New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1872-08-24
THE GovERNoRsHIP QUESTION.

THE GOVERNORSHIP QUESTION.
WIFI. THE ELECTION OF CALDWELL. BE CON
TESTED 1.-THE GROUNDS OF SUSPICION or
| FRAUD-sUsPICIoUs DELAY IN SENDING in
THE RETURNS-THE LIBERALS ANXIOUS fol1
HONEST ELECTIONS.
[PROM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRlBUNhl
RALEIGH, Aug. 21.-" viii he do it VIII
Judge Merrmon contest Gov Caudwelrs election 7" is
question have heard asked in every town that have
visited the eastern and southern portions OF TINS state
since the election, and il ia question which think
can answer Judge Merrimon will not take the intia
in the matter will he engage in contest at all
unless he thoroughly convinced that he has justice on
his side. But whether contest is made or not the
alleged frauds to be investigated and the facts that
| are proved Will be given to the public.
Is there sufficient ground Of suspicion to warrant such
an investigation Most assuredy there is. In former
letters enumerated ofho evidences OF fraud
and irreguarity that discovered in the eastern and
southeastern counties OF the safe during hurried
tour Since my return to Raleigh 1 have heard from
other localities, and believe thai 1000 would be small
estimate Of the number Of illegal votes cast in the state
on the 1st inst Here some OF the evldences
to-day. letter from Craven County, in which Newbern
is stuated Investigation hal already begun there,
and the strongest evidence had been obtained OF extern
sve fraudulent voting The wOri will be continued and
the testimony arranged in such shape as to be used be-
fore any committee, or In a cOurtof law.
The With Congress District-Lach's-is one IN which
the Liberals lost heavily in sevep counties Gen. Leach
was in Raleigh, yesterday, his way 10 attend an Inn
ense Conservative demonstration at Fayetteville and
had considerable conversation with him about the
ele oon In his district The Intimidation OF voters by
threats Of prosecution under theInerna Revenye laws
or the purchase of votes by the promise of immunity
from punishment for acts ALLEGED already TO have been
committed was practced TO graf extentin some coun
ties the With District hope efore long 10 give the
readers OF THE TRIBUNE pstve evidence on this
subject, Beside this immense INNS OF Administration
mon ey were used under the dretion Is rumored OF
Settles brOthern-law. This IL district, also, into
which great number of negroe believed 10 have
be imported from Virginia. Gen. Leach says that be
has evidence that there $50 OF these coonzed
immigrants, OF whom however only about 400 voted.
| Give me half chance" he exclaimed, land will
prove 800 illegal votes will Rsign my Congress GER
tiAcate can change the vote in my district alone II
the remainder OF the State II did IN the late
election SO as TO give ten eeconl votes to Mr. Greeley
The With District which adoas the With on the vest
embraces among Others the eouties OF Yadkin surry
Allegheny, Ashe, Wilkes, and Ircdell, In which the
heaviest Conservative losses Occrred Tho Member OF
| Congress elect from that district is Mr. Robbins
| who, in writing 10 a friend in Raleigh, explains
how the Administration conducted the campaign in that
part Of the State. He says tina some Of the most en-
thusastic Conservatives in thos counties, who
gagged In dlsting liquors fromfruits were strangely
appointed TO subordinate position in the Internal Rev
were constantly travelling heir counties moth
ing purely political business the interest OF the
Administration. The fruit crop his year. he says, Inn
mense, and these people hae market they
obliged TO dstil 1t. The 10 cent is than they
think they afford to pay. In these Special
Revenue Officers have told the people that II they viii
be little liberal with Grant antnot 90 against him in
the elections the President WILDE liberal with them
meaning that their disting operations will not be too
closely locked into Mr. Robbins says that the proof of
this kind of intimidation cler that at least 80 in
dictmens under the Enforcemer will be obtained In
| Wilkes County alone.
A very suspicious ercuinstane inigconneetlon! with
the late election is the tardnessSth which returns
made the Secretary Of Stat and the that only
the total votes Of counties are, most instances given.
The election law is defective not requiring the
turns be mado the 6ecretap State unt the day
on which the Legislature meets, tut 1t expected that
the shers would I'LL up the blnks sent them immedi
atey and return them TO Raeln One Of the Admins
TRITON Olceholders told me, Yesterday that the Official
returns were in from every comfy but Herford and
called at the office OF the Secttary OF State DR. Men
ninger this morning for the pupose Of obtaining copy.
To my surprise found that oily about rs counties had
been heard from officially. Threurns which have been
received by Gov Caldwell az not official, and some of
them are not correct But te strangest thug is that
the shers especially In the ge negro counties do not
return the registration the by precincts town
AhIps The blanks sent out the Seoretary's Office
contain on aide space TO entering Ia complete alb
sraet OF the and regstraion the other
tfcates TO be signed by the Sheriff In nearly every
| case the latter only are hlledut
| II a contest lie made, whichnow beyond doubt.
some developments maybe looked for in regard 10
the use Of money. Among te first witnesses likely TO
DO called will be Senator Dol, Marshal Carrow, Cot
loctor OF Internal Revenue Iase r. Young Sheriff Loe
of this county, aud others, who will be asked II they
used any money and who they paid 1t to. Numerous
| checks signed by Pool and Yung seen by prom-
nent Conservatives during tie campaign, Then the per-
| scns who received the money will be summoned and
pade TO tell what they made of It, Unless these gen
tleen soresn themselves Iehnd the provision OF law
| that man cannot be mate TO crimpate himself, we
shall be likely 10 learn wat done with part of
| Grants North Carolina Corruption fund.
Ineyer saw people 30 nxious to restore and main
tain the purity Of elections the Conservatives OF this
/ State This Is public confession TO cover corrupt
practiees but tbs solemn aud earnest determination OF
the respectable people OF the state. The standard of
uca morals In the Conservative and Liberal parties
here WILL think, compaie fayorably with that Of any
other State In the Union. The policy Of making
test has been the chief topic Of discussion since have
been in Raleigh this tme aud have heard prom
nent Liberal leader but dozen say that they
desire TO cover up frauds committed by members
OF their own party than those OF the Radicals sny