Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-05-01

First. The power 10 sppOunt cleo
tors Of President and Wee President FOR
the State Of Louisiana was legally and
constituiionally vested in the people
thereof.
Second. This power was duly exc
cuted in 1876. On the day, in the man
ner. and al the places prescribed BY law,
the ballots Of the people were taken and
counted; showing = clear majority OF
seven thousand for the Tilden electors
in Louisiana.
Third. This majority was wholly
made up ol voters. legally qualified:
their right TO vote being subjected to
the scrutiny Of hostile registrars and
commissioners, appointed by their enc
mics for every polling place.
Fourth. The election was free and
neaceable. There is no proof or pre-
tense that intimidation was praciiced on
the day Of election.
Filth. Nor we're the people proven
ted by intimidation, or any cause, from
assembling at the polls. All allegations
to The contrary are efectually dispFoved
BY the undisputed fact that the vote was
larger in proportion to the population
than at any previous election ever held
in the State-larger than in most Of the
other States where elections were held
the same day, and where every exer-
ton was made 70 bring out The last man.
Sixth. The Tilden electors were thus
"duly appointed" by the people who
alone had the right and powert appoint.
This thing was not done in q corner; IT
wss seen and known Of all men. The
act Of appointment was Immediately
placed on the public records Of the sew
eral parishes. This fact was as indis-
puiable rs any other in history.
Seventh. The legal, just and consti-
tutional effect of this appointment upon
the Presidential election could be avoid
ed only by classifying the act Of the peo-
pie; that is to say, by altering the cleo
ton returns in such manner rs to make
them appear like an appointment of 9th
er persons instead Of those who in truth
and in fact were appointed. This was
the CRIME by which the authority and
will OF the people were defeated in the
case under consideration. A crime
considering the extent Of the corrupt
continuation required TO carry il through,
the vast chain work Of frauds, false pre-
lenses and perjuries connecting IT to-
gether. and the magnitude OF the rights
preiudiced by it-of the highest magni-
tude.
Eighth. The agents Of the Republi-
can party sent into the State TO get its
electoral vote for Mr.. Hayes, were
among the ablest and most conspicuous
men in their organization; they were
designated for this service by the then
President, and many of them were
known as the intimate friends Of his
successor. These men notwithstanding
that the Tilden electors had been fairly,
peaceably and legally chosen by large
majority Of the people at full poll, en-
couraged, by their presence, the fraud.
falsehood and crime by which the vote
was used 10 elect Mr.. Hayes. They
affected to believe that the returning
board had legal and constitutional power
10 set aside the appointment made by
the people, and make another appoint
ment themselves; they pronounced the
warmest encomiums on members OF that
board who bore characters VIGOROUSLY
bad; aud they distinctly refused to unite
with Democrats in an effort TO have an
honest count made of the votes actually
cast and legally returned by the proper
officers Of the election.
Ninth. No direct evidence has re-
vealed what bargain was made in words
or in writing with members of the So
called returning board; but We cannot
doubt that they did their corrupt work
with the understanding that they should
not only be pro.scted against public JUS
tice, but rewarded for their villainy.
This pledge has been kept. When
Wells and Anderson were indicted,
Federal officers at Washington inter-
tered with the administration Of State
law at New Orleans; and those same
men and the others who gave their ac-
tive assistance to the preparation ofthe
fraud have been quoftered on the pub
lie Treasury, and the people whom they
have deirauded are made TO pay them
for their crimes.
Tenth. All the foregoing propositions
Of fact apply nomine mutafO to Florida
as well as to Louisiana.
The majority in the former State was
not so large as in the latter, but ii was
decisive and well aitested. The APP
poiutment made by the people was irus-
trated and altered in like way under
the Instigation Of "visiting statesmen"
Of the same class, and was followed by
similar reward.
The fraud was aggravated in Florida
because the canvassing beard had no
power under their statute but that Of
mere clerks. and their Supreme Court
had expressly 50 decided; and because
oil the departments Of the State-judi-
cial, legislative and executive-protes-
ted against their action as not only false,
but mere usurpation.
The necessary effect OF successful
and prosperous classification ofthe choice
Of the people for The Chief Magistracy
Of the country. is 20 tempt all those who
profit by the wrong, and those who SUI
ter BY Il, TO adopt the like corrupt meth
DDS on future occasions.
Finally we report:
First. That due effect was not given
10 The vote of the electors appointed by
the State OF Florida az the Presidential
election Of 1876. BY reasons Of false and
| fraudulent returns for the said electors
by the canvassing board of that State,
4 a = r Al n g