The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1869-05-11
From the Connersville Exam liner.
Card of Judge Reid. $50
Editor Examiner j.:

In answer to numerous inquiries by
my friends concerning the status of my
contest with Mr.. Julian, allow me to re-
port through the medium of your paper,
how the case stands at Washington.
The alleged cause of the rejection of
the South poll of Richmond by Mr.. Ju-
liam, was the informalities connected with
the election, by which the votes of 1883
persons were thrown out, and a majority
of POI votes lost to me, which, if count
ed, wonld have secured my election.
Then, supposed Mr.. Julian was will.
ing to rest the validity of his seat on
the legality Of the adm ission or rejection
of this poll, hence the object / had in
taking dispositions at Richmond, was to
find out what the Election Board had
done, and whether their acts would be
sufficient, either in law, or Congression-
al usage, to cause its rejection.
This was fully done by the examina-
ton Of the Township Trustee, Inspector,
Judges, Clerks, and citizens, covering
both north and south polls. and the de-
positions were sent to Washington, On
which l was willing to submit the case.
although / claimed that there were er-
rors of some twenty votes as reported
against me, in Union and Wayne rcoun-
ties, and large vote in Rush which l
held illegal.
But the answer Of Mr.. Julian relied on
no such facts as the informalities com
planned of at the south poll, but covered
illegal votes in almost every county of
the district and mapping out good
summers work if faithfully prosecuted;
hence, one of the first motions made at
Washington after the appointment of the
Committee on Elections. was to allow
him sixty days to take further deposi-
tons. This motion was referred to the
committee and reported back, limiting
the time to thirty days, sufficient only to
bridge over the time Of the sitting of the
present session, but too short for any
other purpose. On motion of Mr.. Hol-
man, the time was extended to sixty
days in order to enable me to obtain re
bntting evidence if necessary. This,
suppose I must do, as he has sworn
every Republican voter in the South pre-
cinct, for whom they voted, aud may
swear every voter in the district, as he
claims every Republican voted for him.
Heretofore the secrecy, Of the vote by
ballot, was held inviolate, and no one
was reckless enough to compel disclo-
sure, but now, nothing is too sacred for
party purposes, and no right secure
against party power; but will say this,
that I met with no gentleman at Wash
ington, who contended for Mr.. Julian
holding his seat on the alleged causes
on which he obtained the certificate from
the Governor, nor on the light of the
County Board Of Canvassers to act as
they did, in rejecting the South poll, for
all the points involved in the issue be
tween them. have been tried and decided
in the highest legal tribunals of New
I ork and Indiana, and well settled as
from me, or award it to him. s..
However, as the Committee on Elec-
tons is now constructed, six Republi-
cans to two Democrats, and the House
two to one against me, on party vote,
Mr.. Julian may count with perfect relia
biiity on the holding Of the seat for the
pre- sent term, but as / went into the con-
tsst more for the purpose Of vindicating
Il principle Of right, than expecting to
obtain my seat in Congress, have every
confiden ce in succeeding in the chief OBJ
ject OF my desire, although the odds may
seem against me.
When l lett Washington the session
was expected to close on the last Friday
of March or first of April, and may not
meet again before December, but meet
when it may, l expect to be there 10 de-
mand hearing in behalf of the friends
who supported me in the late election,
and the right of tree, fair an d inviolate
ballot JOHN S. REID.