The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1875-05-13

MONTGOMERY, May l2,-The IRgisla.
tive committee TO investigate the means
whereby Spencer secured his election 10
the Senate took recess to-day. Over
three hundred pages Of manuscript testi.
mOny by Republican witnesses prove the
following hiGtsl TBei6hA the dleetibh Spena
GER wen, to Louisville to see Glen. Terry,
and urge him TO send troops 10 Alabama,
his purpose being 10 use the troops as q
political machine to intimidate Demo-
cratic voters, At the election separate
court room Legislature was organized he.
cause II was feared II both parties met to-
getheF the Democrats would control the
organization and defeat Spencer. The Re
plbllrqns who opposed Spencer were
bought over with money and promises Of
appointments TO office, In order to get .
quorum for the court room and a body
OF men were sent for and paid to comb
and represent counties without certificates
ofeleGtion aud without any preteRse Of
election. In order to defeat u quorum
in the Capitol Legislature one member
was bribcd by Kinds and another was
drugged to inscnsibility. The money
used for COrrupting the members was
Government fuialsiborr0wed for tho pur-
pose from the post and revenue officials.
Z When q compromise was proposed by
Attorney General Williams Il was found
TINT unless one Democratic Senator could
be unscnted and Republican placed in
his stead the record would show that the
Court Room Legislature had no quorum
in the Senate and that Spencers election
was void. Thereupon one Glass, the
Republican Senator for Macon County,
was paid from $500 to $500 to pair of
with n Democratic Senator in what was
known as the Miller and Martin contest
and violate his pledge. The Lieutenant.
Governor (MCKinstry) was to rule, and
the Republican Senators were all to
sustain his rulings, 30 as to settle the
contest before notice OF the treachery
could bu conveyed 10 the absent Demo
cratic Senators. The testimony Of Robt,
Barber, clerk Of the court room Of the
Lower House and also clerk Of the same
House after the consolidation, is u sample
Of the whole mass.
Barber being sworn testified ~ follows;
was clerk of the Lower House Of the
court room Of the Legislature, and also
clerk Of the House in the consolidated
Legislature. The object Of the court
room Legislature was to secure an Orga.
nilation and elect Spencer 10 the United
States Senate. We did not think this
could be done II we met at the capitol.
After describing the means employed
by Spencer tOshelye ex.GOv. Parsons and
Alex. White, who he had heard would
be rival candidates for the same,
the witness proceeded: 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, md Barber after consulting his
counsel introduced them, Letter No. .,
dated Decatur, October ~, 1879, after
stating what troops had been ordered to
Alabama aid where stationed, proceeded
thus: II wish Randolph, Deputy U. :.
Marshal, would use the company at Ope-
lika in making arrest in TallahOOsn, Ran.
dOlph and Clabourne counties. wish
you would go to TallAdegA and block the
game. | must not, however, bc known in
the matter In haste, truly yours,
GEo. L. SPENCER.
The witness continued: / know Spen.
GERS handwriting and these letters were
written and signed by him and bear the
impress Of his seal and motto, Dieu De.
jendc t DrOi. Thecxpression relative to
arrests in Randolph and other counties