The New York herald., 1872-10-07
Only One Little Row with a
Custom House officer.
How the COlored Voters Were De-
ceived by Their Friends.
Negroes Going Around the City Hunting for
Somebody Who Can Tell Them
Their Names.
Many of the Cclored Republicans Voted
the Wrong Ticket.

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the Wrong Ticket.
From the Savannah Advertiser Oct 81
The polls opened yesterday morning accord
ing to custom at six O'Clock. The voting COM
menced Immediately. The negroes coming forward
in large numbers kept the managers and clerks
busy for some time. The boxes having been ar
ranged with regard to the alphabetical order OF the
voters, there would have been trouble, delay or
confusion, but the negroes did not condne them
selves to any system. going wherever there was a
possibility OF getting In vote soonest. However,
everything progressed smoothly the entire day,
with the few exceptions mentioned elsewhere.
The negroes continued voting steadily until they
mad exhausted oil the egitimately paid polls, when
they endeavOred to cast the votes OF those who
held certificates from Custom House other United
States ofcials testifying that their poll tax had
been paid.
These certificates, as we have elsewhere stated,
were rejected by the managers OF the election, as
they had no right to recognize any other than Cap
tain McGowan's TAX Colectorl certificate. But,
as we have said, they had failed to qualify them
ment they and their pre- tended friends endeavored
to make the matter all straight by scheme OF the
KIND referred to. IN TINS aney aiied TO secure tne
tain MCGOWAN, and an effort was made to create
trouble.
1t was at this uncture of affairs that J. e. Bryant
received the blow that queted him for the balance
of the day. But finding that they could not carry
their point In the nice little scheme they had fixed
up to surprise and blum the democrats the leaders
OF the radical party, disgusted al their own bad
management IN not having the poll tax Of their
negro voters paid up long ago, determined to give
up the fight and withdraw from the field. They
accordingly instructed the negroes who had con
Court House and assemble in st. James
SQUARE IN front Of Trinity church. There
short short '' time Colonel Atkins. Collector of the
Port, came up to their relief and addressed
,sr words on,,t to to
for If there is anything the newly enfranchised
citizen prizes highly 1t is the right Of casting his
almost abandoned by the colored voters,
seeming to take any interest in the election at all,
except a few surly-looking, disappointed darkles,
who hung about some OF the corners Later in the day.
however, they commenced crowding about the Court
House square again, when It became evident that
radicals had deceived them In making them believe
that the payment OF one dollar in the way many had
paid it would enttie them to vote. Had they gone
forward themselves and paid the poll tax, as many
OF the coorcd people who voted the democratic
day yesterday, they could have voted. But as the
case then stood the money OF those who paid any
was hey had notmg IN n y to shcW e
reflections haunted many OF the poor, deceived
negroes, and they expressed themselves freely to
the white democrats. 1t is only another evidence
OF the treachery ana deception practised upon
them by these designing men, who have no further
use for them than as the means OF riding Into office.
The voting continued through the afternoon very
quietly until six O'Clock, when the polls were
closed. The number OF votes cast was found to
be 1856
Through the caution and Arudence OF the Mayor
and the city officials generally the entire police
force was on duty, while heavy special police was
held In readiness for any emergency. But, happily
for the peace and dignity Of our city, quie pre-
vailed throughout the entire day. Never have we
had more orderly election.
The city is perfectly quiet though we were in
formed that large numbcrs of negroes are IN the
city and in the suburbs from the country.
DEPUTY COLLECTOR GETS HURT.
progressing as Quietly as it E'i5e possibly could dis
turbance was created In the lobby at the Court
House, In the immediate vicinity Of the stands
where the. managers were taking in the votes.
The disturbance was occasioned by discussion
which arose between J. f. Bryant, the radical
some Of the managers Of the election in regard to
the question OF the payment OF the poll tax 1t
,na rVan claimed a pTsons 10 whe
had paid their poll tax in any way whatever were
entitled to vote. The truth of the matter
to pay their poll tax until the very day OF election
or only day before. The polls were taken in by
the Tax Collector as rapidly as possible. But, with
the most rapid method that could be devised, it
was impossible to attend to every one at once. Be-
lec;or's office almost entirely, and we were informed
were paying their poll tax at the Custom House
and in other localities where there was no one au-
thorzed to collect It, But, III order to correct the
evil growing out OF lher neglect to pay in time,
certificates were given to the negroes signed 10y
radical officials, candidates and party leaders,
showing that the poll tax had been paid to them.
Upon presentation of these certificates to the
managers OF the election as matter OF course they
were Immediately rejected, rs none other than the
Tax Collectors certificates were allowable. This re-
fusal on the. part of the managers rendered the
noisy and abusive, as we are informed. Some OF
the deputy sherifs, whose instructions were to
dertook to draw pistol, whereupon he was sum-
marily Knocked down by a deputy with a "biy,"
For a few moments considerable excitement pre-.
vailed in the neighborhood OF the polls, but the
wounded man was immediately taken charge of by
policeman or two and conveyed to the square In
front of the Court House. Here he took kneelng
position, and with hat or the blood flowing from
the would. he presented the appearance OF
martyr. The darkes crowded around to get
good look at their champion, but the police force
kept them at a distance forming hollow square,
with the martyr OF democratic njusticen as the
centre figure. In q few minutes, however, he was
removed to Armory Hail. where his wounds were
Afidavits were made before Justice Marsh charg
ing Bryant with carrying concealed weapons and
resisting an onicer. The necessary warrants for
his arrest were Immediately issued, and Bryant
was arrested under them. lie was required to
give bail In the sum OF 1000.
MISCELLANEOUS MOVEMENTS.
Some OF the nation's wards wniled the happy
receipts in the ballot boxes in place Of their tickets
During the election yesterday some of the highly
intelligent voters OF the radical party, not knowing
their Names had TO pass around the circuit of the
Court House several times before they found the
right place. One fellow thought he had it, and the
managers being in doubt he got down on his knees,
swearing he could not tell the letter Of his name,
and was sent on meandering around the building.
Little knots Of RAIDS could be seen late yesterday
afternoon and night discussing the election and
how they lost IL. Some accuse the democrats OF
foul play while others think IL was occasioned by
the ignorant negroes not knowing how they voted.
II was currently reported on the streets That two
very prominent republicans Of this city-men who
have figured as candidates IN that party--v0ted
the democratic ticket
In passing the Custom House yesterday afternoon
we were struck with the darkness that seemed to
pervade that particular locality and, upon raising
our eyes, discovered the cause. The coloring
OF the interior was decidedly black and getting
blacker
Grant, the radical muatto got into fracas at
the Court House early yesterday morning, and for
his pains received q blow upon the back OF his
head and was then taken to the barracks. His