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The Presidential Contest

The Presidential Contest image
Parent Issue
Day
8
Month
December
Year
1876
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

LOUI8IANA. New Obleans, L. Not. 28. - In the Rturning Board, all the menibors, the Kopublicans aud Demócrata, and tbe counsel were present. .ïudge Spifford snggcsted that the Board ! should give au order to compel the Supervisors I of tho foüoning pariehos to hai d in tliclr ! turns, nz. : Franklin, Grant, Livingston, La-fayette, and Tangephoa. Gov. Wells replied that he would give tho order for the returns if they wore not produoed by Wednesday. The board then went into exeontive soBsion Returns wore inspected from the remaining i wardw In this city, and from three pariühee. ; AH theee woro laid over for future action, and the paribh of Onacbita waa taken up. Foui' negroos were introduoed as witnessos on the Repnblican belialf, and wereexamiuod fullyby the board acoording to the interrogatorio. Tho DcmocratB wil] iutroduce robtuting testimonv tomorrow, wlicn the oonsideration of Í tbe Ouacbita caHu will be retumed. Niw Orleans, Nov. 29. - In the Returning i Board, after couiiderablo discussion a to retnrne not recived, Gov. Wells stated that tho teütimony in the oonteHted case must be cloeed by Friday afternoon at i o'clock. Oov. Wella said the board would then go into exeoutive eessiou. He said the Demócrata conW present two witnessee in the csue of Ouschita, and OLly one could be in the room at a time. Returns from Lafnyctte, Grant, and Tangaphoa were biought in during the day. Two polls in Laf ayette parish, giving 350 Domqcratie majority, wre not found on the Consolidated returns, but tho voto was obtined from the accompanying tally-ehests. Tliere was t protest with the rotures dated tho 28th inst. The vote of one poll in Tol gaphoa parish waa miesing, and the tally-shets were also absent. The returns of Graut parish were roooived from the United States Supervisor. The State Supervisor, after appsinticg a Commúsioner of Electioii, left the pariqh bofore the eloction, nntwitliHtanding the protest of both Rypubljcans and Demócrata. Tue eleotion was held, however, under the auspice of Democratie and Republican United btatea Suptrvif ors, with tho following rosult : Hayes, 395; Tilden, 518. Returns from Vernon, Franklin, and Livingston parishes were oponed and laid over. Statements from all the parishes are now in, and the ofticial figures of evorv parish hare been obtained. They vary only afew hnndred, dne to tbs throwing out of polls, from figures heretofore telegraphed. New Oblean's, Nov. 30 - The boud mot at 10:30 a. m., all the membera present. The ' m iiutuH liHving been read and anproved, a rcqueet for the rccouut of the vote in Now OrleaiiB, signed by all the Republican candidatos for oity and parieh cflices in the parish of Orlcans, was read, under direotion of Mr. Wells. Counsel was heard on the questjon, which was taken under adviuement. The East Baton Hongo case wna called up. The boxen from aoven polis in which the Commir-sioner1 returns and tally-sheets had been lockcd np were brought before the board, that they might be opened to obtain the reeult of the eleotion at thope polls, the Parinh Supervisor having omitted anymen'.ion of them in his Consolidated ttatoment. Tho board decided Dot to open the boxes. Similar action was taken in the case of Tangipahoa. By this eotion tbe Demócrata lose 1. 136 votes in East Baton Rouge. New Okieaxs, Dec. 1.