Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-04-13

As a specimen of how elections are con-
Quoted under Radical rule in the Southern
States, we give below, from the Jacksonville
(Fla) Courier, an account of the election
for Mayor and Aldermen, held in that city
on Thursday, April 4. We ask the special
attention of members Of Congress to the
shameful recital-rendered still more out
rageous from the fact that the deeds Of law
lessness and brutality occurred directly IN
der the nose of Radical officials, without the
slightest effort to correct them, if, indeed,
they were not privy, as well as consenting,
to the riotous proceedings. 1t is by such
means that tho Grant party in the South
expect to carry the Presidential election.
The Courier says:
'eThis election, which came off on Thurs
day, deserves more than passing notice.
The Jones faction were numerically sue
Cessful-that is to say, a majority of the
ballots cast, Gncluding double folded bal
lots) bore their names. To obtain this re-
suit, every unfair and corrupt method was
resOrted to; indeed there was no hesitation
at any thing, however Venal and rascally
which would procure a vote. 1t is hard to
believe that even q radicals avidity for Of
fee could lead him TO commit the gTavest
and most infamous crimes known TO the
law. From morning until night, the street
fronting the polling place was thrOnged
with a riOtOus, excited and drunken gang
OF negro Vagabonds, shouting for Jones and
using every means, cOercive and otherwise,
10 compel other negroes who were not of
their own way Of thinking to vote what was
called the straight Republican ticket. Al
an early hour in the morning the fighting
began-sticks, slaves, clubs, bludgeOns,
bricks, rocks and fists were used indiscrim-
inately, while shouts and curses, and
language which would have dis
Craced the orgies Of a herd Of
demons, filed the air, and ever
and anon, as some poor devil wished to poll
his vote foI any candidate opposed TO the
Jones faction, at a nod from some ring
leader in the deviment, the crowd would fall
upon and beat him in q manner that was
absolutely savage. One poor wretch ap-
preached the polls exhibiting a Moody
ticket, which be made an attempt to vote.
He was Immediately set upOn-his head
bruised and beaten, until the blood
stre4med down upon his face, ana be was
a. last compelled to vote for Jones. Another
Wishing to vote for Moody was set upon
and beaten. He, with great difficulty, dis
engaged himself from his prosecutors and
fled, but was so closely pursued that, in
order TO save his life, he was forced to take
the river. There he came near being
drowned, and it was with the utmost diff
Guilty that through The interpostiOn Of some
white men he was saved. These are only
some Of the incidents that occurred, and
ere mentioned only to illustrate the char
actor Cf the days proceedings.
The savage fighting, the demoniaC howl
ing, the swayinC to and fro Of the black and
hl4sphemous rioters, making the air mo-
meut8rily hileOus by their hOWls and i'm
precautions continued, until the closing Of
the polls rendered the further continuance
Of the riot unnecessary. Then the bolster
ous ragamuflin crew slowly dispersed. And
during all this time Mayor Jones and pO-
lice, supposed to be the cOnseryatOr5 Of the
public peace, stood passiyely ny making no
effort to guell or even mitigate the riot,
further than occasionally to eXpostulate
~clly with the worst Of the rioters. 1t
would not do, Of course, to hurt a hair or
a kiuk in the head Of these pet lambs when
votes were at stake. On, no, Mayor
ra.l-o ElL-t4 AAellLAl- ltA las OdLl Va o-AA~N'
and bis subs doubtless acted under a wink
from their superior. Aud these drunken
and irresponsible miscreants who thus so
boldly defied the peace Of the city, were
mank If them imported from beyond
the corporate limits of Jacksonville,
for the purpose expressly of voting
for Peter Jones and bis ticket. Many Of
them had not even brains enough to put
forth the pretense of being citizens ofJack-
souyille. They came from La Villa, Brook
lyn, Pottsburg, and all the envirOns Of Jack
souyille and the adjacent country, hired and
employed, and paid in mean whisky, at
least, to vote. Peter Jones may not have
paid them. but he stood by and saw the
proceedings without making the slightest
effort to preserve the peace. Many citizens
Ndemanded, begged and implored that he
should exercise his authority, but he would
NOT even so far exert himself as to command
the peace. Indeed, his conduct was such
as TO Justify an observer in the conclusion
that he iuStigated the riot, and such is the