The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-05-27
RADICAL RASCALIHT
The Spencer System Of Securing a
SGlatOlSlil,
SOLDIERS, FRA I'D, PERJURY, BRE
Berry AND INTINIDATI0N
THE MA iHINERY.
EMPLOYED.
TIE DiSyg4Htabie RaScakS who '1m tie
Government in the South.

MONTGOMERY, ALA. May 1.-THE Leg
islatiye Committee, to investigate the
means whereby Spencer secured his elec-
ton to the Senate, took a recess to-day.
Over three hundred pages of manuscript
testimony by Republican witnesses go to
prove the following facts
Before the election Spencer went to
Louisville to see Gen. Terry and urge
him to send troops to Alabama, the pur-
pose being to use the troops as political
machine to iutimidate the Democratic
voters. After the election separate
Courtroom Legislature was organized,
because it was feared that if both parties
met together the Democrats would con-
troll the organization ard defeat Spencer.
Republicans who opposed Spencer were
bought over with money and promises of
appointments to office. In order to get
quorum for the Courtroom, body-men
were sent for and paid to come and rep
resent counties not only without Certifi-
Gates of election, but without any pre-
tense Of elections. In order to defeat
quorum in the Capitol Legislature, one
member was bribed by Kinds and an.
other was drugged to insensibility. The
money used in corrupting members was
Government funds, borrowed for the pur-
pose from post and revenue officials.
When a compromise was proposed by
Attorney General Williams, it was found
that unless one Democratic Senator could
be unseated, and Republican placed in
his stead, the record would show that the
Courtroom Legislature had no quorum
in the Senate, and that Spencer's cleo
ton was void. Thereupon one Glass, the
Senator for Macon county, was paid from
three hundred to five hundred dollars to
pair off with Democratic Senator IN
what was known as the Miller and Mar
Tin contest, and violate his pledge. The
Lieutenant Governor, McKinstry, was to
rule, and the Republican Senators were
10 sustain his rulings, so as to settle the
contest before notice of the treachery
could be conveyed to the absent Demo-
cratic Senators.
The testimony of Robert Barber, Clerk
of the Courtroom Lower House, and also
Clerk Of the same house after the con-
solidation, is asample of the whole mass.
Barber being sworn, testified as follows
HI was Clerk of the Lower House of the
Courtroom Legislature, and also Clerk of
ahe House in the Consolidated Legisla-
sure. The object of the Courtroom Leg
stature was to secure the organization
and to elect Spencer to the United States
Senate. We did not think this could be
done if we met at the Capitol" After
describing the means employedto shelve
Ex-Governor Parsons and Alex. White,
who he had heard would be rival candi-
dates for the Senate, the witness pro-
eeeded: Il have letters from Spencer
relative to the use of the troops, but as
they are confidential, / do not propose to
introduce them" The Committee in
sisted on seeing the letters, and Barber,
aEer consulting counsel, introduced them.
Letter No. 2, dated Decatur, 22d, after
stating what troops had been ordered to
Alabama and where stationed, proceeded
thus: II wish Randolph, Deputy U. S
Marshal, would use the company at 0pe-
lika in making arrests in Tallahassee,
Randolph and Clebourne counties. /
wish you would go to Talladega and
block the game. must not, however,
be known in the matter. In hase, truly
yours, George E. Spencer. To Robert
Barber"
The witness continued: 81 know Mr..