New-York tribune., 1872-08-13
SOUTHERN POLITICS.
NORTH CAROLINA.

PoRTIoNATE vOTE-FRAUDULEST REGIsTRA-
TIONS AND YOTES-PRECAUTIONs AGAINST
THEIR REPETITION IN NOVEMBER.
fPROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRTBUSRi
HALIFAX, n. c., Aug. 10.-0nce wealthy and
prosperous this town. the county seat Of Halifax, now
has that dilapidated oDtIerOad-to-run appearance
which marks too many Southern cities and towns. it
looks II chs and fever, from which almost no in
this part the State escapes had shaken the life out Of
II and left 1t without hope ambition, content to see s
elegant mansions going TO decay beautiful lawns
growing up weeds and its business slowly departing
TO the ryal Weldon The only cnterprsing thing
that have Halifax is its cotton Planted where
were HOwer-beds and wellkept shrubbery and in
little garden patches Of It is nearly hgh
and the plants the most thrifty have ever seem
A SHERIFF EXPLAINS THE INCREASED voTs.
had not heard that there had been any irregulary
in the registration the election here but knew that
should SEQ some Of the county officers, and thought
that might possibly get explanation Of the excess OF
the vote cast in the county over the voting population
as reported in the return OF 1870 The Court
house stands in the OF the town. dngy old build
ing with the inevitable stone pillars in front On the
lower floor found the sherifs office II barnlko
room with furniture except odashioned chest OF
drawers two pine tables covered with loose papers and
ancenlooking recordbooks. and three chairs, two Of
them with broken backs. The floor was covered with
dirt and scraps OF paper An odd boot with long reg
and O single steel spur, pile Of nails, some rusty
scraps OF iron and few suspiciouslooking bottles
scattered about the room gave the air OF junkshop
whose stock had been reduced The sherln, a SNORT
goodnatured looking man, on the shady side OF 90,
welcomed my friend and myself to his sanctuIn, ana
kindly consented show the census-books. Appa-
rently surmisIng that would say something about
the immense Of the vote Of the county since
1863 he at began explain the census. He mad
canyassed the county himself side OF the railroad
and the work the other had been ntrusted to another
man. His part OF the work. the Sheriff said, he had
faithfully performed bat he MT believe the other
man had gone moro than half over his section The
result that while the population Of the county had
been returned at about 10000 he believed that really
was not than 2iOCO give this explanation, made
by the Sheriff Of the county, for what it ia worth
have Of ascertaiung whether he is right or
not in his estimate Of the population Of the county IL
he Is right, do think that the whole Of the vote
cast can even then be honestly accounted for.
FRAUDS IN REGISTRATION AND VOTING.
Tho next gentleman called upon was one OF the poll
holders and from him learned some very interesting
facts in relation to the Of holding elections in
these counties. The law requires the Registrar
TO revise former ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS that they shall
contain only the Of persons living in the county
at the time the election held. and legally entitled to
vote He shall also keep the books open every day.
from sunrise to sunset from the 19h Of July to the
night before election. for the reception Of new names
In Halifax County the Registrar transcribed all the
names which he found the Observation-Disclosures of 1863
10 and II. Where a had died, and his attention
called TO the fact, he wrote the word dead oppo-
site his name, but allowed 1t 10 stand upon the BOOK
The Registrars Office IN Halifax kept open during
the whole time required by law, and the BOOKS were
there but the Registrar himself was sometimes absent
saw and cOnyersod with several who are willing
to make affidavit that they went INTO the kegistrars
and the books there but that the ofncer was
moi there Hundreds of names might have been placed
the book at such times, and nobody would nave oeen
on election day. all agree that the entire vote Of the
township was brought out No one remained away from
the polls who was able to get there I.e TeglstIauon reg
book Of Halifax contained the names OF l423 persons
Only 1888 voted. The entire voting population OF tne
township was positively assured does NOT e3eeeu oVy
so least COO names the register which
nero might have voted But there is evidence that
there illegal voting IN Halifax one negro VINO was
WITHIN 10 days OF election, that he had been IN
tho county 80 days, ana was allowed to vote live men
vote, though not more than tlree OF that name were
registered and one Of those was marked dead
vote. Men were allowed TO register on the
day of election, though it was contrary to law
IS ia Grant noe partisan, ought to say that have
heard him accused OF dishonesty but the Conservatives
here are satisfied that he did lis work in slOvenly
manner that 500 fraudulent votes might nave been
vatves to prevent IT, All this happened in TOWNSHIP
where complaint has been made by the ConseryauyIs
aud where told by one OF the Conservative pom
holders, that the election was fairly conducted
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FRAUD IN NOVEMBER.
What ia the duty of the Liberals in view Of the facts
have recitedi do not now refer to the election That
has Jus passed, but in regard to the Fall campaign
should be carefully examined, and the of all who
are not legal voters stricken off This work should be
begun at once and should be done by the County and
Township Committees under the direction OF the state
Ceptral Committee. great majority OF the negroes
live upon land owned by white men, every one OF Whn
can give list Of his tenants hands. Every land
owner can also give the Of every negro In MS
vicinity who owns his place and IN hls way census
the township be made with little trouble or eh
pense. Them election day, II VIII De an easy mdtsI
TO challenge keep Of the baotbox every 'o'e
that does not belong there. II, A..
This county is more completely under negro RUE than
almost any other OF the 7S3 votes cast IN tis tOWnsY
nj the late election not more than four wDlte en NCeu
fine Radical ticket than four negroes the Con
servatiye The only white Radicals In Weldon are the
Postmaster and the Assistant Assessor Of Internal Rev
enne and am assured that there are but II whle hid
I calls in the whole county -. , 49,.
The latest reports that from other parts OF TINS
county are that at Palmyra Precinct IS more baots
were found in the box than checked on the pun
hooks and that at Lieton l76 Illegal voters were chaf
| lenged ana prevented from voting.
SOUTH CAROLINA.