Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-12-15
THE SWTNDLE AfFEmPTkD ny
THE FLORIDA CARPET. BAG

THE SWKNDLE ATTEmPTED BY
) THE FLORIDA CARPET. BAG
GERS.
The effort of the csrpet-baggers TO cheat
the Democrats of Florida out Of their vic /
tory, is about the most impudenf, not to
rascslly Transaction that INSTRUMENTATION
of the Southern States has yet brought
forth. The Democrats secured clear
majority of the popular vote in the late
election in Florida, but Gov. Reed and
his brother carpet baggers determined to
manipulate the returns go as to reverse the
verdict of the people, and but for the
timely discovery of their welllaid schemes,
their efforts would no doubt have been
successful The Tallahassee Floridian
of the 9th inst. gives complete expose
of this attempt to swindle. '1t will be
remembered" says that paper, ''that the
Board of State Canvsssers met in Talla-
hassee on the 29th of November for the
purpose of examining the returns from the
different counties and determining the re-
suit of the election. When this Board
met, negro named Gibbs, who performs
the functions of Secretary of State, an
nounced that, with the exception of those
of Brevard, Calhoun, Dade, Msnates,
Monroe and Sumter, all the returns had
been received. These counties, it is known,
gave, in the aggregate, Conservative
majority of more than four hundred
votes, and, with the exception of Calhoun
and Sumter, are by law allowed twenty
days in which to complete the county
canvass. The vote of Sumter county
gave a msiority of two hundred and
| fifty-four for the Conservative ticket, and
the fact that the County Clerk had mailed
the returns to Tallahassee on the 10th,
of November, gave rise TO a suspicion
that foul play would be attempted by the
carpet-baggers. Acting upon this sus
picion, inquiry was made at the Office of
the Secretary of State, and that function
airy and his clerk both distinctly affirmed
that the returns of Sumter and of Polk
had been received. And yet, notwith-
standing the admission of the negro Sec
Rotary of State-a fact which is proven
by the affidavit of Col. William K. Beard,
printed in tue FToridian-the Board
of CanYassers, of which Gibbs was
a member, was allowed to 60 on
with its count without the retuIns
for Sumter county. The intention is
plain; but if other proofs were required,
they can be supplied by second affidavit
of Col. Beard, which traces the Sumter
returns to Reeds OlOn office. The re
turns of Suvannee county were suppressed
even in a more outrageous and unlawfu
manner. These returns are traced to th(
postoffice in Tallahassee by three se7era
af1dsvits of prominent citizens, anC
then, to render the testimony irresistible
clerk in the Office testifes, under oath,
that he delivered the returns to one NJ
II. Alberger, carpet -bagger from Wash
ington City, who is authorized by the
Governor and Secretary of State to re-
ceiye their mails. Notwithstanding thi!
Overwhelming evidence, Reed ana
Gibbs deny that they have received
| the SuUGanee returns. This mendacitJ
could not be exceeded even by carpet
Dagger"
The high handed efforts of Reed sn(
his csrpet-bag and scalawag associates &c
suppress and manipulate the lawful yott
of Florida is simply an aggravated e1
ample Of the tenure by which the Radica
party in the South hold the offices, and o.
the means to which its leaders resort t
continue themselves in power. The carpet
. Dagger dies hard; but that he dies at all, i
cause for benson. Reeds ballot manipu
latiOn i'll Florida is an admirable supple
ment to the miserable attempt at usurpa
ton in Alabama, and is altogether wor
thy and timely addition TO the nayisl
record of this ''party of progress"