- At the Returuiug Board thtij h as the usual attenáance except tho Repúblicas cornmittee, who were abjent. Two boxea of the Ea-it Baton Rmge parish ere ooened, showinc; for the Tilden electt r 437 ; Hyes, 19. Buv little was done, when the bcard adjournod till to morrcw. gome correspondence took place between the committe' s of visiting Republicana and Democratí, relative to the oUectiou and publica tion oí anidavits and teetimony in relation to the electinn in Louiaiana, the Repubiicans asking for the D moei atic eviJecco from the gentlemen cocüpoeing the committee of that party, and rf ceuiig a n ■ fusal of tlie request, on the greund tbat they were apprf hensive of theeuppreís on of part of the evidence, and for othtr ons not stated. The Democratie committee then issued an address to the peoplo of the United States, claiming that the figures printtd by the Democrats sbortly after the elsction are. borne out by tbo reeuit as canvasaed, and that thero is no doubt of Tilden carrying the State on anything like a fair eount. New Okleans, Dec. 2.- The Eeturning Board met at 11 a. tu., all t'ae meiobers present. The Democratie committee was in the room, but for the Republicana appearc-d only Senator Sherïnan. A great qnantity of writton evideuco of witnesses in contexted cases was filed by the Democrats aud Repubiicans. The box of a poll in the parish of Tangipahoa. the vote of which had been omitted in the Supervisors' returns, which had been sent for on applicatie of the Democratie counsel, was brought in and opened. The statement of the polls etc, was taken out, received by the board, and ordered to bo compiled. The vote Btood : Tilden electora 64, and Ha ves elector s 12. The board adjourned subject to the cali of the President. Clerks are now compiling the returns of the election. The electoral vote at least wil] bo promulgated on Tuesday. The Republican viaiting committee departed homoward thia afternoon. SOUTH CAROLINA. Colombia, 8. O., Nov. 28.- No one was allowcd to enter the State House this morning, nnless on a paus from Mr. Jones, the Clerk of the late House, or Mr. Dennis, United 8tatos Marshal. Abont 9 o'clock Gen. Gordon, the United States Senator f i om Georgia, and Gen. Johnon. State Senator of Virginia, witb. Mokcts. Peck aud Jtffreys, memiiers of the Lpgislatnre, demandcd admittance to the State House. The rotunt'a was filled with troop, and arins were stacked around the Washington statue. Membors of the LegisJatnre exhibited their certiñeates from the Supreme Court of their eli ction, and the corporal of the gnard refused them admittance. The Democratie memoere then met in caucus at 11:15, aud proceeded in a body to (Iemand admittance, with John C. Shepard, of Edgefleld, at their head. Tho door was guarded by United States troops and by John B. Dennis, United Statea Marshal. Shepard asked for admission, wherenpon Dennis askod if he had a certifícate of election from tho Secretary of State. Shepard Baid he liad tho certifícate of the Snpreme Court, aDd Dennis said : " If you have not the certifícate of the Sccretary you caunot enter." ShepaM then said lie demandf-d tho rigbt to read a protest from the Democrats, which he preceedea to do. Meanwhile Gen. Hampton had an interview with Gen. Ruger, who tuon cbanged the orders so as to allow anyone to pass the entinéis who claimed to be elected a member of the Legislatura. Members were thus admitted to the State House, but not to the hall of the Scnate or House of Representatives. Tho membors of the House, holding certifícales of the Canvassing Board, were admitted to tho ohamber. The Republioans procoodod to organizo. Fifty-nme members auswered to tbeir namos. JIr. Jones, tho Clerk of tho old House, declared fifty-nine to be a quorum. At tbe cali of tho roll E. W. M. Jlackey received fiftv-seven out of tbo iifty-nine votes, and was aeclared the duly elected Speaker. The Damocrats retired, sn'd Mr. Jlackey took the chnir. In explauation of theso proceodings, it must be remembered that the House, whon fulli consists of 124 members, and 63 beuig a inajDrity are a quorum for the traneaction of business. The Demócrata, inclnáing the 9 disputed members from Edgefield and Láureos, havo 64 membere, and tho liepublicans only 60, when all their membors are present. The Demócrata claim that C3 ia the lawful quorum, while the Repubiicans claim that a majority of the members admitted by the cauvassers to be elected, vte: 115, is a quorum, and with their 59 have gone to work. Maokcy, on taking hia Beat as Speaker, delivered a npeeoh, and