The Portland daily press., 1875-05-13
THE SPENCER INVESTIGATION
How Senator Spencer Secured
His Seat.

How Senator Spencer Secured
His Seat.
DisgracefuI Revelations by His Own
TooIs-A Significant Letter from spen-
Ger Himself.
MONTGOMERY, Ala May 1.-THE legislative
committee to investigate the means whereby
Snencer secured an election to the Senate, took
a Iecess to day, Over 800 pages of manuscript
of testimony by Republican witnesses prove
the following facts Before the election Spen-
GER went to Louisville to see Gen. Terry. and
nrged him to send troops to Alabama, the pur-
nose being to intmidate Democratic voters
After the election a separate court room legis-
lature was organized, because 1t was f. AIRED
that if both parties met together, the Demo-
Gratis would control the organization and defeat
Spencer The Republicans who opposed Spen-
Ger were bought over with money and promise
of amendments to Office. In order to get a
ouorum for the court room body of men were
sent for and paid TO come and represent coun-
ties, not only without certlhcates OF election,
Int without any pretence of election. In order
tn defeat quorum in the capitol legislature
one member was bribed by Kinds, and another
was drugged to lnsenslbility. The money which
was used 10 corruptlng members was govern
ment funds borrowed for that purpose from the
port revenue officials.
When compromise was proposed by Attor-
new General Williams it was found that unless
one Democratic Senator could be unseated and
a Republican placed in his stead, the record
would show that the court room legislature had
a ouorum in the Senate, and that Spencers
election was void. Whereupon one Glass,
Republican Senator from Macon county, was
paid from $500 to $500 to pair off with the
Democratic Senator in what was known as the
Miller and Martin contest, and violate his
pledse, Lieut.. Governor McKenstry was to
rule, and the Republican Senators were to sus-
tain his rulings, so as to seat the contestant
before q notice of the treachery could be con-
veyed to the absent Democratic Senator'S
The testimony of Robert Barber, clerk of the
court room lower House, and also clerk of the
same house after the consolidation, is sample
of the whole Mr.. Barber, being duly sworn,
testified as follows:-I was clerk of the lower
house of the court room legislature and also
clsrk of the House in the consolidated Legisla-
ture, The object of the court room legislature
was to secure the organization and elect Spen-
Ger to the United States Senate. We did not
think this could be done If we met at the
apitol.
After detailing the means employed by
Spencer to shelve ex Gov. Parsons, and also
White who he heard would be rival candidates
for the Senate, witness proceeded:-I have
letters from Spencer relative to the use OF
troops, but as they are confidential, do not
propose to introduce them. The committee
insisted on seeing the letters. and Barber, after
consulting his counsel. introduced them.
Letter No. 2, dated Decatur, Oct. 22d, 1873,
after stating what troops had been ordered to
Alabama, and where stationed, proceeds thus:
L wish Randolph, Deputy U. s. Marshal,
would use a company in Opelika 10 making
arrestslin Tailipoosa, Randolph and Clairbourne
countless and wish you would 60 to Tallipoosa
and block the game. must not, however, be
known in the matter. In haste, truly yonrs,
uUtSigned) GEO. C. SPENCER.
To Rober Barber @
Witness continued-I know Spencer's hand
writing, and these letters were written and
signed by him, and bear the impress OF his seal
and motto "Dieu defende le droit' The ex,
preston relative to arrests in Randolph and
other counties refers to letter received by me
from Randolph county, in which it was stated
that if troops be sent into these named to make
few arrests, voters could be run out of them
to secure the election of Republican candidates
for the Legislature.
informed Gen. Spencer of these facts, and
this is what that part of his letter relates to.
As Assistant Secretary of the Republican
State Executive Committee, was familiar
with the plan of Spencer and the Republican
party. j. j. Kinds was Spencer's confidential
man, and represented him in every PARTICULAR 4,
He had control of every movement y: y.
Sheats, Col. W. II. Belts. W. q. Whiting,
J. J, Hinds Chas Pelham, U. S. Marshal A.
R. Baller and had the special management OF
Spencer's election. In our conferences was
informed that all the money needed to secure
Spencer's election was provided and in the
hands of Kinds. 1t was said that the LoWndes
county delegation, except Maj Hunter, were
disaffected. This would defeat Spencers elec-
ton. We were informed that $1,000 had been
raised to dsaffect these members, and that it
had been deposited subject to the order of
Senator Jones. This we afterwards found to
be untrue, but not knowing any better then,
was instructed to say to Senator Jones THAI we
had $3.50 subject to his order, conditioned
upon his holding the Lowndes county delega-
ton in the court room assembly. Learning
that Jones was attending colored ball, sent
j. N. Beach to interview him and report.
Sandy Bynum, John G. Hendrix and myself
were selected to watch the Lowndes county
Representatives, except Hunter, all night. Just
before the day Assistant Sergeant alarms
Dan Norwood came out of the house where
they were staying, and gave So to return and
tell them wanted to see them. They came
out and we went to the Madison House, where
Spencer had ordered a breakfast for their
special benefit. then went to Spencer's room
and informed him that 1 had them. He told
me to conduct them to his room, which l did.
told the m Spencer had made up his mind to
give each of them an appointment, and Spen-
Ger, who was present, promised them route
agencies During the night left Bynum on
watch and went to Spencer's room to suggest
the proprety of sending to Lowndes county
for Bryant. Bryant arrived the next day, and
as understood, received. $500 from Kinds.
This seemed to fix the Lowndes county delega-
ton all right The Legislature convened that
morning. The Lowndes county delegation
were present and voted for Spencer. Many
members from other counties were prominent
officess. was authorized by Spencer to prom
Use members as many offices as might think
necessary to secure their support 1t was
understood that Calvin Goodlove was to get a
federal appointment, and at the proper
time he was ljoin the court room
legislature and vote for Spencer. Mean
while he was to lremain in q position to
have access of the capitol assembly until his
vote was necessary at the court room leglsla.
ture to elect Senator Spencer. He ascertained
all he could of their movements by going to the
rooms of the members of that body and leading
them into conversation and reporting to Spen-
Ger.
We tried constantly to defeat quorum of
the capitol legislature and was given to M
derstand the plan had succeeded by disatfect-
ing two members and dragging another to IN
sensibilty. 1 was given to understand that
Spencer was to be drugged and was afterwards
informed he had beed drugged and Yves lying
somewhere insensible. This was the night
before the day fixed by law for the election OF
U. s. senator When the capitol assembly
would proceed to elect on that day, learned
that the drugged member was still lying insen-
sible.
Witness then proceeds to detail how Baker
and Chisholm, two men from distant counties,
generally known to have been not elected, were
sent for and induced by the promise Of office to
enter the court room legislature as Republicans
of their respective counties and proceeds thus:
Baker was appointed clerk of the House Com.on
Internal Improvements by Gen. Dunstan. the
chairman, he told me he had also been promised
federal appointment and he was afterwards
appointed U. S. Marshal for the northern dis
trict of Alabama. After the consolidation OF
the two Legislatures Chisholm was appointed to
a position in the custom house in Mobile.
Another Expedition to the Black Hills.
ST. LOUIS, May ia despatch to the Re-
publican from Kansas City says Col. Carpen-
ter's expedition of 100 men fully armed and
provisioned for six months stay in the Black
S. Louis arrived rive last night and 800 are at
Cheyenne waiting for Carpeu ,er and his COM