The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-05-14
A,abamn senatorial Corrupsson.

| HOW SENATOR SPENCER WAS ELECTED - FEDE-
RAJ TROOPS FOR INTIMIDATION GOVERN
| MESr MONEY FOR BRIDES, ETC.
| MONTGOMERY. ALA, May 12.-~The legisla.
tive committee 10 investigate the means
whereby Spencer secured his election TO the
| Senate took recess to-day. Over three hun.
drcd pages Of manuscript Of testimony by
| Republican witnesses prove the following
| facts: Before the election Spencer went To
| Louisville 10 see General Terry and urge him
| to send troor.s TO Alabama, the purpose being
! 10 use the troops as u political machine TO
! lntimidate Democratic voters. After the
! election IA separate courtroom Legislature
| was organized, because it was feared that II
! both parties met together the Democrats
would control the organization aud defeat
| Spencer.
| The Republicans who opposed Spencer
were bought over with money and the pro-
misses OF appointments TO Office in order to
! Get Il quorum for the courtroom body. Men
were sent for and paid 10 come and repre-.
sent counties not only without certificates Of
election, but without any prctence Of cleo
, ton, in order TO defeat quorum in the capt.
! tnl legislature. One member was bri5cd by
| HindS and another was drugged to lnsensi-
! bihty. The money used in corruptinS men,
herS was Government funds. borrowed tor
| that purpose from post and revenue officials.
! When the compromise was proposed by
| Acknowledgement Williams it was found that
unless one Democratic senator could be UNI
| seated and Republican placed in his stead
! the record would show that The courtroom
| legislature had no quorum in the Senate,
| and that Spencer'S election was void. There
upon MIR. Glass, the Republican senator
} ,rn,,
| bundred to five hundred dollars to pair off
! with a Democratic senator in what was
! known as the Miller and Martin contest and
J violate his pledge. The Licutenant-Gorcr-
nor (MvklnStry) waS to rule, and the Rcpuo.
! Nclu senators were to sustain his rulings, so
! AZ TO settle the contest before notice OF the
trcachcry could be conveyed TO the absent
! Democratic senators. The testimony OF lto-
bert Barber, clerk Of the COURTROOM lower
house, ard u.So clerk Of the same house alter
consolidated, is Il sample 81 the whole mass.
Barber, being duly sworn, testified us tot
| lows:
II was clerk of the lower house Of the
! courtroom legislature. and also clerk oil the
/ Hpu>e in the consolidated legislature. The
/ OBJECT of the courtroom legislature was to
! srrl,rf the organization and elect General
! spencer to The United States Senate. We did
uut think this could be done il we met al
| he clpitol.'
| After detailing the means employed by
Spencer T. Shclve OK Governor Parsons ana
! Alexander White. " bonn he had beard would
! be rival candidates for the Senate, the wit
| ness proceeded: Il have letters from
Spencer relative TO the use of troops, but rs
they are confidential do not propose to H.
| truGuCc them"
The committee insisted on seeing tie let
! tcrs. aud Barber, after consulting with coun.
| sci, introduced them. Letter No. y, dated
Decatur, October 20. 1873, after stating what
troops had been ordered 10 Alabama, ana
where stationed, proceeded thus:
81 wish Randolph, deputy United States
marshal, would use the company at Opehka
IN making arrests in TaliaDooSl, Randolph,
and Clebournc couullos. l wish you would
20 to Talladcga and flock the game. must
not. however, he known in the matter.
"in haste, truly yours,
! 4