the statement above provided for for each poll in his precinct or parish, and it shall have been sworn to and subscribed as above directed, the supervisor of registration shall inclose in an envelop of strong paper or cloth, securely sealed, one copy of such statement from each poll and one copy of the list of persons voting at each poll, and one copy of any statements as to violence or disturbance, bribery or corruption, or other offenses specified in section twenty-nine of this act, if any there be, together with all memoranda and tally lists used in making the count and statement of the votes and shall send such package by mail, properly and plainly addressed, to the Governor of the State. The supervisor of registration shall send a second copy of said statement to the Governor of the State by the next most safe and speedy mode of conveyance, and shall retain the third copy in his own possession.
SEC. 54. Be it further enacted, etc., That the governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State, and John Lynch and Returning officers. T. C. Anderson, or a majority of them, shall be the returning officers for all elections in the State, a majority of whom shall constitute a quorum and have power to make the returns of all elections. In case of any vacancy by death, resignation or otherwise by either of the board, then the vacancy shall be filled by the residue of the board of returning officers.
The returning officers shall, after each election, before entering upon their duties, take and subscribe to the following oath before judge of the Supreme or any District Court:
I, A. B., do solemnly swear (or affirm ) that I will faithfully and diligently perform the duties of a returning officer as prescribed by Oath. law; that I will carefully and honestly canvass and compile the statements of the votes and make a true and correct return of the election. So help me God.
Within ten days after the closing of the election said returning officers shall meet in New Orleans to canvass and compile the statements Meetings. of votes made by the supervisors of registration, and make returns of the election to the Secretary of State. They shall continue in session until such returns have been completed. The Governor shall at such meeting open, in the presence of the said returning officers, the statements of the supervisors of registration, and the said returning officers shall, from said statements, canvass and compile the returns Compiled returns. of the election in duplicate. One copy of such returns they shall file in the office of the Secretary of State, and of one copy they shall make public proclamation by printing in the official journal and such other newspapers as they may deem proper, declaring the names of all persons and offices voted for, the number of votes for each person, and the names of the persons who have been duly and lawfully elected. The returns of the elections thus made and promulgated shall be prima facie evidence in all courts of justice and before all civil officers until set aside, after a contest according to law of the right of any person named therein to hold and exercise the office to which he shall by such return be declared elected.
The Governor shall with in thirty days thereafter issue Commissions. commissions to all officers thus declared elected who are required by law to commissioned.
SEC. 55. Be it further enacted, etc, That in such canvass and Duties of returning officers.compilation the returning officers shall observe the following order: They shall compile first the statements from all polls or voting