the 59 znembers were then sworn in, only one Republicau bein ab■enti O. A. Jone, tho former colorea Clerk, was elected and sworn in. The House, as now organized, consiste of 5 whitee and 54 negroes. The Demooratic members-eleet to the Honse of Representatives met at 7 p. m. in Carolina Hall. Hixty-four Democrats and two Republicana participated, and wero eworn in by JudgG Cook. The Houso organized and will claim recognition to morrow. This leaves fifty-eight members in tho Repnbliean House, or ouo loss than the quorum claimed by them, aud live Ioüs than tho number wbich tbe Demosrats claim is nccoasary for fi ejuorum. Each House will demand of the Secretary of Stato tho returns of the vote for Governor. The Supremo Court has not yot decided the quostion o', counting the electoral vote. Coltoma, S. C, Noy. 29.- Tho sifuation to-day ii nnohanged, with the exception tliat the Repubiican Homo has been in uession all the morning, but was unablo to tranpact bueineaa on account of the absentees, wbich leaves it without a qnorura. Tho Senato is dipcussing the concurrent resolution passed by tho House yosterday to go into a canvasii of tho roturn3 for Governor and Lieutenant Govornor. Tho Democi'atic House went into secret seesion in Carolina Hail. They reeeived the report of the committee appointod yesterday to obtain tlio returns from the Socretaiy of State for Governor and Lieutenant Govomor, the committee roportiug that tho Secrotary had surrendered the returns to Mackoy, the Speaker of the R'jpubhcan Houïo. Tho military atill garrison tho State Hoiise. Tho Supreme Court met an'l adjournod without transacting any busiue:-, the Iawyers being engaged in making a return to the habea corpus case of the Board of Canvasáers in Jndge Bond's United Htatea Circuit Court. The only matter of importance that transpired in the afternoon was that the missing uenjber of tbe Republican Legulature was 1 oovero'J and brought ík, which gave tuat body thoir quorum of fifty-nine. Immediately afterward tbe Cominittoe on Privilogrs ftDd Electiouc, appoiuted yesterday by Speaker Mcckey, snbmittod a report, ueating the Republican raembers- five in number - from Barnwoll couuly. In the Sonate tlio concurrent reaolution psssod yestorday by the House, providing for a canvass of the returns for Governor and Ljeuteuant Governor to-day at 3 p. m., was ameuded by uaming 12 m. I'riday, to whioh time the Senate adjournod. ConrarmA, B. 0., Nov. 30.- The Democratie House took peacoable possesmou of the State Leginlature Hall at tbcir regular hour of convening- 11 o'clock- this ïnorning. The Bepnblican Hocee entered the hall at neon, the regular honr of meeting. Botii Speakers are on the stand. Wallace, Democrat, in in the chair, and Maekey. Bepubhcau, at the Clerk's desk. F.vcrything is peaceable, and good temper prevaüs. No person ia allowed in the hall excopt members. Oen. Buger has sent bis staft ofiioer to the Speaknr'a stand, and notifíed the Democratie Speaker, Wallace, that at noon to-inorrosv tbe Demccraticmembers from Edgofiold would nof. be permittod on tbo floor of the Houho. Uion I receipt of that order, a protest was inimediately Hont to Gen. Ruger. Columeia, 8. C, Dec. 1. - The situation is unch&Dged. Both bodies have oocupied tbe House of Representativos finco yenterday. Numorous propositions for a compromiso have availed nothing. Tlie United States trocpa havo not interfered. Tlie Uemocratio RipreentativeB from Kdgeüeld andLaurenscouuties are t-till in their soats. A propusition was signed by tlio two Speak: ers to adjourn the respective Houaes simultaneously, to meet to-morrow at noon, with the statu of each unchanged, to tako effect immediately, provirtod Gen. Buger would , agree, but Buger rofused, on the ground that ! ho must obey orders if ho reooived them from Washington. CowjiimiA, Deo. 2.