New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-05-05
SOUTH CAROLINA
TIE ELECTION FRAUDS IN THE SECOND CONGRESS
DISTRICT.

TIE ELECTION FRAUDS IN THE SECOND CONGRESS
DISTRICT.
The following, which comes to us from
responsible source relates the frauds in the late eec
ton IN south Carolina for Member of Congress from the
I'D District The vote Of Beaufort County returned
by the Commissioners, was l1s4 for Bowen white RepJ
and 5s ior D. Largs cOlOred Rep, making the aggre
gates for the whole District 1900 for Bowen, and 1855
Tor De Large II would appear that Bowen is entitled
70 the seat:
70 ne Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The trial of the Commissioners OF Election for
tbs county before Judge Bond OF the United States Cir
emit Court 40 CharlestOn, resulting in the conviction Of
The defendants Ion The Preparation OF frauds during and
nouuced by the Charleston papers. and, news item.
' 1eeA go briefly ohronced N most Of the journals of
the country bat the gravity Of the interests involved,
and The starting disclosures made at the trial. would
ss-u 90 warrant more extended comment.
Two months before the hast general election, the Gov
eiAOi a. provided hy law appointed three Commission
es OF election FOR O. county, one Of whom was white.
ana two cJlOrei TIE preliminary canvassing was con-
eucte1 IA a. extremely blttr ani partisan spirit partly
pcuse the candidates for Congress both kepubncans
were OF diverse As the time for election APP
u heiur evident that the cnances Tor success
were pretty evenly balanced Tue law OF Congress had
laera "a esUard around ballot In the Of large
, ~ syr County spars- IS populated no such pro
guon wac amor Cd ANA pubic sentiment and the In
oE4.g q Tic COiu.lasl all that the people
nau 10 !ey upon Toe Character OF the Commissioners
WI u.s., v''tLea safe foundation for pubic confidence.
ara Renee e. siderable vigilance exercised ana their
Jioe'uiisr closely watched. the voting done a
Tue sdaj ahd neauy lille tue boxes % in number,
"a lhe private ling Of one OF the Commissioners.
u .''O' woes were cast and counted and 90 far as
sAta ~ lht state ard County Oicers most Of them,
az etiIliOh OF thc result WAC very surprising;
yut Mhthi Na' announced that particular boxes which
au pc CLOSELY watched az the polls, and were known
u'''1 NJ ieas as many votes for the white candl-
q, IVL lAt oher, had exhibited but i've OF six for
% anu nom ~ - 500 for the other, the people cried
-. ~. IOni wrong Had been committed. FlSceighths
tnC teI-iaie DIlOs immediately destroyed by
ene CohHissoners tio remainder being seized by the
tuoIlt5 oi Inc Oilcd States aud The Commissioners.
uIic''ed Indicted, ana frJn January IS 20 February
a. hrt on ai elUfe Judg BRYAN OF the United States
Dfuft CONT. More Than 100 Witnesses, respectable
sOcfs on the County, examined for the prOsecu
t ADe votes not destroyed we're produced, and many
=. ucn l1ebbhtQ b. tae voters by private marks and
peeuaitics anu over 600 of the name OF
saba late Ton Congress. and Substitution OF another
W use,0sed, and al apparently ia the handwriting
:" Two VI ~ most three ind yiiuals
a. NE votes had been Distributed only on the day pre-
NiVs 70 ~ on the iuOruiLof the cec On and at pre-
Aess ifon % 10 ~ .les a-rt. and the precinct man
eiS we're able Ia every case 10 prove safe delivery or
& o,Ars ut0 The custody OF theRccuscd Commissioners
tfitaoie cOncitsO that the latter were IesIoH
hDF ~ the alterations The jdry. after this long aud
Ie4aI. Dlc trial. ale tO hid verdict but lett On the
,1in this We No thai ne hands charged nave been
''tA4ttee Oai cannot agcc as 10 who were Tue peIPe'