Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-10-24
THE GEORGIA ELECTi0..

While the Tribune has been protusc III
its accusations against the republicans Tor
fraud and corruption in all the elections
which they have carried, we have never
seen line In it against the manner in
which the democrats succeeded in control
ing the election in Georgia. SO far from
entering any word of rebuke against the
outrages pcrpetrated in that State upon the
voters by the democracy, the Tribune
makes the result an object Of special glo-
rification. and proposes to its party the
adoption OF Georgia as the rallying cry
for the fifht in November.
How the election in that State was car
ried for the Greeley side has been very
clearly shown by private dispatches and
letters from various localities in ii. 1t
was accomplished by organized terrorism
and the most reckless cheating. A report
recently published by the republican COM
mittee of the First Congressional district
gives light upon the subject. In many of
the counties the votes were thrown out by
the democratic managers on the smallest
pretexts. In other counties fraud and in
timidation were resorted to. In Bibb
county four republicans were shot dead at
the polls and twenty others were wounded,
resulting in only 1873 republican votes be-
ing cast where two years ago there were
276S. In other places the democrats were
armed and marshaled in military order to
control the election, so that the republi-
cans were obliged to abandon the field.
The report says:
In Savannah, Chatham county, after estab-
fishing one precinct at the Courthouse in that
city, the road leading TO the Oseeche, where
reside some 1900 or 1900 voters, was early on
the morning OF the election, picketed by arm
ed men, and colored voters, peaceably coming
10 the city to cast their votes. were driven
back. The managers appointed were all
democrats. The polling places were IN the
immediate charge of a democratic Sheriff and
a large number Of his democratic deputies,
specially appointed for the purpose. They
were gathered from the worst dens in the
city. The Jail was delivered to make up the
srmy. One Deputy Sheriff, by name Joseph
Julian, had been IN Savannah but two weeks.
having arrived at that port on the British
American bark Mary Lawton, and for some
crime been committed TO the County Jail. He
was freed from Jail on the day previous to the
election, on condition that he would act as
deputy sheriff that day. The person who had
direct charge OF this gang OF rufiianly deputy
sheriffs was the deputy jsiler. named Carroll
These peace officers roughly pushed away
from the polls the colored voters. when they
attempted TO exercise the right Of suffrage,
and thus hundreds fully entitled thereto, were
deprived of their votes.
The city police TO the number of loo or
more, armed with rifle muskets and bayonets,
were drawn up in line in front OF the Court
house. The recently re organized volunteer
militia companies, all armed, were in their
armories ia plain sight, and but a few rods
from the voting place. The Chatham Artile-
ry, with cannon loaded and Lorses hafnessed,
were ready at a moments notice TO appear on
the scene, while the Georgia Hassars, a COM
pany OF cavalry, were patroliing the streets.
All these arms in the hands OF the democrats
and formerly soldiers In the rebel army, os-
tensibly for the purpose Of maintaining the
peace, but really on the least pretext to shoot
down and murder unarmed men, who were
loyal 10 the Government. The utter mpos-
sibility of being able TO cast republican votes
withou endangeriDg the lives OF those who
attempted TO do so, and the 0utai assault on
a republican challenger while quietly pr
forming his duty, determined the republican
leaders, after fiji consideration, to withdraw
from the contest ana abandon the field.
In Scriven and other counties, persons en-
titled by law to vote, having paid their taxes
for 1871, and others being exempt from poll
wax on account Of age, were rudely driven
away from the polls. the democratic managers
sasa~fally requiring colorsd voters to swear
shsy haa paid all taxes since emancipation,
nnns INC law required only the last tax 10 be
p ahs republicans, in attempting to vote
s;as Sa =, Mas ssaawfully hindered in their
~ s. "a | rs peAs, we're threatened with ar
,s.s In R a,as obliged to give up the con
jori,y Of eolored vo,s,s ~ ~ ev ,r zoo 50