- Two Bepublican members toolorecl), Wyere and Hamilton. have juet deeertod the Bapublican side and been eworn in by the Democratie Speaker. Bo'.li Houses are still in sessioa. The Senate has adjeuroed till Monday. motiou was made to-day in the Supreme Court in behalf of Wullace, Speaker of the Democratie House, for a mandamns on Mackoy, Speaker of the Eepublioan House, to compel liim to deliver the returns for Governor in Mttckey's possession to Wallace, as tlie legal Speaker of the legal Huuso; also a motion for a quo wnrranto on the Hayes electors. Botb case are to be heard Monda;. Mackey, in the Honse this evening, t oíd Wallace he intc-nded to remove che Edgefield men witli State constables. Wallace eaid tiie House uvas the ouly conservator oí its own order, and could not legally be intorfered with by constables or any outeide forcé, and he would reeist them with all the power at nis cominand, and would yiold ouly to United States troops nnder Gen. Euger. The Republicana to-night scated four new meirbers frotn Abbeville county. No proteets or contesta wero heard. The Democratie niembers with certificates of olection from tlie Board of Canvassere were ui the hall. Colombia, S. C, Deo. 4 -Af ter tho two Housea were called to order, Spaaker Wallaca (Demoerat) annonnced that as there were 100 special constables in the StateHouae to cject the Democratio members, and as hè fenred Buch a movement wouM be reaiated, and blood3hed wonld enaue, he adjourned his House to meet at Carolina Hall, whero they aro now in aession. The Republicana then went iuto secret seesion in the State House. FLOWDA. Tallahasbee Nov. 2!).- The Board of Cauvasseru met at 10 o'clock. Who Alaohua county was called, the Demócrata introduced objections to Archer precinct, in Alachua, reciting that the return from that precinct h&d been raisod 219 votes over the trae lioll cast. They supported their claim by affidavits, one from Mr Fleming, who swore he had stood at the door and taken the name of every voter as it was called, and that only 319 votes were eat, whert-as the return sent up claimed that 53S were cast. Afliciavits were also presented from members of the Cmnty Board. One swears that he was coguizaut of tbia f raud, and would not Bign the returos. Another awears that he knew the frauda had been committed, but feit bonnd to sign the return, that it might go to the State Board f or final a: tion. There is also the attidavit of a Circuit Jndge, who sweara that he saw tho Archer ba)l',t-boi opened by the proper officials, aud counted, and that only 319 votos were found therein. In the afternoon. the RepublicanB introduced oounter-afti'avite from Moore and Dukt e, the two insp ctor, and Beltou and Webster, the two members of tbe Canvassing Board referred to, all of whom swear that thoir fortutr aftidavitg were mado under durees, fear, or apprehonsion, and were falsé. The Demócrata introduced a third affidavit from Belton, who swore that if he gave any second affidavit he waa not responsibleor in hifi true mind when he did so. In Cluy county the Democrats called attentiou to the omiaöion of twenty-three Democratie votes through a technical objection which they removed by papers flled bef ore the board. There wil! hardly be any contest over thee votes. In Baker county the Demócrata produced an sllidavit from tho Clerk of" the Court certifyiug that the return which gives the Demócrata ninety-five majority was the true and only return irom the county of Baker. They preeented fnrthor certiflod copies oí each of the precinct returns in Baker county, regularly eigned by the procinot inspectora, which footed np precisely the reault that was recited in the true return. The board ihen adjoumod untü to-mórrow morning at 9 o'clcck. Tallahansee, Nov. 80.