The New York herald., 1869-02-24
THE ELECTION FRAUDS IN new YORK.

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Report Or the N1inority-How the Loyal
League Agents Paid Witnesses 10 Commit
Perjury-Testimony or Judges and CIcrks-
SHARP Criticism Of tho Majority Report.
Mr.. Kerr, Of Indiana, yesterday presented TO the
House Of Representatives the following report Of the
minority Of the committee appointed TO investigate
the alleged election frauds In this State:-
The minority OF the committee being wholly un-
able to with the majority, either In their as
sumptions OF authority. statements OF facts con-
clusions upon the law and evidence respectfully
submit the following report
II is unquestionably true that Irregularities, frauds
and 0ptTages have been committed IN connection
with the conduct Of elections ever since elective
governments were organized among men. They
are great evils and nterp0se great obstacles to the
success OF representative and republican govern
ments They demand the cooperation Of all men,
and the most bipartisan and vigant care Of legls-
lat0rs to prevent them. They have more or less
attended upon elections In all parts OF our coun-
try. They seem to arse out Of the imperfec-
tions in human nature and laws and were
never yet successfully overcome by any people or
under past present condition Of civilization.
manifest excess Of zeal on the part Of the majority
seems to have persuaded them that the world has
been to extent stranger 70 such things until
the last general election in New York. 1t may not
be improper us therefore, remark that the his
tory OF popular elections IN our and every other
country and the records OF this House In
connection with contested elections supply deplor-
able evidence Of the wickedness awlessness and
corrupti0ns OF men and society, and Of high officers
Of government In such matters important and vital
as they to Inc well-beng OF society and govern
ment Il rs not alone in New York that such con-
duct characterized elections. II s c0nspicnonsy
unjust for tile majority to intimate assume that
such wrongs and crimes disgrace members VI the
pary " e
and criminality Of individual members Of both POI
litica parties.
The history OF elections throughout our country
since the prcdOmnance In It OF the present republi-
caniparty furnishes numerous and stupendous ex
that party The conduct OF elections by them in the
city OF New York. In the State Of Ohio In the STATE
and especially at the capital indianapolis q In
diana, in Kentucky, Mo-, and many other States,
In the highest degree disnonorable to them
great aim OF representative institutions The free
dom and purity Of elections were many times ut
tery destroyed, and unauthorized persons In very
great numbers, and many times whole companies
ana regiments OF soldiers IN defiance OF law, voted
anu voted repeatedly IN their interests and cleo
tiOns were thus controlled.
Before we proceed to the presentation In detail OF
the facts and conclusions In reference to the late
elections In New York we must submit, for the bet
| ter understanding Of this matter, few general
facts, the significance OF which will need no sugges
uon from u.s.
THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CONTROL NEW YORK.
Let 1t not be forgotten tnat for many years past
the State OF New York mas ocen under the control Of
| the republican party Its laws for the government
OF the State at large and OF all It's cities and for the
regulation Of all ls elections were either enacted by
that party subject To its Unrestricted control
FOR amendment, repeal or reformation. II. there
| fore they defective the FAULT is theirs, and
| they should be held responsible for the evil
results which have followed II is true the city OF
New York has been democratic for several years, but
1t Is also true and 1t Is An impressive act IN tins IN
vestigat0n, that II was and is the policy of the re-
publican party ~ deny TO and dvest the city OF New
York Of the great fundamental right or municipal
selfgOvernment, This has been very enectually done
BY that party and there have been created BY i
| raj boards and commissions, invested with most
important powers and jursdicton, and relieved OF all
| responsibility subordination to the city or the
people OF the city in the discharge OF their duties
Se exclusive o. or
the entire police force Of the city. All election
officers are appointed and removed, all police
officers are appointed and removed solely by one Of
these boards, called the metropolitan Board OF Po-
lice." The results OF this transfer Of from Its
rightful possessors has not been promotve Of the
good order good government or honor Of that great
I city.
officers lo conduct All elections constituted ss
stated by Hon. A. Oakley Hall, present Mayor Of the
city. In his testimony. Under sucn an organization
Of election and police officers, aided by other OFF,
| GERS, challengers committees and such political
| machinery as Is usually supplied by the voluntary
action OF parties II would seem almost Impossible
| thai very extensive frauds could be successfully
practlsed IN the interests Of either party ut least
without the consent and Co rat OF both & And
the ballot box or the registry the testimony strongly
| tends to show that this was the case.
ORIGIN AND MOTIVES OF THIS INvBsTIGATI0s.
This committee was called into beng by the House
4 In compliance with . memorial from the Union
ine 20 render il proper or necessary It Is not con-
ned in tts scope or purposes to Investigations into
the conduct Of Conversational elections or election.
for electors for President and Vice President but
| Of the state or New York Of the November
eiectlon. In order TO make basis FOR their memc.
ral,r employed several attorneys TO work up the
support These lawyers are John 4. Foster samuel niue
| J. classy, John ". White and John J. Davenport
The latter s also the clerk OF this committee. These
gentlemen all earnest parttsans or the League.
They all continued In the service Of the League
alter the memorial was presented 70 aid The
ing. discipnine and IN some cases paying for such
testimony as has been taken BY them. (See testf-
sSs: sse nS Gentlemen i also o. appears pei 81 IN evidence
| that Howard r. Msrston George Bliss, Jr., ~
torneys; William Y Wood: 9 United States deiec-
| ployed In the same business. Their talenta in.
| genuty and industry were expended in Efforts only
70 promote the interests Of the League In purely
In addition to all these the League placed 1t the
service q the - majority 2, the ccmiss ssss an inds
and DO the bidding of the oncers Of the committed
and OF the other ATTORNEYS and agents o. the
| partial and jnstminded men may readily
| infer from these iacts the spirit intent In.
| the majority Of the committee aud have presided
over the preparation Of this case for the League.
How well calculated these facts are to defeat and
pervert the high and honorable object and destroy
utterly the fairness and judicial character Of such an
Investigation this man Of Intelligence can for
! moment fail 70 see. These fntcrested agents have
| expended boundlezs industry to discover or "a
secure men 10 swear to frauds or alleged frauds com
mitted IN oil parts Of the states BY democratic but
none TO discover or make proof OF frauds committed
anywhere by republicans The truth OF this statement
i IL amply and significantly vlndicated upon almost
every page OF the testimony taken BY the committee
The majority, In their report, appear 70 have been
unable 10 resist rebuke this partisan animus and
with respect submit that Il uniformly colors aud
| discredits their conclusions.
| WILLIAM r. woop
This man seems, during the lab0rs Of this commit.
tee in New York. 70 have wholly forgotten hrs obIiga
ona and duties a. hired detective In the service III
the Treasury OF the United States He orRanixed m
ofice In Jersey City, In TayIOr's Hotel room No
u.s. with corps Of shorthand reporters all nudoubr-
| edly IN the employment and under the pay OF the