The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-18


he communicated to Spencer, and which
was finally adopted. The troops, he says,
were to be sent whenever needed, "osten-
sibly for the purpose Of protecting revenue
officers, and breaking up Illicit distilleriea,
but really for political uses and purposes
To the same effect was the testimony Of a
member of the legislature, republican and
supporter Of Spencer. He testified as
follows; United States troops, accom-
" panied by United States marshals, who
" had fictitious warrants with citizens
names prominently displayed, and
" shown to persons who would inform
" them, were paraded in various counties.
." shot hole, he says, sin my hat and
" reported that had been attacked by the
" Ku-Klux, and sent troops to arrest the
" mythical assailsnts. kept the troops
" as long as could use them as political
" machine. Our purpose was to secure
" the legislature at all hazards, and elect
" Spencer.
Arrests were made, troops we're sent to
different counties to "run voters out,
money was used plentifully, and general
system Of intimidation resorted to; but
when the canvass of votes was made, II
was found that although the republican
state ticket had been elected, or could be
counted 10, yet the democrats would have
control of the legislature A bolt was,
therefore, orgeaized, and what is known rs
the ''cour. room legislature" was organized
by the republicans. But even with this
legislature success was uncertain. One
entire county delegation was bought up fol
twenty-five hundred dollars. One member
was promised and received the United
States marshalship for the northern dis
trict OF Alabama another was given o
place in the Mobile custom house and
postmasters, route age nts, internal revenue
berths innumerable were promised and
made. We may remark, en- PEASANT, that
one of these very postmasters was con
victed, Thursday last. of stealing money
from letters. Members were brbed to alb
sent themselves others were hired tC
"pair off, and then to take advantage Of
the pair and vote ; others, without Tho
shadow of claim to seat, were hastily
sent fol and made members the lieuten
ant governor made the most outrageous
rulings and was sustained by a pack o.
bruisers and bullies ready to fight for thu
cause if need be. And to cap the china,
OF their villany, enc member, Spencer toe
by name, was drugged and kept inseDsibl'
until the pretended election was over. 3,
these and similar means George E. Spencer
was elected United States senator.
It remains to be seen what the United
States senate will do with him. Withou
impugning the honor or honesty of tina
body, we must confess that there is littlt
hope that it will be able to rid itself of him
unless, perchance, he should take himself
out of the way by resigning. A careful
clare Caldwclls seat vacant, discloses thai
there is an honest difference Of opinion
among senators as to the mode of procedure
in such cases. To expel member requires
two-third vote. while bare majority il
sufficient to declare a seat vacant, but tn,
difficulty is to reconcile the views of sen
ators-one class claiming that senate
cannot be expelled for acts done before hi
election, and the other that, after a form
afofleGtioau Be eeS6TsfiSeadi vacant Enough
hold to each of these views to prevent ,
majority agreeing upon the latter course, o.
two-thirds upon the former. This case o.
Spencer, however, is so outrageous, so dis
graceful to the American senate, and sucl
reproach to American politics, that it il
to be hoped that senators will find somt
way OF unmaking statesmen as expeditions
as the Alabama method of making them.