- Tho Board of Cauvosaers met at 10 o'clock to-iiay. Alachua county was oallcd and passed, and Baker county taken np. The Democratie managers called attention to the faot that the aecoud return from Baker, besides the poiute of illegality brought against it yeaterday, was aignod by a Juutice of the l'eaee appointed sinee the election ; that it was not cortitïcd to ie the County Clerk 's uflice ; and that the County Clerk was not summoned to attend the canvass upon whieu it was baaed, and that official precioct retnrna were omitted from that return and a falso result roaebcd. The Alachua county testimony waa listened to with interés t. Tüe Demócrata first offered teétimony that tho alleged añidavit from Green E. Moore, purportingtodeny cartainfacta in another alndavit he had made, was aatod and executed the 2' tli, while the afBdavit he proposed to retract was dated and exscuted the 23d. They theu pro nouncod the aflidavit pnrporting to be from Floyd Dnkes a square forgery. They then introduced Moore and Dukos as witnessea. Moore awore speciñoally that all pointe in his affidavit of the 23d wore true ; that he bad stated the faut therein containea openly time and again ; that he was inspector at Archer, and only 31G votes were cast or counted : that 535 votes were aot cast ; that he Higned the el'.ct'on oi tfjoate iu blank, not thinking there covil' bo any dispute ; that lie was approached the ■ her day by Jiarnes, a Eepublican, Bbenfl of the e .iiiiiy, who offeredhitn81t!0if hewonid sign a paper. He asltod if ho had to swcar to it. He was told he wou'.d not. Ho thon signed if, and reeeived the money. Thia paper was the one prudued by the court as a counter -aftidavit. Floyd Dukes, colored, awore that he waa inspector at Archer precinct: tbat only 31G votes were oast: that be ean't road or writo, and that ho never signcd paper saying 535 votas we ve cast. Upon the cuuut -r-amda' it allegeá lo have been aigned by him being reaW, ha swore ho did not sign t; that cx-Congreseman Wala and Justice Holton came to his hour-o to get him to eign it, and offered him $25 if he would aign it, but he refu?ed to do ao. Tho Dcmoerats then oalled attention to tho fact that in nftidavit-i from several hundred negrops, sweaiing tbat they votod at Archer preciuct, eleven ñames appear in two placea, two ñames in threo places, two naines of uien long sinoe dead, and two names of men proven to have votd olsawbero. The Ilepüblicana submtttcd objectiona to two preciacts in Coiumbia oouuty, lleging that the Democratio inspector industriouely changed ballot when they wero handed him, and that the negroea wero taken by tbree Democrats into p. swamp a week beforo tbe elee tion and, after v&riouu outrages, were made to swear on their knees that they would vote the Democrp.tic ticket. Pending the preparation of papers in other oases, the board adjouraed. Tallahabsee, Dec. 1.- llie Board of Oanvafiiers met thw morning, and tho Republicana introduced witnesseB in the Alachua cases. Vanee, colored clerk at the Archer preciuct, swore that tho election was fair and regulf r, and that 531 votes wereprlled ; that eertiticatoa were made out to show tbia number of vote.", and wero regularly signod by Mooie and Duke, Inspectora. Ho described with great particularity the mode of conducting the eleotion and couut. Upon boing oroas-examined, ho swore he was employod ati Cleikof the County Conuniésioners aboutone month before the elcctioi; in the office of Mr. Dennis ; and tLat a tally-sheet was kept. He don't know whatbacameof the sheet; that the ballot-box was taken to bis (Vanee') houjo on electiou nigbt, kept there till mbrning, when it was taken in a baaket totbe Court Honie. Witness was bom in Canada, and educatod at a Buffalo (N. Y.) commen school. P. P. Black fcolored) testiiled that be was Inspector of Klections of Archer; that 531 votes were cast, countod, and put in acerliücate resalarty. The Demócrata t'uen liled objeetions to the vote of Dnval county on tho ground that fiitythree non-registered men voted ; that thirtythree men voted twice : that thirteen undtr penal couviction voted ; tbat thirteen inmates of tho County Jail votod ; that the regintration list was padded and packed, the only DemoCi'atic member of the Board of County Commisüionors baing removed just bef ore the eleotion to make room for f raud thore. Tho Espubhoaus filed öbjections to twontynine votes in Nassau and twonty-tbree iu Duval, on the ground that two paymasters of ' roads gave Democratio tickets marked with ' certain nnmbers to nejjro employés, and told t thera they would be discbargod if those uumberu wcro nut found in the box ; that tbxae negroee, thraugl) fear, did vote tbo numbereJ ticket ; and vm iouH ctbor grounds of intimidation and violence. The Republicana objected to Jackson county on the general charge of iutirmdation, violence, and f rund. Ex-Oongreeaman Wallti (colorad) teatified that he did not offer Dukes 250 or any otlier Bum to sign the aftidavit introdueod by the Kepublioana. 