Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1872-05-18
Significant

A bin % amend thc " Enforcement Act" was lr-
troduccd in The Senat, on the lith Instant II
provides for the appointment of supervisors OF c.
lcctions lor representatives Co Congress at each
voting precinct where a request for said appoint
ment is preferred by ten citizens residing In such
precinct Mr.. Casserly of yed an amendment,
prohibiting the presence 90 tac ciccuonpols Of
troops or squads Of armed men, unless torepel the
armed enemies cf the Omitted States, or as ncces-
sary 10 protect the public peace.
In the coarse orbis remarks u7on his amend
tnent Ar. Cssseriy said that hc was induced 20 o.
Ter tidy the practices oC the California Navy Yard
about election time, ,ast 6M For weeks before
the election the state was thoroughly canvasscd
for laborers, SC. and democrats were generally
secured. As labor was not in great demand and
the inducements held out quite fatteTing, some
200 or 400 men we're gathered there by the time
.of the election.
Ii appears that sort Of gangway was cnostruct
cd In order to protect voters from Improper scru-
tiny or interference while IN he act Of depositng
their ballots. On the morning Of the election a
gang oCarmed men were marched up to the polls,
and they tore down the barrier, for the purpose OF
intimidating the weakened, or those who should
take into their heads to change the tickets so kind
~ placed in their hands Their names were then
called OF and checked on the payroll, each man
receiving very pretty tcklt striped on its back
and printed With very fine type So that it was i'm
possibl, 20 alter it, Thes, tickets it was current
~ reported, were prepared in Washington and
frautcI 70 the Pacific. Now notice the results Of
This free election in free country In that coun-
" in 1867, the vote stood ,lS5 republican, and
Z ,22S. democratic; in lS6S, Grant who was very
popular there, received I $40 votes. and Seymour
LAS; but at The election referred to, Booth, re-
publican candidate for Governor, had 2,7Ol, and
Haigbs, bis democratic competitor, l.36I votes!
This unprecedented increase OF the Radical vote
was undoubtedly due % the admirable contrivance
iust described. This outrage was denounced by
men Of all parties and ot al shades, for that COM
inuuity has uotbccomc quite so demoraiizcd as O.
stand BY calmly and see such an outrage Perpetra-
ted upon freemcn In the exercise Of their dearest
rights. This exposure Of interference in the ev-
preston Of the popular VIII is quite Opportuue az
this particular jgacture." as Mark Twain would
say. Wehope that Gen. Gran; has had the pleas
ure OF reading the California Senator's remarks,
although We are not quite succ that be needs 90 be
reminded ofiis duty in the premises for last week,
in his letter 10 the CirI Rights meeting held in
Washington 20 back up Mr.. Sumner in his strictly
parliamentary course in the Senate recently, be
distinctly states chat De is in favor Of securing 20
every citizen al the rights 90 which be is entitled
Either the words "ofAi,icau descent we're omit
red by slip Of the pen, for, of course, that elc-
nent Of citizenship was largely represented atthc
meeting, or our vel informed President does not
Government ia bound to respect and protect, OF
that the right Of franchise is one Of them.