National Republican., 1873-03-07
THE CASE OF SENATOR SPENCER.


The claim Of Doctor Sykes for a scat In
the Senate, from Alabama, is prcdicated upon
tue original conspiracy on the part Of the
Democracy to overthrow the will Of the peo-
plo as expressed at tho ballot box at the late
election. The facts have been clearly stated
several times before In our columns Il seems
little singular that the Republicans should
carry the State Of Alabama by a very decided
majority, and that, too, notwithstanding oil
sorts Vi intlmdatious and violence, and yet,
according TO Democratic assertions, nothing
has been gained. Prior to the election, the
Democratic presses Of Alabama demanded
that their candidates should be counted In
and the Republicans counted out, lat all
hazards" The Republican candidates for
tho Legislature from Barbour and Marengo
counties, who were elected by overw helming
maior'tics, were accordingly denied their GER
tihcates by the Democratic Secretary of
State, and the opposition candidates counted
In. 1t was barelaced outrage aud one
which the courts have taken coguizance Of
by indictment aud arrest. Accordingly, the
Republican members elected, and constI-
tuIsng more than majority Of the whole
number Of Senators and Representative, ind
lug themselves the victims Of conspiracy and
fraud, resolved to organize quietly in the
District courtroom, and thus avoid n col
llsion which threatened bloodshed and ylo-
lenco.
The retiring Lieutenant Governor, by VIZ
tue OF his Office, Is required to open the ro-
turns and proclaim the result. Being n
Democrat, he chose to perform this mlniste-
Ilal act In the presence Of the revolutionary
body, quorum Of which was effected by
fraudulent certificates Of election given by
the Democratic Secretary Of State to defeated
Democratic candidates.
The majoritie, for tho Republican electoral
and state ticket being Unexpectedly too
large 10 disregard, the Lieutenant Governor
was forced TO perform, with bad grace the
Office Of declaring Governor LOWS and tho
other Republican candidates duly elected.
Governor LOWS qualified, and his arst oct
upon obtaining possession of the archives and
records was TO inform the rump Legislature
assembled at the capitol that they were au
Illegal body, not comprising a quorum OF
legally-eleeted members, according 10 the re-
turns In bis possession.
Thus the Republican Governor set right
tho fraud practiced by the Democratic Secre-
tary Of State. Under the recognition Of the
Governor, tho Court-house body organized,
elected Hon. Lewis II. Parsons Speaker OF
the House, while the Lieutenant Governor
elect Hon. Alexander McKintry, presided
over the Senate. In an orderly, dignlaed
manner, and on the day required by law, this
body, constituting more than q majority OF
leGGlly-elected members, elected George Z. |
Spencer 10 the Senate for second term. The |
rump body, presided over BY self-constltuted |
otlcerI, and composed Of less than quorum |
OF legally-eccted members, imposed the office |
OF Senator, with It's blushing honors, upon |
DR.. Francis W. sykcs, who had been for
many years an unsuccessful candidate for a
multitude OF Offices.
Governor Lewis awarded tho certificate,
very justly, to Senator Spencer, while the So
called Legislature furnished DR.. Sykes with a
clean bill OF health, duly attssted by tho self
constituted officers. Under an arrangement
known as the Attorney Generals compromise,
the rival Legislatures subsequently fused, and
the outraged and deirauded Republican mem
bcrs from Barbour, MRrengo and the Sen.
Ator from another county were awarded seats
aud occupy them to-day. The members who
voted for George Z. Spencer now constitute
as they constituted before, q large majority
o! tho whole body, notwithstanding the death
Of two Republican members Eiuce tho organ
IIauon. The two bodies, as now In session,
are presided over by the same officers who
presided when Senator Spencer was reelected.
Nov, when Senator Spencer presents bis GER
tincate, the Democrats In the Senate, true TO
their usual instincts and in accordance with ,
the mallgn spirit which has animated them
In csSs and In posse since 1850, howl loudly ,
against Senator Spencer aud equally loudly I
In favor OF DR.. Francis W. Sykes, They de-
mand that Senator Spencer shall not be seated
until tho sccession-Democracy of Alabama i
hall consent thereto, and that the memorial !
of DR.. sykes, containing cI p0rte statements
lnd, fortOOth, legal opinion obtained from
Montgomery lawyer named Samuel Y, Rice,
hall be taken US his credentials for scat IN =,
he Senate, equal with the Governors GER
InoatO, Let the Senate promptly seat y
suaIor Spencer upon his certificate =
nd prind Cleie case, and Dr.. sykes
lemorlal will DO duly considered and reported !,
n hereafter by the Committee on Privileges n
nd Electlops.