New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-30
SENATOR CHAFFEES REILLY TO GOVERNOR
CUMMINGS.
z, h, Edi,or of Va N y. Tribnn..

r, me Editor Of The NJ y Tribun.
SIR: My attention has been called 10 a letter from Gov.
Cummings in your paper Of the 4th inst in which be at
temps TO explain his action in giving the certificate Of
election 70 Mr. Hunt the ron-oected johnson candidate
10 Congress and also TO another letter from the same
source your issue Of tho 10Th, wherein he asserts that
galvanized Robo soldiers" voted for Nr ChHcoti the
Radical candidate &c, &c. These letters, like every
thing eanating from that gentleman regard TO Coora-
do are calculated to misead the public both its pop
ulation and resources and its true condition, politically
and socially.
Section SO, page g. of the Laws Of Colorado says;
"1he Secretary Of the Territory, Auditor Treasurer, or
any two Of them in the presence Of the Governor shall
proceed within fifty days after the election and if
all the returns DO received 10 the votes given for
all territorial officers and the Governor shall give ccrtf-
cate Of election the persons having the highest number
Of votes for each office" When the returns all
ceyed the Board Of Canvasses notified the Governor Of
the fact and that they would proceed 10 the votes
al a certain time Mr. Hunt being Territorial Treasurer
and not feeling competent to act in his case resigned
and John Wanless, active associate in this Copper
johnson scheme, was promptly appointed by Gov Cum
mings and thus became one Of the Board Gov g. then
tired 20 the Board 10 adjourn twenty days alleging that
other business called him TO another part OF the Territory
The majority OF the Board chose to obey the law which
saws they shall proceed II all the returns be
ceVed" They adjourned only until the next day When
they again met, Cummings snached up the returns as
they ay on the table ready % be examined and attempted
to leave the Being prevented by one Of the Board
he figured them up in corner with pencil by himsef
he then throw them back the table, and in violent
manner declared that il would make difference what
they did. Mr Hunt elected, and he should give him
the certificate which he did do before the result Of the
canvass was declared.
Subsequently the Board proceeded to the votes
from all the counties aud found Mr. ChilcOtt elected by
majority Of lOS votes and gave him certificate accord
iHgy His object in eiectng adjournment for twenty
70 ffutn Of
the Hon. r. Hall, Secretary Of the Treasury, who is
hghmnded honorable gentleman, and would not become
spsuy 10 this infamous proceeding, and get man ap-
pointed who would In this he only succeeded in part.
The removal Of Mr.. Hall too late to complete THO
inquity Although the President very promptly responded
10 his demand for Mr. Halls removal, the Board Of Can
vassers had performed their duty according 10 law.
present in Denver during this whole transaction,
and prove the above in relation TO the canvass to DO
substantially true by many Of the citizens who were in the
room and narrated these facts 10 me- and will certify TO
them in due time. His argument TO justify this fraud,
that Delegate snot Territorial officer 10 too hmsy
30 direct serious thought An officer elected by the peo
pie Of the whole Territory is eminently Territorial
officer and the laws Of Colorado class him such by tho
following language; Section H. page 49, Of the laws regu-
Office Of Delegate % Congress, any ether Territorial
officer" &c. The ingenuity displayed by Gov c. in bis
letter to Justify bis usurpaon OF power and unlawful
action Is truly amusing and es ne Is tle Ola s.oly
10 hide their guil' Again he asserts that com
Psny Of Rebel deserers organized poll and all voted for
we're true, IL would give good evidence that
they properly reconstructed" This proposition Is
so ridiculous that IL needs refuation from 1t Is
simplve weak invention Of O brain demoralized by an
excessive desire % thwar the wishes Of loyal people and
defeat the admission Of the State and cannot DO ubsan
tated by any shadow Of fact He says also that
was taken and the returns are nearly all in and the result
is population Of about 26 O0O" Why did he not publish
these returns by the eounesi Simply because if done II
would have proved his statement false TO population
letter lust received from the Secretary and acting Gov
ernor says Six Of the most important counties IN wealth
and numbers, excepting Gpin and AUapahoe, are
yet 20 DO heard from. In this connection 1t
may be well 10 state, that many Of the
essessors while in the prosecution OF their assessments
were entirely ignorant Of the duties imposed by the law
regulating census returns, copies Of which, though
promptly forwarded failed TO reach them IN time 70 be Of
service; Others were not advised by any recognized
authority that such law had been passed until after their
assessment rolls had been returned 70 the County Clerks
am also informed that In not few localities no effort
made TO record the residents and that
only such taken down as came properly within
their Jurisdiction 90 Of taxable property. In the
second largest and most popuous mining county Cea
Creek has been made because Of the refusal OF
the officer assigned to that duty TO act for tie sum spce
fed In the law"
HE attempt TO prove the number Of population In Col
orado by this census is only equaled in perhdy by the
manner in which be attempted 70 show 10 Congress last
session. by false table Of the votes cast at the different
elections that population was decreasing To this
table he obtained the signature Of his cleTks high
minded and honorable gentlemanby deception and fraud
which will be abundanty shown at the approaching ses
sion Of Congress- That Cummings docs not believe his
population shown By the