11e did go to Dukea' house with licitan to persuade Duke to aign it. Dnkes Baid he would sign them in town when tliev reached town. Belton and Dukea retired to Beiton'a office. Belton amo out after awhile aying Dukoshad tom'hed the pen and aigncd. Dakea cannot write hia name. He touches tho pen and the mark ia made for blm. Maj. McCan (colored) aaid he wan in Beiton's ófrico on tho l;);h, and saw Dulios put his mark to the afüdavit that was read to Mm. It wat) something about tho Archer box being placed on a low bench vphere the votara couldnot aoe it : that One Inspector look a handful of tickets outof tlio box and putthom in bis pocket ; that all the Repnbiican voten were taken from the box at one proeinct during the dinner bour, wlien it wan loft opan and uugaarded. Tlio board then adjourned for the day. Paper in othcr countiuB will benled to morrow, which in tho las-t day for tiling papers. Tallahassee, Deo. 2 - This being the Iaat day for the introduction of testimony before the Board of Canvasser. the day was taken op ïnoatly by that work. Each side filed apecificatioiirt of contest in severa) couutiea, and made replication to the chartree on certain other countieB. There was only one new or notnblo wint raixfil. Ti'ia was iu the county of Manatee. Tho clerk of thia couuty, by law the registering oflicer, resigned a week or no bofore the olectio:. The Government accepted his resignation at ones. Tbe couuty was thus ieft without a clerk. Some citizena attempted to register with a deputy clerk, who declüied to take thoir ñames. A now c)ork waa appoiuted by telegraph, but for reaaona stated difforently by each aide did not qualifv beforo tho election was over. The election waa held, however, the regiatry list of last year being nsed, and oach voter taking the UKual regiauy oath before a Justice of the Peace, who ofliciated in lack of a clerk. The Republicana aak that the county be thrown out, as the elec ion waa irregular, and as their voters in that cuunty, not believing an election ironía be held without a clerk, did not go to the polls. Tho Demócrata aak that it be oemntod, as theae voters exhausted their reBOurcH in trying to vote lawfnlly, and recited how hundreda of voters wero kept from voting. aa only thoao on the ïcgistry list of former years feit it right to voto. Tajjahassee, Dec. 3.- The official return from Dado county has arrived, and ha bsen annouuccd by the Ohairman of the Iietnrning Board a i iiine for Hayes and five for Tilden, mailing a total mujority for the Republicau electoral ticket in the látate of forty-seven on the face ff the returns, üao precinot of Dade was thrown out by the Couuty Canvaaaers for irrcRularity, but it gave Hayes five majority. Tai.lahasske, Fla., Dec. i - The morning was oonsumed principaliy with the preeentation of the general argument of the Demócrata. This was prepared by the Democratie lawyerg who are hcre. and waa presentad by Col. Qeo. W. Biddlo, of Philadelphia. It ia an elabórate document, laying down certain general and wellsettled pricciples of Jaw, and then discuBsing the caea of the oor.tested counties under one or the other of tneae principios. It closes by aekiug, firat, that the board simply figure np the face of the returns, on which it claims 129 majority for Tildón, or if it sees flt to go behiiid the face of the returns, that it throw out certain countieB and precinct, whioh leave a majority of 1,297 for the Tilden electora.

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Old News
Michigan Argus