The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-06
The Facts in Florida.


leaving out the one disputed vote from
Oregon and all the votes from South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, ana admitting that
Colorado Is entitled TO be couuted-1Ss
electoral votes or three more than n ma
jority of the whole number of electors
appointed; while, on the other hand, Mr..
HAYES cannot be elected without all the
votes Of Oregon, Colorado, : nth Carolina,
and Louisiana, and those of Florida IN al
diton. Thus every one of the votes of
these five states must be counted for
HAYES in order to elect him. while one
vote from either one of them will suffice
to elect TILDEN; and, as we have stated,
the four votes of Florida would make for
him three more than majority of the
whole Union.
The day after the election. no doubt was
entertained anywhere that Mr. TILDTN
had carried Florida; but on the second
day after that event, or ut any rate rs
early rs November 10, the claim was set up
that the State had gone for HAYES, and n
large number of Republican agents were
at once sent down there. including the
notorious MAcKEy of Pennsylvania, one
of CAMERoN's special tools, who went for
the state changed, and its Democratic ma
jorty turned into Il Republican ajorty.
The Returning Board in Florida, con-
sisted of three oihcials: MCLiN, Secretary
of State, Republicans CowGIIL Comp
troller, Republican,; and COOKE, Attorney
General, Democrat. For long time 1t
was uncertain how the two Republicans
would act CowGILL especially taking great
care TO avoid any declaration OF hi, intcn-
ton. While this was the case SrEARNS,
the Republican Governor, himself can
didatc for reflection, suddenly asserted
that the duty and the power of oanvassing
the votes belonged to him. THIS preten-
sion was at once resisted by the Democrats.
who brought the subject before the SUI
preme Court of the SUITE, whore il was
deliberately discussed. Gen. +. &. BARLOW,
of this city, who was at Tallahassee by
President GRANTS request rs one of the
Republican visitors appeared before the
Court and i'll q set argument contended
that the pretension Of the Governor was
well founded; but while tins legal con-
troversy was going on, Cowgirl was by
some means brought to reason, and then
the Governor suddenly abandoned his
BulB'NG Va hbhhNiliS NhN NpA'Ni anu NV
canvass was RENTED to the three officials
we have named.
The Board then canvassod the votes in
their own way, and ut the very last mo-
ment declared the result TO be the election
of the Republican State officers and of the
HAYES electors. In the course of this can
vass they threw out votes from Hamilton,
hanatec, Monroe, and jackson counties,
while they determined that the returns
from Baker and Clay counties were per-
fectly correct Upon this basis, STEARNs
went on Ia make preparations for his iu-
augurdtiOn rs Governor, while the HAYES
electors went through the form of casting
the vote of the State for HAYES and
WHEELER. HereupOn, however, the SUI
preme Court again interviewed, and deci-
ded after hearing, that this Canvnssing
Board had no power 10 throw out any re-
turns or to change the result Of the elec-
ton in any manner whatever, and or
dcred u new canvass of the vote for State
officers on the basis of the actual returns.
This new canvass the Board now pre-
tend Il 10 make, counting the voIes from
Hamilton, Manatee, Monroe, and Jackson
counties rs they really were aud declar-
state officers were elected. At the same
time, however stil assuming the very
power which the Court had decided did not
belong to them, they took the returns
from Baker and Clay counties which they
had previously passed IL correct and valid
and threw them out ms false and fiaudu-
lent; and thus, by admitting the foul
rOimtics previously thrown out and re-
jcciing the two counties previously in
cudcd, they made up new aggregate
woe OF the State which elected the Demo-
cratic state officers. while they still man.
aged 10 construct an apparent ma jOrity foI
Tho HAYES and WHEELER electors In thi:
way, while they were compelled TO aban-
don the fraud 10y which they had declared
the RcpNbl can state officers elected, tn y
now, IN contradiction of their former ac-
tion, lcructratod a new fraud for the pur-
pose Of sian giving the STATE TO HAYES and
WHEELER; whereas, il they had followed
the ,cslon of the Court and executed the
law a. the Court laid 1t down they would
have been obi god not only to declare that
the Democratic State officers had beer
elected, but that the TILnEN electors wer,
chosen likewise.
II Is expected that the Court will stil
further interfere in this matter, aud vii
insist on the declaration of the true result
Of the voting for electors. 1t may also pro.
r.. Il AGAINST MCIIN ana CowGlLL pen, on.
ally for treating its mandate with con.
Tempt; but, H. they have gone oui ol
rii!c". ANA no longer possess any power T.
ranYa.s the reiurl-, the true canvass unl
HE irue 81 claralon, II made at all, mus