Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-11-14


SC, &C.. &C.
We shall try to givs our readers much
condensed but clear statement of the po-
sition of affairs since last Thursday. BY
Friday morning. notwithstanding tie
manifestoes OF the Republican National
Committee claiming Indiana, Virginia,
and West Virginia, 1t was conceded on all
hands that the Democrats had carried
every Southern State and Indiana, New
Jersey, Connecticut and New York.
There were decided pluralities in all these
State; New YORK, which was closest, CIV
ing Cleveland plurality of 1925. The
Blaine organ, the New York Tribune, had
pursued two separate lines-it had claim
ed, first. that the returns showed that the
Republicans had carried New York.
Forced to abandon that line by the returns
themselves, which declared for Cleveland ,
it then raised the cry Of Fraud On the
part of the Democrats, Notwithstanding
the fact that four-fifths Of the precinct
polls in New York are in the hands of
its own party. Mr.. Blaine himself from
Augusta, Me-, took up the cry OF fraud"
and telegraphed that be was elected un-
less FRAUD should defeat him. This cry,
raised by the Republicans, brought to the
Democratic mind the Louisi ana and Flori-
da count of 1875, which was preceded as
now by the same cry, and revived the appre-
hension throughout the country that 1876
was to be attempted again. But the coun-
try soon remembered that New Y ork was
not Florida, and that 1884 Was not 1876 and
quoted down. The whole thing now rests
on the counting Of the New Y ork returns,
by the county cauvassing boards, and their
work is simply ministerial. Whatever the
vote is in New York, that il will be de-
clared, whether it is for Cleveland or
Blaine. The canvassing of the vote of
New York, for the result Of which both
parties are so anxously waiting, is con-
Quoted in this way as described by the
New York San
Throughout the State to-day the county
canvassers meet at the offices of their respec-
tive County Clerks to canvass the votes cast at
the recent election. Each Board of County
CauVaSSerS Is composed OF supervisors
towns or wards in the county, except where
there is some special charter provision as in
New York city, where the Board Of Aldermen
are the county canvassers. The important
question is, what do the county canvassers
have before them in the way of evidence upon
which to proceed to-d day?
Within twenty four hours after the inspec-
tors of election complete their count it is their
duty to deliver to the Supervisor of their town
ship certified statement of the number of
votes given for electors of President and Vice
President, showing how many ballots of the
same kind have been received, and attaching
to the paper one original ballot of each kind
All original ballots rejected as defective must
also be attached to this statement. All other
ballots are destroyed by the inspectors.
A duplicate statement is filed in each County
Clerks office, and by this duplicate the accu-
racy of the other original produced by the SUI
pervlsor can be tested.
These returns form the material before the
county Board, and what does the Board itself
do :? Its duty is merely to collate and add up
the returns. Thus it ascertains the vote of the
county and makes return showing the whole
number of votes given in each town and dis
trict, the names of the candidates, and the
number OF votes given to each. One copy of
this return, duly certified and attested, is re-
corded by the County Clerk. who sends one
copy thereof to the Governor and two to the
Secretary OF State, one by mail and another
by special messenger.
A majority of the Supervisors can constitute
the county Boaad, and any Supervisor not
able to attend the meeting to-day must send
the original statement of the votes of his town
to the office of the County Clerk. II ma or-
ity of the Supervisors fail to attend, the Board
will adjourn until tomorrow when the can
vassers then attending, although less than
majority of the whole, must organize them
selves as Board and proceed to state and Ger.
tify the vote of the county.
In the event of error what is the power of
the Board of County Canvassers? For obvious
omissions or merely clerical mistakes they
must send the return back for correction to the
town inspectors from whom it came. These
inspectors are required to meet at once and
make such corrections as the facts demand; but
they cannot alter any decision before made
by them. They can only cause their canvass
to be correctly stated. Such is the limit of the
power of the county Board, which in cases of
fraud or material error can do nothing.
Wherein, then. lies the remedy in cases
where the canvass is wrong? Parties believing
themselves aggrleved can apply to the supreme
Court for writ of mandamus compelling the
Board of county canvassers to correct their
determination, provided the error is due to
some fault on their part.
MEMORABLE SCENES IN NEW YORK ON
THURSDAY AND THAT NIGHT.