The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1878-05-02

Hayes electors as elected, are as follows.
JUDGE MLIS's CONFESSION.
AZ member Of the late State Board of
Canyassers Of the State of Florida, feel
lmpellcd by II sense Of duty to myself and
lustc; 10 Others, to make the following
statement:
Al the time the canvass was made I was
not at any time conscious Of acting other.
wise than right and proper. Ientcrcd upon
the canvass witothc conviction that it was
my privilege and duty, in political sense,
to give the benefit Of every doubt in favor
OF the Republican party felt that when
question could be decided either way
without doing violence to public sense OF
justice, it was fairly allowable in politics
that should always lean TO my own party.
and give my decision in it. favor, even at
the hazard Of staining point. At no time
did feel that occupied the position Of
Judge, charged with the duty of strict and
nice weighing and balancing Of all the evil
dence presented. Looking back now to
that time feel that there was combna-
ton Of influences that must have operated
most powerfully in binding my judgment
and swayin9 my action. had been for
many years, and was At the time OF the can
vass, very active PARTISAN. sincerely
thought that our state and the nation would
suffer iTrcparabIe injury il the Democratic
party were 10 obtain the Presidency. and
the policy Of hatred TO the negro and those
who had been the friends Of the negro
should obtain control at Washington. 1t
va, the common and unanimous talk, also.
that the very existence Of the men who in
the South had upheld the Republican party
depended upon the election OF Mr.. Hayes.
Mr.. Hayes would sustain them throughout
the South. while Mr.. Tildcn would crush
them. ! was shown numerous telegram.
addressed 10 Gov. Stearns and other, from
tie trusted leaders Of the Republican party
IN the North, insisting that the salvation of
the country depended upon the vote of
florida being cast for Hayes. Those telc-
grams came from those 20 whom had been
accustomed to dctcr-thc Chairman Of the
National Committee, and the man who as
the nearest personal friend Of Mr. Have.
hal conducted the canvass These tce-
grams also gave assurance OF the torthcom.
IN OF money. and troops ii necessary. in
securing the victorysfor Mr.. HAYES.
Following these kilograms, trusted North.
= crn Republicans, party leaders, and person.
nj friend, Of Mr. Hayes, arrived in Florida
q, rapidly a. the railroads, could bring
them. | was surrounded by these men. who
were ardent Republicans. and especially by
friend. Of GOV Hayes. One gentleman
particularly, Gov. Moves Of Ohio, was I'm.
dcf''ood 10 represent him and speak with
flc authority Of warm personal friend.
commissioned with power 70 act in his be.
half. These men referred 10 the general
, destruction Of the country should Mr.. Til
den be elected. the intense anxiety of the
Republican party of the North. and their
full sympathy with us. cannot say how
iar my elton may have been influenced bv
the intense excitement that prevailed around
mo. or how far my partisan zeal may have
led me into error; neither can say how far
my course was influenced by the promise
made by Noycs that ii Mr. Hayes became
President ! should be- rewarded Certainly.
these influences mus; have had strong
control over my judgment and action.
Reviewing my action at this distance of
time. with all caImnc>S, with my ardor cool.
cd and my partisan zeal chilled by the
President. who has lm>ely BETRAYED and
mcrcilc>>ly destroyed the Republican party
Of the South, and crushed the very men who
did 50 much for his election, am pcrsuad-
cd that the Florida canvass was not con.
Quoted with that cool, calm judgment and
honest, unbiased decision that should have
characterized a proceeding involving such
vast and important interests. Instead of
this | now see that the whole proceedings
went through upon the highest wave Of po-
lt'cal excitement; that partisan feeling
simulated 20 the utmost by the most power.
FIJI agencies usurpcd the place Of reason
and sound iudgmeAt, and political cxpcdi- |
cncy ruled the hour A large number of |.
.prccinct, were either contested by the |
Democratic or Republican party. Nolumi- |
nous testimony was filed and the lawyers |
Of both sides argued each for their side of !
the issue, that it was the duty Of the board /
to throw out and not include in the count, |
or retain and count precincts, on the ground !
OF illcgality in the conduct Of the election
1r fraud that was charged 10 exist The
: O.. ttorney-Gcncral Of the State and mem.
b,y of the board had decided that the board
has quasi judicial power. and had the right
to exclude precincts from the count Il the
returns were shown to be so irregular. false,
or fraudulent AS to prevent the board from
aScerminng from them the true vote. With
this view OF It's duties the board entered
upon the work Of the canvass, with the con
viction that they were invested with large +
discretionary powers, which were et mix
ed character, political and judicial, the pc.
!itical largely prcdominating Partisan zeal
ana strong politica! ties had powerful in.
tlucncc in the exercise Of these powers, and
the Republicans having Il majority of the
board, the canvass was largely in their favor,
as the result proved. If the board had act.
ct in accordance with the decision of the
Supreme Court Of the State, defining the
Fswcrs and duties of the board Ia reference
to throwing out precincts. since rendered,
there is no question Of the fact that Mr.. Til.
den would have been entitled to the vote of
Florida. Excluding the return from Baker
county, which was counted, and which |
have since learned from the parties who
made II was falsely manufactured return,
and including the true return, which CORE.
spondcd with the precinct returns of that
county. would certainly have piycn tho STAT,