Of the two sets of GER
tifcates issued by Governor Grover will
offer sufficient excuse to go behind the re-
turns from Oregon without yielding the
Republican ground that Congress has no
right to 10 behind the great seal Of State,
for in no other case have certificates been
issued to two sets Of electors. Republicans
will claim that it is not material that the
HAYES electors did not come into.
actual possession OF the certificates
OF election, and that as nobody denies the
fact of their election, and that certificates
were issued for them, it was their right and
duty to fill the vacancy caused by the ineli-
eibility or absence Of Watts. Several Demo-
cratic senators and some members maintain
that the power OF Congress in counting the
electoral vote is merely ministerial; and il
that view should prevail Oregon will be the
battle-ground Of the controversy, and the
result is very doubtful. II the Conserva-
tive Republicans should support the view
that Congress has judicial powers in the
premises, the votes Of Florida and Louisi-
ana will certainly be rejected, and Oregon
will still be the point OF dispute. 1t is
hardly probable that it will be determined
that less than 1876 votes can elect, though
some Democrats claim that Colorado is not
entitled to voice in the election land others
that the Constitution does not require any
candidate to receive a majority OF all the
electors to which the States are entitled,
/ else any State might defeat an cleo
ton of President by refusing to APP
point electors. II this view pre-
walls, Tiden. having received 1874 votes,
is elected. Ii Colorado be excluded, Tilden
is elected. If neither Florida or Louisiana
is given to Tildcn they will not be counted
at all, and Tilden will be elected by the
House. Reviewing the whole situation, the
signs are that the election will be thrown
into the House after bitter fight against it
by the, more daring and ,nscrupulous Re-
publicans, and any amount OF buster on
| both sides, and attempts at intimidation by
the Administration.
Last session the Democrats voted with re-
luctance for the bill authorizing an increase
| Of the army, as it was suspected the SOL
diers would be used to influence the cleo
I lions in the South. After the adjournment
! of Congress, when troops were ordered to
surround the ballot-boxes in South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, Mr. Reilly, OF Pennsyl-
yania, who is member Of the Committee
on Military Affairs, and had actively urged
the passage of the bill, called on the Secre-
tary of War and protested against the
breach of faith by the Governments The
Secretary, not pretending to justify the use
of troops In the South on any other ground,
/ coolly replied, "Well, sir, we're going to
carry those States if it is possible to get
them"
i During the days Of kukIuN excitement
large rewards were offered for the appre.
hension OF kukluX, and Major Louis Mer.
| rill, of the United States army, was very
active in promoting arrests Of citizens upon
his affidavit. To examine and pass upon
claims for reward, board was appointed
of--which Ex-Governor Chamberlain, Of
South Carolina, was a member, and thai
board awarded Merrill about $4,000. Gene
raj Terry informs me that among the papers
Il A. ~, "a