New-York tribune., 1878-10-18

OF the Board Of State Canyassers. IN hS examina-
tion before the Potter Committee IN June last. lie
admitted that the true vote of the people OF FLORIDA
was in favor of the Democratic electors, and
that the fact even appeared on the lace
of the county returns, including among them
the true return from Baker County, notwlth-
standing the great frauds against the Democrats III
some of tho county returns lie also confessed that
in voting TO give the certificates to the Republican
electors he acted under the influence of promises
that he should be rewarded in Mr. Hayes be-
came President; adding that "Certainiy these
promises must have had strong control over My
judgment and action"
After the certificates Of The Louisiana Returning
Board had been repeatedly offered to Mr. Hewitt
and others for money, thcy were gwen in favor OF
the Republican electors, who had been rejected by
large majority of the votcrs; and the members OF
this Returning Board now possess the most lupor-
tant Federal Offices in that state.
The pregnant fact always remains that none of
these corrupt Boards gave their certificates TO the
Democratic electors but they all did give them to
the Republican electors.
| had q perfectly fixed purpose, from which ]
never drylated in word OF at; purpose which was
known to or assumed by all with whom was III
habitual communication. If the Presidency o1 the
United States was TO be disposed of by certificates
to be- won from corrupt Returning lioaros, by any
form of ycnal inducements, whether of Offices or
money I was resolved to take no part Iii the shame
ful competition, and took none.
The main interest of the victory which resulted
in nv election was the expectation that throulh
The Chief MagiStracy system OF reforms similar
to that which had been accompli he'd n our me-
tropo, and III our state administration, would he
achieved in the Federal Government For tins OBJ
jcct II was necessary that should be uutiammelled
by any commitment III the choice of men TO
execute, the Official trusts Of the Govern
ment. and untTammclled by any obligations to
special interests had been uOmIn:ttd. and was
elected without one limitation of my perfect ludc-
peuGencc. To have surrendered or compromised
the advantages of this position by degrading
competition for Returning Board certificates would
hav, been to abandon all that made victory de
sIrablc: everything which could have >nSi tanned ne
in the larger struggle that victory would have IN
posed upon me. was resolved TO g INTO the Pres-
d,niial chair IN full command OF all my resources
for usefulness, OF not at all.
REPETITION OF Tiu CRY OF FRAUD.
While thus abStauiug from an isuomImouS COM
petition for such certificates. saw these certificates
obtained for the Republican electors, who had not
been chosen by the people. and deuied TO the Demo
cratic electors who had been chosen by the people
These false and fraudulent certificates. now con-
fes,cd and proved to have been obtained 10y corrupt
inducements. were aftcrward made the prctcNts fer
taking from the people their rghjful choice for the
Presidency and Nicc-PreSdcncy.
These certificates were declared by the tribunal
which Congress had abdicaed the function Of de-
Gliding the count of disputed electoral votes to be
the absolute and ndspUahle convey of title to
the Chief MaglStracy of the Nation.
The State of Florida, which had united all her
executive, legislative and Judicial powcI- to testify
to Congress long before the count, who Were Ter
genuine agents. which had by statute caused a re-
canvass the issue Of new certificates, and formal
sovereign authorization of the right of the true
elector, deposit the entitled TO be counted,
was held to be incapable of communicating 10 Con
gress u fact which every body then knew, and which
cannot now he disputed.
Congress, though vested by the Constitution with
The authority TO count the electoral votes though
unrestricted either as to the time when shouldrc-
ceye evidence or as to the nature of that evidence,
and though subject to appeal from its decision,
was declared to have power TO guide its own
count by any information 1t could obtain. or by any
authority which II might accept from the Wrougtd
and betrayed State whose vote was about 10 DC
falSlfied.
The monstrous conclusion was thus reached that
the act of one man holding the deciding vote IN
Board of state C1nvasSers for without his concur
renee The frauds of the other Rctuiulng BOardS
would have failed IN giving certificates known at
the time, and now by hIH eff confessed 10 be false
aud fraudulent. aud confessed to have been OBJ
tanned 10y the promise OF Office certificate, whose
character was known months before Congress could
begin the count must prevail over all the remedial
powers of the State of Florida and of the Congress
of the United states combined, and must dispose OF
the Chief MaU>tTacy of TINS Republic.
Ner-lOrk, Oct. l6, 1878. = ). llLDLN'