Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-05-13
Resuming ORernfiOns.
ALABAMA.
How SUtler Spencer Made Him.
self United States Senator.
Radical TestimOny-TrOOPs TO IntIm-
fdate and Governments Funds 10


Radical TestimOny-TrOOPs 10 IntIm-
fdate and Governments Funds 10
Corrupt.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, May 12.-The Le-
gislative Committee to investigate the
means whereby Spencer secured his cleo
tiOn TO the Senate, took a recess to day.
Over 800 pages Of manuscript testimony by
Republican witnesses prove the following
facts:
Before the election Spencer went 10
Louisville to see Gen. Terry and urge him
to send troops to Alabama, the purpose be-
ing 10 use the troops as political machine
TO lntimidate Democratic voters. After
the election the separate courtroom Legis-
latUre was organized, because be feared If
both parties met together, the Demo
Gratis wOUld control and defeat SpeE-
Ger. Republicans who opposed Spencer
were bought over with money and
the promise Of appointments TO Office. In
order to get a quorum for the court room
body men were sent for and paid to come,
and represent counties not only without
certificates of election, but without any
pretense Of an election In norder to defeat
a quorum in the Capitol Legislature, one
member was bTibed by HindS and another
drugged to inseusibility. The money used
i'm cOrIUpting members were Government
funds borrowed from for the purpose from
the postal and revenue officials. When
the compromise was proposed by Attorney
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
no quorum in the Senate. and SpenceTs'
election was void. There upon one Glass,
the Republican Senator for Macon county,
was paid from $500 to $500 to pair of with
a Democratic Senator, in what was known
as the Miller and Martin contest and violate
his pledge. The Lieutenant Governor
Mckinsley was to rule, and the Republican
Senators were to sustain his rulings, so as
to settle the contest before notice Of the
treacheTy could be conveyed 70 the absent
Democratic Senator.
The testimony Of Robert Barber, clerk
of the court room Lower House, is a sam
pie. He produced a letter which, after
stating what troops had been Oriel e1 to
Alabama and where stationed, p-O eeded |
thus:
l wish RAJ dOlph, Deputy L. S. Mar |
shal, would use the "C' at Opelika in |
making arrests in Tallahassee and Ran |
dolph aud Cleburne counties. wish you |
would 60 to TalladeCa and block the |
game. l must not, however, ibe known |
in the matter. In haste. Truly yours,
GEO. f. SPENCER,
To Robert Barber.
Barber testified: know S2encer's hand |
writing, and these letters are written and |
signed By him and bear the impress Of his |
seal and motto -"Dieu DefeBde le DrOit.'
The expression relative 10 arrests in Ran |
dOlph and other counties, refers TO a letter |
received by NE from Randolph county, in |
which it was stated that if troops could be |
sent into the counties named to make a |
few arrests, enough voters could be run cut |
Of them TO secure the election Of Republi- |
can candidate for the Legislalu ure.